Oberstar Praises MN Transportation Plan

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Jim Oberstar has praised the newly unveiled Minnesota transportation plan as one of the best he's ever seen. "It's a realistic, futuristic investment plan that binds greater Minnesota with the metro area," said Oberstar.

As Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Oberstar called the bill a "bold initiative" that will be a boost to the Minnesota economy and a wise investment for taxpayers. "It's a sustainable investment program that will create 33,000 jobs a year in the construction sector that will stay at home; they are home-grown Minnesota jobs, using Minnesota materials," Oberstar said.

"State Senator Steve Murphy and Representative Bernie Lieder have crafted a bill that makes the resources available to address our most critical concerns immediately. They are also ensuring the revenue stream keep up with inflation," said Oberstar.

Oberstar has been at odds with Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty's lack of investment and foresight in Minnesota's transportation system. "There's been an ideological mindset in the Governor's office and with our Commissioner of Transportation that somehow these roads will simply be met on their own by some deus ex machina coming in to solve the problem. Well, that's not happened." Minnesota has not increased the highway user fee for road maintenance and construction since 1988. The cost of road construction materials and labor has risen 47% since then.

Congestion has been estimated to cost Minnesota's economy $1.1 billion per year, according to a 2007 study. Oberstar says those costs are a congestion tax - in the form of lost jobs and higher costs of goods and services - that the Minnesota residents ultimately end up footing. If a transportation plan is not passed, Oberstar says, "greater Minnesota will be disadvantaged, travel and tourism will be hurt, our economy will suffer.... There is a cost to failing to invest."