The Minnesota Chamber represents the interests of business across Minnesota. More importantly, the Minnesota Chamber considers how Minnesota’s business interests impact the region. 

Minnesota Chamber President David Olson writes a monthly column, featured here, on a current trend or issue that impacts the way our members do business. Look for his column each month on our Web site, or visit www.mnchamber.com for more information.

April 2008 column:

Minnesotans deserve the biggest bang for transportation bucks
 
 By David C. Olson
 
The 2008 transportation bill will generate significant new money for roads, bridges and transit. Now it is time to make sure that these new dollars are spent as efficiently as possible, and the business community will play a critical role.
 
The Minnesota Chamber is developing recommendations for consideration by the Transportation Strategic Management and Operations Advisory Task Force. Creation of the task force was pushed hard by the business community and a key component of the funding package passed this year.
 
Chamber staff has met with Acting Commissioner Bob McFarlin of the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and he also recently addressed an expanded Minnesota Chamber Transportation Policy Committee audience. McFarlin agreed that money must be invested in the highest priorities, and projects must be delivered as soon as possible.  The commissioner gave the department’s perspective on the short-term and long-term impacts of the transportation funding bill.

In that respect, MnDOT has announced its 2008 construction schedule – 135 projects totaling $441 million. Accelerated projects will represent an additional $216 million, bolstered by passage of the legislation. In addition, 147 local bridge projects, 85 which need major repair or replacement, will be addressed.
 
For 2008-10, the bill will provide a total of $645 million for construction programs. More than 30 road and bridge projects will be advanced due to the passage of the transportation bill – including $287 million for 32 projects in Greater Minnesota and $357 million for four projects in the Twin Cities.
 
The task force is charged with identifying strategies and making recommendations to improve efficiency, management and operations in construction and maintenance projects as well as transportation infrastructure management.
 
The Minnesota Chamber is in the beginning stages of identifying recommendations to advance to the task force. Our goal is to bring effective business strategies – new and innovative ideas - to MnDOT operations and see how we can best work with the department to implement these practices.
 
We also appreciate that MnDOT is bound by certain procedures. To that end, we are specifically interested in gaining a better understanding of the laws that govern the department’s current bidding process.
   
Minnesota businesses understand the necessity for safe roads and reduced congestion in order to move their people and products safely and efficiently. Our first challenge was to inject new and permanent funding into our transportation system. The next challenge is to ensure that the new money is spent wisely on priority projects across the state.

David Olson is president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit the Web at www.mnchamber.com.