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Charles Marohn

Funding the future of transportation

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Daily Circuit Friday Roundtable
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The Green Line is up and running, but building a rail line and maintaining it are separate battles. How will we pay for the existing mass transit choices, create new options and not go broke? Our three Roundtablers offer their proposals for funding transportation.

Learn more about funding transportation:

• Fares only cover a third of the costs of running mass transit

Like any other enterprise, transit should be successful and cover its costs. This is entirely feasible if we change the model of transit finance from a branch of government to a regulated public utility, as is done in much of Europe and Asia. A public utility provides a service, and in exchange, it is compensated for that service. (Citylab)

• The Highway Trust Fund is projected to run out of money this summer

"For too long, Congress has shied away from taking serious action to update our country's aging infrastructure," (Senator Chris) Murphy said in a statement. "We're currently facing a transportation crisis that will only get worse if we don't take bold action to fund the Highway Trust Fund." (Business Insider)

• Transit plans for the future

By the year 2030, the Metropolitan Council wants at least three more light rail lines and at least five highway bus rapid-transit lines with dedicated lanes.

The vision also calls for at least a dozen other rapid intercity bus or streetcar lines on major avenues and at least one more commuter rail line.(MPR News)