[E-Debate Note: This is the first post of Ken Pentel who is seeking Green Party endorsement for Governor.]

Question 3: To what extent do you intend to support investment in maintaining Minnesota’s highway system and expanding its mass transit system given the age of the state’s highway system, population and business growth, and the mass transit needs of an aging and dispersed population?

PENTEL Response to Question 3

A safe highway system is vital to our state. Dangerous roads and bridges must be improved and maintained, while expanded highways resulting in further irreparable degradation to communities and natural resources must be avoided.

It is imperative that Minnesotans recognize the importance of mass transit and alternatives to the internal combustion engine to the future welfare of our state.

Our next governor should take a leadership role in removing the constitutional restrictions placed on how Minnesota gas tax revenue may be spent. While maintaining equity between rural and urban communities, gas tax revenue should be made available to support mass transit alternatives, including efficient and user-friendly buses, light rail and development of dedicated bicycle lanes or roadways.

Our public transportation system must be rebuilt into a convenient and financially attractive alternative to massive individual vehicle use. Light rail transit should be thoughtfully developed as soon as possible on targeted corridors in metropolitan areas, especially along existing rail lines. Use of high speed rail connecting major urban areas in the state and in cooperation with other states should be planned.

Any discussion of transportation must also include strategies develop more pedestrian friendly urban areas. We should reshape our long term planning to enhance more human scale means of travel. Dependency on the car and the resulting urban sprawl helps to increase our cost of living and does not help reduce the risk of death and injury associated with it. Careful transportation planning can help to influence commercial and housing development, curb urban sprawl and serve the needs of people and commerce.

While protecting workers during a transition to a more sustainable transportation system, we must make sure the public’s best interest is not hindered by entrenched automobile, oil and highway construction industry lobbyists and influence.