Posted: 06/17/09 02:05
by Dave Mindeman
In the South Metro, the discussion about Cedar Ave Bus Rapid Transit has been going on for years. As traffic congestion has mounted, frustrated Dakota County officials have looked for methods of reducing the number of cars that flow through tlhe Cedar Ave/Hwy 77 corridor.
Talks began as the millenium rolled into the 21st Century. A serious discussion of Bus Rapid Transit was developed, realizing light rail options were too far into the future. BRT was settled upon as the answer most relevant.
But, despite the fact that the Chair of the Republican House Majority Transportation Committee was Rep. Mary Liz Holberg of Lakeville, movement on BRT was stalled. Mostly by an unwillingness to allocate the dollars by an anti-transit Majority in the House and a new Governor....Tim Pawlenty, who was simply derelict on transportation issues.
But slowly, funding for BRT began accumulating. Seed money was obtained, then phased in funding. Then in 2006, the DFL took control of the Legislature and movement began in earnest. Transportation issues got noticed. In Apple Valley - Burnsville, a DFLer (Shelley Madore) won the seat in 2006 and pressed ahead. She pressured Lakeville into joining the Transit Taxing District, which put nearly all the south metro communities on the same page and ready to contribute.
Then, the Transportation Bill override of 2007 gave many projects a needed shot in the arm. Still, the puzzle wasn't complete. BRT still languished -- even with Federal stimulus dollars coming our way. The quilt of funding sources is still short today.
Thanks to Republican legislative intransigence during the early part of the Cedar Ave project....thanks to a Governor whose support has been rhetorical rather than actionable....
but right now, it is mostly thanks to our Congressional Representative, John Kline, who suddenly decided that Federal spending must be "kosher" only -- pork free.
It has come to this. The shortfall gets bigger. Thanks to the delays and rhetorical stonewalling.....
The price for bus rapid transit on Cedar Avenue just got bigger. Dakota County -- already short about $11 million for the first phase of the transit project -- is now looking at a gap of as much as $20 million that needs to be filled for construction to move forward next summer and fall.
What happened?
A previous figure, which estimated the 2008 cost of the project, put road construction expenses at $28.6 million. The new projected road construction cost of $35 million reflects inflationary increases and the extension of the project farther south into Lakeville, said Mark Krebsbach, Dakota County's transportation director.
And the price tag will continue to climb as we continue delay after delay. Congressman Kline is now costing the taxpayers additional money by his ridiculous refusal to represent us.
Let's repeat that. John Kline, the pork busting crusader has now put a thoroughly vetted and needed project, into a dangerous inflationary spiral of endless budgetary shortfalls.
This is no longer a case of discretionary judgment for our Congressman....no, this is now a case of gross negligence.
How much longer will the 2nd District continue to accept this "ghost" representation charade?
How long?
it was okay to vote for an earmark when the GOP was in control of congress, it is wasting money now that the Democrats are in the majority. Not all Earnarks are created equal! Rep. "NO" must not feel very confident in his recommendations if he thinks all Earmarks are Pork. The earmark position is very disingenuous and partisan. Rep. "NO" does not represent the people of the 2nd Congressional District. The people he should be caring about the most are being left behind. It is time to leave him behind. 
