Posted: 5/14/03

Broadway funding has hope

Cliff Buchan
News Editor

A federal funding package to assist with improvements to W. Broadway Ave. (CR-2) in Forest Lake has the endorsement of Sixth District Congressman Mark Kennedy.

Thatís the good news.

The bad news is federal funding for major improvements to the county road and its I-35 connection here are among a long list of projects competing for a limited pool of federal highway dollars.

But there is hope for the funding, Kennedy told a Forest Lake Area Chamber of Commerce gathering on Monday.

Washington County has requested T-21 reauthorization to secure federal funding for the county road. By 2004 or 2005, the county has plans for major improvements on CR-2 from US-61 in downtown Forest Lake to I-35 overpass which would be replaced.

Kennedy said Monday he has endorsed the countyís request. ìWeíll be pushing hard for it,î Kennedy said.

Kennedy said the chances for funding are improved because Kennedy sits on the transportation committee. But the chances are decreased based on the scope of project requests, needs and limited dollars.

ìWe all know it needs to take place,î said Chip Robinson, Forest Lake city administrator. Robinson said Forest Lake was one of many growth communities in Kennedyís Sixth District that has transportation needs.

The city administrator said Forest Lake has seen sizeable growth in the past 10 years with the I-35-Broadway corridor a hot spot for major commercial developments.

ìWe understand the importance of it,î Kennedy said of the Broadway project. ìItís high on our radar.î

Kennedy said the more the Forest Lake public speaks out in favor of improvements, Broadway will have a better chance of securing the funding it needs.

The county this winter sent First District County Commissioner Dennis Hegberg of Forest Lake to Washington, D.C., as part of a county delegation to secure federal dollars for the Broadway project.

Kennedyís visit

While Broadway was on the minds of several guests at Mondayís meeting, Kennedy used the appearance to plug his legislation called the FAST Act (Freeing Alternatives for Speedy Transportation.)

The program is a new federal initiate to seek alternative funding methods for state, county and local road projects that now bank on 80 percent of funding from federal sources. Kennedy believes the new source will be needed because there is little willingness to approve new gasoline taxes and the funding from the gas tax will diminish as more alternative forms of auto engines are developed.

The FAST bill, Kennedy said, would empower states and restore public confidence that has declined in the wake of federal boondoggles that have poured money into unwise road and bridge projects.

Under the bill, funding for new Interstate highway lanes would be provided based on fees charged for use of fast-moving transit lanes. Motorists would pay the fee only on use of the new lanes and the use would be voluntary. Fees would be assessed electronically and the fees would expire when costs for construction have been recouped, Kennedy said.

Choosing to build FAST lanes would not impact a stateís federal transportation allocation.

Kennedy said the program is compelling because users pay only if they use the lane, it would allow fast expansion to relieve congestion, expansion of FAST lanes will free up dollars for other priorities, promotes private sector participation and offers flexibility to use with congestion pricing, HOV or bus rapid transit.

Kennedy said 13 House co-sponsors have been found to support the Kennedy bill and it has been endorsed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Rep. James Oberstar of the Eighth District, a key figure on the transportation committee, will consider the plan, Kennedy said.

New plan needed

Saying that the gas tax is living on borrowed time, Kennedy said he felt compelled to explore a plan to help fill significant funding gaps in the country.

ìWe need to be looking for alternatives,î Kennedy said of funding. ìWe havenít been investing what need to relieve congestion.î

But Kennedy rests little hope in the federal gas tax of 18‡ cents a gallon going up and he is skeptical the state will increase its per gallon tax of 20 cents.

Kennedy said major highway projects include 80 percent federal funding and it can be difficult for local governments to secure designation for their projects. He said he favors a system that gives the state more authority in figuring out what is best for the state.

ìIím giving away my (Congressional) power,î Kennedy said. And that, he said, may be a key reason many in Congress wonít go along with the FAST Act.

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