STRONGER ECONOMY

Transit for a Stronger Economy supports statewide transit funding legisltation HF 1044 & SF 927. The coalition unites unions, developers, people with disabilities, low-income and underserved communities, and active transportation, health, and environmental interests to promote funding for transit expansion this legislative session.

TRANSIT

for a

Advocating Change Together (ACT) African Career, Education & Resource, Inc. AFL-CIO AFSCME Council 5 Alliance for Metropolitan Stability Alliance for Sustainability Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005 American Heart Association American Lung Association in Minnesota Asian Economic Development Association Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota BlueGreen Alliance CWA Minnesota State Council Conservation Minnesota The Cornerstone Group Cycles for Change Envision Minnesota Episcopal Homes of Minnesota Fresh Energy Growth & Justice HIRE Minnesota Hope Community ISAIAH Jewish Community Action Local Initiatives Support Corporation Twin Cities

Masjid An-Nur Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Minnesota Environmental Partnership Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG) Minnesota Public Transit Association Minnesota State Building & Construction Trades Council Minnesota Young Professionals Environmental Group Minnesotans for Healthy Kids Coalition MN350 National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Upper Midwest New American Academy Nice Ride Minnesota Project for Pride in Living Saint Paul Bicycle Coalition Schafer Richardson, Inc. SEIU Minnesota State Council Sheet Metal Workers Local #10 Sierra Club, North Star Chapter Summit Academy OIC Transit for Livable Communities United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) 1189 United Transportation Union YEA! MN, a program of the Will Steger Foundation

TwinCitiesMetropolitanRegion
$300millionmetro(3/4centsalestaxin7metrocounties)

$125mperyear METROPOLITANCOUNCIL

Expandandupgradebusservice Highamenityrapidbusserviceon12highfrequencyroutes.Higherfrequency,fasterbus servicetomorelocations,withlongerservicehours.

$125mperyear COUNTIESTRANSITIMPROVEMENTBOARD(CTIB)

LRT/BRT/Rail Buildouttheregionalsystemoftransitways:3additionalLightRailTransit(LRT)lines,including Southwest,Bottineau,andaneastMetroLRTline;BusRapidTransit(BRT)withdedicatedlanes on4morehighwaycorridors.

$50mperyear

LOCALNEEDS

$9mMetCouncilBicycle,trail,andpedestrianinfrastructure. $20.5mCountiesSidewalks,bicycleroutes,andADAcomplianceprojects. $20.5mCitiesSidewalks,bicycleroutes,andADAcomplianceprojects.

GreaterMinnesota
$32million(MotorVehicleSalesTaxonLeasedVehicles)

MnDOT

250morebusroutesacross64operatingsystemstomeetneedsinexistingsystemsandadd serviceincountiesandcommunitiescurrentlywithouttransitservice.

Statewide/G.O.Bonding
$95mG.O.bondingformetroareatransitways. $8mG.O.bondingforGreaterMinnesotatransit.

To Big Lake Coon Rapids

TWIN CITIES REGIONAL TRANSIT PLAN

ANOKA
35W

FUNDED
Light Rail

UNFUNDED

Maple Grove
94

Brooklyn Park
CENTRAL AVE NORTHSTAR

Mounds View

Rapid Bus

LRT/BRT (mode TBD)

Rapid Bus/Streetcar

Fridley

Shoreview

EXPANDED BUS SERVICE

694

Highway Bus Rapid Transit - BRT

Commuter Rail

More frequent bus service, longer hours (weekends too), and high-amenity rapid bus on 12 key routes (shown in green). CHICAGO/FREMONT PENN AVE
94

New Hope
L AU

I35W BRT

T TI BO NE

White Bear Lake

Columbia Heights

35E

INE

Roseville
HWY 36 BRT

MORE OPTIONS

35E

Maplewood
36

100

BR D OA

SNELLING AVE

Expanded bicycle routes, better sidewalks, ADA-compliant connections, and other transitrelated improvements implemented by cities & counties.

Golden Valley
AY W E AV

Lauderdale Falcon Heights

RUSH

RAMSEY
SAINT PAUL UNION DEPOT

MINNEAPOLIS INTERCHANGE
NN

694

394

394 BRT

7TH STREET
EP IN

HENNEPIN
St. Louis Park
EST LIN E

Minneapolis
HE

WASHINGTON
CENTRAL CORRIDOR LAKE STREET
THA WA HIA

94

GATEWAY

Saint Paul
7T
LIN

Minnetonka
SOU THW

CHICAGO/FREMONT

494 35W

ROBERT STREET

Edina

35E

H
E

ST

RE

ET

West Saint Paul

Woodbury

RE

RO

CK

NICOLLET AVE

I35W BRT

CARVER
Rich eld Eden Prairie

RI

VE

RV

IE

Hastings
494

AMERICAN BOULEVARD

CEDAR

Bloomington

BRT

DAKOTA SCOTT
To Lakeville Eagan

Rosemount

The lines depicted on this map are in various stages of planning and are subject to change.

