The day after announcing a $775 million jobs plan for Minnesota, Gov. Mark Dayton announced plans to establish the Commissioner’s Transportation Finance Advisory Group, a task force that will be responsible for recommending new ways to finance a better state infrastructure.
The advisory group, which will be headed by Minnesota’s Transportation Commissioner Tom Sorel, will:
-Identify investment opportunities to support the state’s economy during the next 20 years
-Identify and analyze the potential of various revenue sources and non-traditional approaches to transportation financing, as well as opportunities for public-private partnerships
-Help develop a strategic marketing plan to obtain public support for the investment plan and any additional steps needed to obtain the funding.
The group will prepare a written report for the governor and the legislature by Dec. 1, 2012, in time for ideas to be considered in the 2013 legislative session.
“I have been reminded of how essential transportation infrastructure is to business success in Minnesota,” Dayton said. “Workers need to be able to get to and from work, and businesses need to be able to get goods to and from their markets. We must either improve our transportation systems or else suffer the consequences of their decline.
“I have asked Commissioner Sorel to gather the best and the brightest minds together to help us find new, innovative ways to finance improving our transportation systems.”
In addition to Sorel, the task force will include Susan Haigh, metropolitan council chair and Mark Phillips, department of employment and economic development commissioner, along with an economist and representatives of the business and investment communities, unions and county government.
This focus on infrastructure is just one of the concentrations of Gov. Dayton’s recently announced jobs plan, which includes proposals designed to provide incentives for businesses to hire out-of-work Minnesotans, invest in infrastructure and train workers for the jobs of the future.
Printer Friendly Version
Email This Story
RSS
Government/Regulations: Related News
1/16/2012 – Minnesota Governor Addresses Infrastructure Problems With New Task Force
The day after announcing a $775 million jobs plan for Minnesota, Gov. Mark Dayton announced plans to establish the Commissioner’s Transportation Finance Advisory Group, a task force that will be responsible for recommending new ways to finance a better state infrastructure….
More
1/16/2012 – NC Opens More Roads to Doubles
The North Carolina Department of Transportation will now allow the operation of double-trailer combinations on several freeway routes in the eastern part of the state plus the Triangle area….
More
1/12/2012 – TRALA-Supported Virginia Legislation Addresses Motor Vehicle Rental Tax
Delegate James Massie (R-Henrico) has introduced Virginia legislation, sponsored by the Truck Renting and Leasing Association, that would limit the types of revenue taxed under the commonwealth’s 10% motor vehicle rental tax….
More
1/9/2012 – FMCSA Reminds Carriers to Update VMT, Power Unit Data
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is reminding commercial motor carriers they they need to update their Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT) and Power Unit (PU) data on their Motor Carrier Registration form, known as the MCS-150….
More
1/6/2012 – NY Crossover Mirror Law Effective Friday, Jan. 13
A New York law requiring trucks to have crossover mirrors will go into effect next Friday, Jan. 13….
More
1/6/2012 – In State of the State, Cuomo Reveals Plans to Better NY Roads and Bridges
In Gov. Cuomo’s state of the state address yesterday, he introduced a plan for the New York Works Fund and Task Force, an entity that would make all the funding decisions for roads, bridges, parks, flood control and municipal water systems….
More
1/3/2012 – Former FMCSA Supervisor Jailed for Accepting Bribes
A DOT official in New York State was sentenced Thursday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to felony bribe-taking….
More
1/3/2012 – Cell Phone Restrictions Now in Effect
Interstate truck and bus drivers are prohibited from using handheld cell phones while driving as of today, Jan. 3, under a final rule posted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration….
More
12/29/2011 – Poll Finds Tolls More Popular Than Higher Fuel Taxes
In a Reason-Rupe poll of 1,200 adults, 58% of respondents said they would rather pay tolls if and when they use a particular lane or highway, rather than paying higher fuel taxes….
More
12/28/2011 – Motorcoach Drivers May be Next to Get New HOS Rules
First, airline pilots were handed a new set of HOS rules. Then trucking got new marching orders from FMCSA. Bus drivers may be next. FMCSA has published a public listening session notice for motorcoach HOS….
More
12/28/2011 – New HOS Rule Will Cause Delays for Manufacturers and Cost the Economy
National Association of Manufacturers has come out against trucking’s new hours-of-service rule, saying the rule will have a negative impact on manufacturers’ supply chains, distribution operations and productivity….
More
12/27/2011 – California Reminds Truck Owners of Jan. 1 Clean Air Deadline
The California Air Resources Board is reminding owners of heavier diesel trucks and buses that new emission reducing regulations go into effect Jan. 1, 2012, and many businesses may need to report compliance online….
More
12/23/2011 – New Hours Rule Likely Headed Back to Court
There’s a good chance the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s new hours of service rule is going back to court.
