May 22, 2023
Minnesota's Infrastructure Union led effort to pass new long-term and dedicated funding for Minnesota roads, bridges and transit
Saint Paul, MN – Today, the Minnesota Legislature passed a comprehensive transportation bill making the largest investment in the state’s roads, bridges and transit systems in Minnesota history, including more than $1 billion in new revenue per year dedicated to transportation. Joel Smith, President and Business Manager of LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota released the following statement.
“Since 2008, LIUNA members have asked our leaders to fix Minnesota’s roads, bridges and transit. This historic transportation funding package will make our members and all Minnesotans safer, create thousands of family-supporting construction careers, and boost our local economies. We are grateful for the leadership and support from Chairs Hornstein, Koegel and Dibble, Speaker Hortman, Majority Leader Long, Majority Leader Dziedzic and all 69 state representatives and 34 state senators who voted 'Yes'.
There is no budget surplus in transportation funding. Over the next 20 years, Minnesota faces a $30 billion funding shortfall just to maintain our roads, bridges and transit. With more than $1 billion per year in new long-term and dedicated revenue, this legislation is a major step towards fixing, catching up and keeping up our transportation infrastructure.”
Since April 1, LIUNA and Working America Minnesota, in partnership with the Minnesota Transportation Alliance and 100% Campaign, knocked on more than 13,000 doors and generated more than 4,550 phone calls and hundreds of e-mails and petitions to lawmakers in support of the transportation funding bills.