Prepared by Transit for a Stronger Economy Coalition 030413

POLICY BRIEF
Most Regions use Sales Tax to Support Transit
A dedicated regional sales tax is the most common funding mechanism among metro regions similar to the Twin Cities.
Metro Region Sales Tax Dedicated to Transit
1.05% of 8.5% total 1% of 8% total 1% of 6.25% total 1% of 7.75% total 1% of 8.25% total 1% of 7.62% total 1% of 8.25% total 0.9% of 9.5% total 0.875% of 8.375% total 0.75% of 8.491% total 0.6875% of 6.85% total 0.566% of 9.3% total 0.42% of 7.75% total 0.25% of 7.75% total

San Francisco Atlanta

An analysis of tax rates indicates that the Minneapolis-Saint Paul region uses this revenue source at a much lower rate than the majority of peer regions. Most of our peer cities have levied 3 to 4 times the rate applied in the Twin Cities. The 0.25% sales tax rate in the Twin Cities raises nearly $100 million annually, and is used to fund the expansion and operation of the metro area transitways (i.e. light rail, commuter rail, bus rapid transit). In order to continue these programs and improve the Twin Cities regular and commuter bus system, additional tax revenue will be needed. The Minneapolis-Saint Paul region has a number of revenue sources for transit. The largest source is the statewide motor vehicle sales tax (MVST), whose extreme volatility is demonstrated in the transit budget shortfalls of the past several years. Transit funding is also provided through state general fund appropriations, a small amount of regional and county property taxes, and fares.

Boston Cleveland Dallas Denver Houston Seattle San Jose Saint Louis Salt Lake City Phoenix San Diego Mpls - Saint Paul
For Sources, see reverse

Transit for Livable Communities A non-profit organization, TLC works to transform Minnesotas transportation system to strengthen community, improve health and opportunity for all people, foster a sound economy, and protect our natural resources. 626 Selby Avenue Saint Paul, MN 55104 651-767-0298 tlc@tlcminnesota.org www.tlcminnesota.org

www.facebook.com/ tlcminnesota

@tlcminnesota

Oct 26, 2012

POLICY BRIEF
Most Regions use Sales Tax to Support TransitSources
Metro Region
Atlanta Baltimore

Fund Sources for transit agency/amount of sales tax to transit

http://www.itsmarta.com/uploadedFiles/About_MARTA/ Reports/2011%20CAFR%20Final%28web%29.pdf http://www.mdot.maryland.gov/Office_of_Finance/ TransportationFund.html http://www.mbta.com/uploadedfiles/About_the_T/ Financials/2010%20C%20and%20D% 20MAMassBayaFIN.pdf ; http://www.mbta.com/ uploadedfiles/About_the_T/Financials/Budget% 20Briefing%20FY%202011.pdf ; http://www.riderta.com/annual/2011/ ; http://www.dart.org/ShareRoot/debtdocuments/ DARTFinancialStatements2011.pdf http://www.rtd-denver.com/PDF_Files/ Financial_Reports/2011Comprehensive_Annual_Financial_Repor t.pdf http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/DepartmentsandAgencies/ DetroitDepartmentofTransportation/AboutUs.aspx http://www.ridemetro.org/FinancialAuditInformation/ Pdfs/2012/FY2011-annual-financial-report.pdf http://www.metrocouncil.org/about/CAFR2011.pdf

Total sales tax for the city and region

https://etax.dor.ga.gov/salestax/salestaxrates/ LGS_2012_Jul_Rate_Chart.pdf http://business.marylandtaxes.com/taxinfo/salesanduse/ default.asp http://www.mass.gov/dor/individuals/taxpayer-help-andresources/tax-guides/salesuse-tax-guide.html http://tax.ohio.gov/divisions/tax_analysis/tax_data_series/ sales_and_use/documents/salestaxmapcolor.pdf http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/local/city.html http://www.denvergov.org/MotorVehicle/ TitlesandRegistrations/TitlesandRegistrations8/ tabid/391087/Default.aspx http://www.michigan.gov/taxes/0,1607,7-238-43529155505--,00.html http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/local/city.html http://www.revenue.state.mn.us/businesses/sut/ rate_charts/tax_rate_combinations_current.pdf http://phoenix.about.com/library/blsalestaxrates.htm

Boston

Cleveland Dallas

Denver

Detroit Houston Mpls-ST.Paul

http://www.valleymetro.org/images/uploads/ lightrail_publications/FY-2012-Operating-and-CapitalPhoenix Budget-and-Five-Year-Plan.pdf ; http://www.azdot.gov/ Inside_ADOT/FMS/PDF/rarf11.pdf http://www.portauthority.org/paac/portals/ Pittsburgh Capital/2012Budget/2012BudgetBook.pdf http://trimet.org/pdfs/publications/2011-auditedPortland financial-statements.pdf http://www.metrostlouis.org/Libraries/ St. Louis Annual_Financial_Reports/ FY_2011_Comprehensive_Annual_Financial_Report.pdf http://www.rideuta.com/uploads/MasterCAFR2011x.pdf ; Salt Lake City http://le.utah.gov/audit/12_01rpt.pdf http://www.sdmts.com/MTS/documents/CAFR12-02San Diego 2011.pdf San Francisco http://www.bart.gov/docs/FY2011_financials.pdf San Jose Seattle http://www.vta.org/inside/investor/financial/ statements/2011_CAFR.pdf http://www.soundtransit.org/Documents/pdf/about/ financial/2012/Adopted_2012_Budget.pdf; http:// metro.kingcounty.gov/am/budget/revenue.html http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/docs/ CAFR_FY10.pdf

