News Release

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau today affirmed the importance of innovative transportation financing options in her testimony before the Senate Transportation Policy and Budget Committee on the Pawlenty-Molnau FAST lanes initiative.

"We are looking to the private sector to add optional pay lanes where capacity is needed to relieve congestion. These are lanes we would add if we had the funding. This is not a traditional toll - drivers have the choice to use or not use the toll lane," said Molnau.

Molnau added that it is impractical to depend solely on existing funding mechanisms like the gas tax to close the gap in a projected 20-year backlog in highway improvements.

"The gas tax is not going to be the workhorse that it was in the past. The FAST lanes could ease the load for the workhorse. This is a national trend to add revenue to transportation systems," said Molnau. "We think it is critical for Minnesota to learn from the experiences of other states where the lanes are being added."

In related news, Molnau proposed that the legislature form a Minnesota toll road advisory committee. She also proposed that Mn/DOT may award no more than two toll road development contracts before July 2006.

Gov. Pawlenty and Lt. Gov. Molnau announced last December that they planned to solicit proposals from private companies to construct FAST lanes on Minnesota highways. Last week, over 60 developers, financiers, contractors and consultants joined state government officials representing Administration, Finance, Public Safety and Transportation to share ideas, provide feedback and discuss their interest in partnering with the state. Mn/DOT is expected to issue a request for letters of interest from the private sector within four to six weeks.

For more information on FAST lanes, visit the Web site at www.dot.state.mn.us/fastlanes.

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