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LE -41. Airport Planning and <br />Funding <br />Issue: Airports are an essential component <br />of Minnesota's transportation infrastructure. <br />The Minneapolis -St. Paul International <br />Airport (MSP) serves as an important <br />gateway to the region, the nation and global <br />markets. It serves as a primary access point <br />to our national airport system. This airport, <br />even with all the planned improvements, <br />will eventually reach its capacity. The state <br />needs to implement a long term strategy to <br />make better use of other airport facilities and <br />existing resources, reduce environmental <br />impacts, and achieve sound and sustainable <br />economic growth throughout the state. <br />Aviation planning is a multi -layered effort <br />with different levels of responsibilities. <br />Currently, the State Airports System Plan is <br />put together by MnDOT with individual <br />pieces developed by the Federal Aviation <br />Agency (FAA), Metropolitan Council (MC), <br />and Metropolitan Airports Commission <br />(MAC). Aviation planning could be <br />improved by a more unified statewide effort <br />and coordination of the various aviation <br />strategies through creation of an oversight <br />body. <br />Minn. Stat. § 360.017 establishes the State <br />Airport Fund and authorizes the Minnesota <br />Department of Transportation (MnDOT) <br />Office of Aeronautics to support cities, <br />counties and townships in the planning, <br />development, maintenance and safe <br />operation of public airports. In recent years, <br />in order to help balance the state's budget, <br />the Legislature transferred funds from the <br />State Airport Fund to the General Fund. <br />Although the borrowed funds were <br />eventually repaid in full, efforts to preserve <br />and improve the quality of airports <br />throughout the state were hindered by the <br />unavailability of these revenues. <br />Response: The state needs a higher degree <br />of integration of agencies (FAA, MnDOT, <br />MC, and MAC) and communities related <br />to aviation planning. The League of <br />Minnesota Cities supports the <br />development of a statewide airport <br />advisory board, which could provide <br />input, review and make recommendations <br />to assist in development of a <br />comprehensive statewide State Airports <br />System Plan. <br />The state needs to make planning and <br />investment decisions that will maximize <br />the potential for airports to become <br />economic development centers that <br />provide access to domestic and global <br />marketplaces. Investments in airports <br />allow existing businesses to remain and <br />grow, help attract new businesses, <br />increase employment, and lower product <br />and service costs for the benefit of the <br />region. Finally, the Legislature should <br />not authorize shifting of dedicated State <br />Airports Fund dollars to resolve general <br />fund deficits. <br />League of Minnesota Cities <br />2016 City Policies Page 73 <br />