http://pittsburgh.about.com/od/taxes/a/pa_taxes.htm http://www.oregon.gov/dor/salestax.shtml http://www.stlrcga.org/x495.xml http://tax.utah.gov/sales/rate/12q3combined.pdf http://www.boe.ca.gov/cgi-bin/rates.cgi? LETTER=S&LIST=CITY http://www.boe.ca.gov/cgi-bin/rates.cgi? LETTER=S&LIST=CITY http://www.boe.ca.gov/cgi-bin/rates.cgi? LETTER=S&LIST=CITY http://dor.wa.gov/docs/forms/excstx/locsalusetx/ localslsuseflyer_quarterly.pdf http://business.marylandtaxes.com/taxinfo/salesanduse/ default.asp ; http://www.taxrates.com/state-rates/ washington-dc/ http://www.tax.virginia.gov/site.cfm? alias=SalesUseTax

Washington DC

Greater Minnesota Transit

11.1 million riders per year.

70 counties have countywide service.

8 counties have municipal service

only: Clearwater, Cass, Nicollet, Le Sueur, Rice, Blue Earth, Olmsted.

2 counties have no public transit

service: Wilkin & Waseca.

About the transit users

62% of Greater Minnesota transit

users have household incomes of $20,000 or less.

51% do not have a drivers license.

86% ride at least twice a week.

50% ride at least five times a week.

33% are going to work.

20% are going to school.

Sources: MnDOT Office of Transit; MnDOT Transit Report 2011 and Greater Minnesota Transit Investment Plan.

Current Projected Funding Levels

2,000,000

1,800,000
1,600,000 1,400,000 1,200,000 1,000,000 2021 2029 2019 2017 2023 2025 2027 2013 2015

Service Hours

2031

Regional Transit System Return on Investment Assessment

November 30, 2012

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Itasca Project has a key goal to advance a comprehensive and aligned transportation system. As a stakeholder in regional discussions around proposals for transit investment, Itascas transportation task force sought to understand what is the expected economic return on regional transit investments? Itasca commissioned Cambridge Systematics to assess the expected return from the regions proposed transit system. Working with a technical advisory committee of regional experts, the project team quantified and monetized how the regional transit build-out would impact travel times, travel time reliability, vehicle operating cost, safety, emissions, shippers and logistics costs, and road pavement condition. Itascas transportation task force posed three questions: 1) A built-out regional transit system would require substantial investment. What would be the return on that investment? Answer: Between $6.6 and $10.1 billion in total direct benefits, on a $4.4 billion investment (benefits accrued 2030 2045). 2) Investments can be made more or less quickly. Would accelerating the buildout change the return on investment? Answer: The total direct benefits would increase to between $10.8 16.5 billion, on a $5.3 billion investment (benefits accrued 2023 2045). 3) Many communities with developing transit systems experience more growth near transit stations. Would such expectations for regional growth change the return on investment? Answer: More community growth near transit stations would increase net benefits by another $2 4 billion (2030 - 2045). In addition to quantified and monetized impacts, the analysis quantified but did not monetize other regional impacts, such as regional accessibility to jobs. The analysis found that a regional transit system would enable local employers to access an additional 500,000 employees. Finally, the project team sought the views of human resources and facilities executives at regional employers, with respect to the role of a built-out transit system in accessing and attracting employees. Together, the results show that investment in a built-out regional transit system would create substantial value for the region.

3/19/13 Dear Minnesota State Legislators, Quality Bicycle Products is the nations largest supplier of bicycle parts and accessories. Headquartered in Bloomington, MN, and with additional facilities in Odgen, UT and Harrisburg, PA, QBP employs about 700 people. A great majority of our employees either ride bicycles or depend on a daily multi-modal transit/bicycle commute to reach our facility. Because of our commitment to using bicycling and transit, and our ability to utilize these choices in the south Minneapolis/Bloomington area, weve actually seen a 4.4% decrease in per member per month healthcare costs, during a time when nationally per member per month costs have increased by nearly 25%. In other words, our employees are not only saving money due to choices in how they commute to work, theyre also healthier, which translates into decreasing QBP healthcare costs. In the future, we believe those cities who respond to the needs of residents and business owners by providing choices in transportation, and in accommodating bicycling, walking, and transit will benefit in terms of recruiting the best and brightest to live and work in their communities. Therefore, QBP is a strong supporter of HF 1044 and SF 927 and we urge our state legislators to pass this legislation for the benefit of all Minnesotans. Sincerely,

Gary Sjoquist Advocacy Director

p | 952-941-9391 | 800-346-0004 f | 800-346-0211 6400 West 105th Street Bloomington, MN 55438-2554 www.qbp.com