2008 was a landmark session of the Minnesota Legislature for finding solutions to the funding challenge for transportation and transit needs. The Hennepin County Board, the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority and the Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB), representing the rail authorities of the seven metropolitan counties, were united in support of a transportation and transit finance proposal. That legislation is being implemented by the recently established Counties Transit Improvement Board (CTIB).
CTIB will:
- Accelerate lagging transit projects to meet commuter demand.
- Reduce local financial risks by leveraging a broader, regional source of funding.
- Provide local input and accountability into regional transit planning and funding.
Building a transportation system for the future of the region and state that is economically and environmentally sustainable will not be easy, fast or inexpensive. But it is possible. It is also necessary.
For more information about the future of transit, see the Hennepin County transit vision map.
