Civic Leaders Call for Sustainable Transportation Plan

ST. CLOUD -- A group of local and state transportation officials gathered at the Metro Bus Mobility Training Center in St. Cloud today to call on state lawmakers to properly fund transportation needs in the state.

Dave Van Hattum is the Chairman of Transportation Forward, a coalition of civic leaders who want the state to develop a long-term sustainable transportation funding package.

Van Hattum says there are a handful of mechanisms to properly fund our transportation needs.  He says the state surplus can be used for a short-term fix, but he says they support raising the gas tax to create a long-term funding solution.

Van Hattum says they also support raising the Twin Cities Metro sales tax to help fund roads and bridges, mass transit including extending the Northstar Rail to St. Cloud and build safe routes for bikers and walkers.