A meeting recently with MnDOT Commissioner Tom Sorel left me encouraged and positive about the future course of Minnesota’s transportation system. We agree on a number of key priorities and share a vision for a strong and vibrant statewide plan.

Setting priorities for transportation projects is essential. A recent MnDOT meeting in North Mankato presented a draft plan for 2012-2018 funding priorities. I joined many in the audience who expressed justified concern that the proposed priorities did not sufficiently address safety concerns surrounding Highways 14, 60, and other roads throughout Minnesota.

Following the meeting, I sat down and drafted a comprehensive response that was shared with the commissioner and legislative leaders. I offered to work with the commissioner and MnDOT to develop plans to address these and other concerns.

In the recent meeting, I found that Commissioner Sorel and MnDOT truly listened. Safety measures will be implemented in the very near future on Highways 60 and 14 and other Minnesota roads. Plans will be developed for longer-term solutions, including new construction that increases dangerous sections from two to four lanes.

Commissioner Sorel and I agree that setting funding priorities is critical to Minnesota’s long-term transportation planning. We both believe it is essential to allow greater flexibility in setting priorities as MnDOT balances road safety, bridge maintenance, road preservation, congestion relief, and other needs across the state. To this end, I repeated my offer to work with Commissioner Sorel and MnDOT as the 2012-2018 plan develops.

Working together to craft transportation laws must be part of this cooperative effort between the Legislature and MnDOT. For example, we should strongly consider refining the legislation passed this year that sought to ensure bridge repair and replacement. Commissioner Sorel has a legitimate concern that the law might be interpreted to require that all new transportation funding be spent on bridges.

I understand his point and the negative impact that this interpretation could have on road projects. Please be assured, though, that any revision would not detract from everyone’s goal of safety on Minnesota’s bridges.

Commissioner Sorel and I agree that Greater Minnesota will see road and bridge projects done that would not have been undertaken without the 2008 law. Bridge work in our area that would not have been done is now in the planning stages. Road work, including on Highways 60 and 14, that would have remained decades into the future is now being planned.

Commissioner Sorel and I discussed the claim that Minnesota’s transportation funding system is skewed toward the metro area. First, it is important to keep in mind that all of the gas tax is constitutionally dedicated to roads and bridges. It does not fund light rail or trails.

Commissioner Sorel and I discussed having MnDOT analyze the distribution of transportation funding. This study would offer closure to the question of equitable distribution. We also agreed that if an imbalance is detected, MnDOT and the Legislature should work cooperatively to fix it.