Agenda - Council Work Session - 02/27/2018

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Transportation 5-M City Speed Limit Control Cities are moving to incorporate multiple modes of transportation within existing right of way through local Complete Streets policies on residential roads where traffic safety also affects pedestrians and users of alternative transportation modes. Metro Cities supports design standards that result in slower speeds on local roads. Any statutory speed limit change must be uniform and provide adequate state funding for education and enforcement to ensure public awareness and compliance. At cities' or counties' discretion, Metro Cities also supports a year-round reduction of speed limits within 500 feet of any city or county parks and schools or on roads that are in the process of becoming more residential or developed but do not currently justify a reduction under a MnDOT sanctioned speed study. 5-N MnDOT Maintenance Budget The state has failed in its responsibility for maintaining major roads throughout the state by requiring, through omission, that cities bear the burden of maintaining major state roads. MnDOT should be required to meet standards adopted by cities through local ordinances, or reimburse cities for labor, equipment and material used on the state's behalf to improve public safety or meet local standards. Furthermore, if a city performs maintenance, the city should be fully reimbursed. Metro Cities supports MnDOT taking full responsibility for maintaining state-owned infrastructure and property, including, but not limited to, sound walls and right of way, within city limits. Metro Cities supports cooperative agreements between cities and MnDOT, which have proven to be effective in other parts of the state. 5-0 Transit Taxing District The transit taxing district, which funds the capital cost of transit service in the Metropolitan Area through the property tax system, is inequitable. Because the boundaries of the transit taxing district do not correspond with any rational service line nor is being within the boundaries a guarantee to receive service, cities within and outside of the taxing district are contributing unequally to the transit service in the Metropolitan Area. This inequity should be corrected. Metro Cities supports a stable revenue source to fund both the capital and operating costs for transit at the Metropolitan Council. However, Metro Cities does not support the expansion of the transit taxing district without a corresponding increase in service and an overall increase in operational funds. To do so would create additional property taxes without a corresponding benefit. 5-P Complete Streets 2018 Legislative Policies 55