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- � �� _�I E! : t� �li�� l�e�i�nal ��r�ncif �fi �layars �ta#e��er�� Tr�n��vrta#i�n Pri�ri#y As Mayors representing cities in Minnesota's fast-growing 1 I-county metropolitan region, we hereby declare our belief that transportation has become one of the most vexing problems facing our communities and requires urgent attention from our state's leaders. Too many of our communities are choking under congestion and suffer undue economic hardship from inadequate transit and road infrastructure. Although many positive transportation improvements have been implemented in recent years, Minnesota's investment in roads and transit continues to fall behind our peer regions around the country. Our roadways are our economic lifeline. If we don't act now, the implications of an inadequate transportation system will affect the productive growth and development of the entire state for decades. Far too many of our fellow Minnesotans unnecessarilywaste time and money stuck in traffic gridlock. Every day, thousands of people and business vehicles sit in traffic. According to researchers, metropolitan area drivers each absorb a"congestiontax" of over $700 per year, and collectively waste over 93 million gallons of fuel annually. One million more people are expected to move to our metropolitan region in the next two decades and unless something is done, traffic congestion will only continue to increase. Clogged highways hinder economic prosperity and erode the quality of life Minnesotans have come to expect. As local government leaders, we see daily how congested and unsafe roads complicate numerous aspects of life in Minnesota: parents spend less time with their kids and more time in traffic, hospital ambulances take longer to get to and from accident scenes, and truckloads of consumer goods increase in price as commercial vehicles take longer to travel. As public officials, we recognize that solving our transportation problem is a complex and long-term challenge that will require various strategies: ✓ Minnesota needs to adequately and strategically invest additional resources in superior transit and roads with predictable, accountable, and long-term funding that supports a variety of options, including transit and roads. ✓ New transportation resources must prioritize public transit within a comprehensive, multi-modal, interconnectedtransportation system that serves the 1 I-county metro area. Additional light rail and commuter rail lines, along with expanded bus service, must be employed to support our fast-growing region. ✓ Courageous and visionary leadership is vital to forging a sustainable, long-term transportation plan for our state and region. Dedicated leadership must drive progress on that plan and maintain accountabilityforthe process to the public.