Just hours after the new rule was released, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety indicated that it may resume its challenge of the 11-hour limit on driving….
More
12/22/2011 – Clean Ports Bill Introduced in Senate
A bill that would give ports more authority over drayage operations has been introduced in the Senate. Among other things, the bill would clear the way for ports to ban owner-operators and require all drivers to be employees of companies. …
More
12/22/2011 – Final HOS Rule Retains 11-Hour Driving Limit
The long-awaited final rule on revised hours of service has been released, keeping the current 11-hour daily driving limit but cutting by 12 hours the maximum number of hours a truck driver can work within a week….
More
12/21/2011 – Hours of Service Rule Could be Published as Soon as Tomorrow
The revised hours of service rule has been cleared by the White House Office of Management and Budget, and is expected to be released soon, perhaps tomorrow….
More
12/20/2011 – Legislators Seek Info on Remanufactured Parts
A group of legislators is asking the Government Accountability Office to look into the use of remanufactured parts by non-defense federal fleets….
More
12/20/2011 – FMCSA Reminds Carriers to Update Fleet Data
Motor carrier data used to calculate SMS scores, such as Vehicle Miles Travelled and Power Unit data needs to be updated….
More
12/15/2011 – NTSB Recommendations Include Video Recorders, Collision Prevention
Tucked away in the same document in which the National Transportation Safety Board recommended cell phone bans for all drivers was a reiteration of previous recommendations to require video event recorders in heavy trucks, look at mandating collision avoidance systems, and other truck-specific issues….
More
12/15/2011 – NHTSA Closer to Posting Stability Control Proposal
A proposal to require stability control systems on truck tractors moved a step closer to publication this week when it was sent over to the White House Office of Management and Budget for final vetting….
More
12/15/2011 – Senate Commerce Committee Passes Truck Safety Bill
In a contentious session yesterday, the Senate Commerce Committee cleared the truck safety section of the pending highway bill.
The committee cleared the bill 13 to 11 on a party-line vote, not because the Republican minority opposes the safety provisions, but because the measure includes an amendment concerning freight planning that the minority does not like….
More
12/14/2011 – NSTB Calls for Nationwide Ban on Cell Phone Use While Driving
After investigating a 2010 multi-vehicle highway accident in Gray Summit, Mo, the National Transportation Safety Board Tuesday called for the first-ever nationwide ban on driver use of “personal electronic devices,” such as cell phones, while operating a motor vehicle….
More
12/14/2011 – FMCSA Proposes Tougher Procedures on Reincarnated Carriers
A new rule proposed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration would make it tougher for carriers that have been sanctioned to reincarnate themselves under a new identity.
The agency is proposing to change its procedures in several areas affecting truck lines, intermodal equipment providers, brokers, freight forwards and hazmat proceedings….
More
12/8/2011 – A Rare Glimpse of Bipartisanship on Highway Bill
In an unusual display of bipartisanship, a large group of House members from both parties pledged to work with President Obama on a six-year highway reauthorization bill. Sixty-two Democrats and 49 Republicans signed a letter asking Obama to support a six-year, fully funded bill….
More
12/8/2011 – Advisory Panels Urge Tougher Screening for Sleep Apnea
Trucking moved a small step closer to a sleep apnea regulation yesterday, when advisors to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recommended that the agency toughen up its approach to the disorder.
Two advisory panels, one from the medical community and one representing industry, enforcement, labor and safety advocacy interests, said the agency should tell medical examiners that drivers with a body mass index of 35 or more must be evaluated for sleep apnea….
More
12/7/2011 – FMCSA Live Webcast Today: Medical Review Board Meeting on OSA
Today, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will live webcast a meeting held by the agency’s Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee and Medical Review Board to discuss obstructive sleep apnea. Proceedings can be viewed live at www.fmcsa.dot.gov between 8AM and 5PM….
More
12/7/2011 – Advisory Committee Wraps Up Work on EOBR Recommendations
The Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee this week wrapped up work on recommendations to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on technical details of the pending electronic onboard recorder requirement….
More
12/5/2011 – CRASH says New Safety Data Validates Need for New HOS Rule
In a press release issued Friday, the Truck Safety Coalition says truck crash fatalities rose to nearly 4000 in 2010, from 3,380 casualties in 2009….
More
12/5/2011 – HOS Debate Hurting Rate Negotiations: FTR
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index, as reported in the December Trucking Update, declined to a reading of 3.4 in October, primarily due to further delay in the issuance of revised Hours of Service regulations….
More
12/2/2011 – CARB TRU Compliance Extension Application Forms now Available
Owner of reefer equipment unable to comply with the Dec. 31 2011 deadline due to delays in delivery, installation, or financing, reefer owners may apply for a compliance extension….
More