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Specific goals of the Governor include: <br /> <br />· an orderly investment program to repair <br /> and modernize our aging highway sys- <br /> tems, transit systems, and buildings, <br /> <br />· the development of creative alternatives, <br /> such as light rail, to meet our future <br /> transportation needs, <br /> <br />· predictable and secure funding sources <br /> to meet our longer-term infrastructure <br /> needs, and <br /> <br />· construction and acquisition of sufficient <br /> physical assets to enhance our education- <br /> al programs and stimulate economic <br /> development. <br /> <br />Recommendations <br /> <br />Transportation. The Governor recom- <br />mends that the Legislature increase the <br />transfer of the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax <br />(MVET) from its current 30% level to 35% <br />in 1990 and 45% in 1991. The $49 million <br />generated by the transfer would be dis- <br />tributed as follows: <br /> <br />· $23 million to the trunk highway fund <br /> <br />· $4 million to increase light rail funding, <br /> and <br /> <br />· $22 million to local governments to <br /> reduce local property taxes for transpor- <br /> tation or other local purposes. <br /> <br />Because this MVET transfer will not meet <br />all trunk highway funding needs, the Gover- <br />nor also recommends that the Legislature <br />index the gasoline tax to help insure ade- <br />quate future funding as costs increase. <br /> <br />The Governor recommends that the Legis- <br />lature restruct'ure transportation planning <br /> <br />for the Twin Cities metropolitan area. <br />Responsibility for that activity is now dis- <br />persed among a number of state, regional <br />and local agencies. Highway, transit and <br />light rail planning requires a more <br />focused and coordinated effort. The <br />Governor questions the continued need <br />for the Regional Transit Board, and he <br />suggests the Legislature should consider <br />sunsetting the RTB as part of its effort to <br />restructure metro-area transportation <br />planning. <br /> <br />Amateur Athletics. The Governor <br />recommends that the 1989 Legislature <br />continue the effort to develop the state's <br />athletic infrastructure. The following <br />projects, all needed to keep the 1990 <br />Olympic Festival and the 1991 Special <br />Olympics events on track, are recom- <br />mended for authorization by the 1989 <br />Legislature: <br /> <br />· $8.5 million to expand the Blaine <br /> sports complex, <br /> <br />$300,000 to upgrade track and field <br />facilities at the Uniyersity of Min- <br />nesota to Olympic standards, <br /> <br />· $5.0 million to expand the the Giants <br /> Ridge complex, and <br /> <br />$360,000 to establish a kayaking center <br />on the St. Louis River in Carlton <br />County. <br /> <br />Other Capital Investments. The Gover- <br />nor recommends that the 1989 session <br />authorize an additional $77 million for <br />the following immediate capital needs: <br /> <br />· $25 million for repairs and construc- <br /> tion planning needed for the state's <br /> Regional Treatment Centers, includ- <br /> ing planning for the first phase of state <br /> <br /> <br />