why dont they build more public transportation to more suburbs (Minneapolis: credit, homes)

[dravogadro]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Seriously, lawn mowers?? We use probably 10-15 gallons in our mower in the summer....less than one tank of gas. It's insignificant. There are also local taxes for roads.

Lawn mowers were an example of a gas-powered item not used on the roads. I imagine many Minnesotans still use gas-powered tools, or generators, or power-washers or perhaps light-duty construction equipment like fork lifts? How about snowmobiles? (I know some of these can also use diesel and can be purchased tax-free)

You have to separate the funding for each type of road because it varies widely between the types of road and between states. The tax breakdown for a highway is very different than a local road. Property taxes pay more for local roads but are also supplemented by general and other funds.

I can't imagine rural areas generate enough in property taxes to pay for their local roads?

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by dravogadro

Lawn mowers were an example of a gas-powered item not used on the roads. I imagine many Minnesotans still use gas-powered tools, or generators, or power-washers or perhaps light-duty construction equipment like fork lifts? How about snowmobiles? (I know some of these can also use diesel and can be purchased tax-free)

You have to separate the funding for each type of road because it varies widely between the types of road and between states. The tax breakdown for a highway is very different than a local road. Property taxes pay more for local roads but are also supplemented by general and other funds.

I can't imagine rural areas generate enough in property taxes to pay for their local roads?

Really, you obviously have never had to pay tax on farmland or on the very nice income farming generates in MN....

[Beenhere4ever]

I imagine property tax is the last place road construction money comes from, except perhaps city streets that don't belong to a higher level of government. And even that could be funded by a combination of state and federal money, and no need that it be from the trust fund. As for ridership, it isn't the trend that matters, it is the load factor and the subsidy level. It might have to increase considerably before governments would consider suburban lines working under scrutiny of politics.

[golfgal]

http://www.dot.state.mn.us/planning/...%20Funding.pdf


Property and income tax funnel into the state appropriations for roads....

[dravogadro]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Really, you obviously have never had to pay tax on farmland or on the very nice income farming generates in MN....

Hence the question mark. I have often seen it listed that rural roads receive the highest subsidies so I was interested if anyone knew more without me having to dig through fun tax white papers.

[Beenhere4ever]

Two links some may find interesting:
minneapolis / st paul rideshare classifieds - craigslist
https://www.erideshare.com/carpool.php?dstate=MN

[xandrex]

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

As far as your son, if he was dead-set on public transportation he could move somewhere that offers it as a realistic option, or he could look for another job. I doubt there are many options that could sway many people in his situation to swap out a 15 minute drive for public transportation. As of 2010, only 556 Rosemount residents worked in Burnsville, and presumably those jobs are fairly scattered); it would be tough to create a realistic convenient commuting option that could compete with driving for that route.

I've got to agree here. How many people would trade a 15 minute commute, especially if you've already got the car and the free parking on both ends? Surely the short commute was part of the selling point of the real estate he purchased!

Originally Posted by golfgal

If he takes the Red Line it's a drive to Apple Valley--about 5 minutes, then on the bus, ride to Minneapolis, transfer buses, back to Burnsville--for an hour and a half minimum

The Red Line does not go into Minneapolis. It is the first purely suburban part of the METRO system. It does run up Cedar, though (and ends at MOA where anyone can catch the 494 bus that mimics the LRT we've been talking about). Your son could drive there, take it to the closest stop, and then bike/walk/bus to his office. I bet it wouldn't take 1.5 hours, but it certainly will take more than 15 minutes.

[SuperDuckyWho]

I think part of the reason is people ASSUME if you live in a suburb you are more likely to drive a car, so they are currently focusing on areas where more people would absolutely need it to get to and from work. I'm sure eventually they will make their way out to the suburbs but it seems to be a "who needs it right now" plan at the moment.

Originally Posted by Beenhere4ever

So there are a million different ways to say it, but transit is not and never has been crucial in creating suburbs. It will take Herculean efforts to make up for decades of neglect.

Agree. Also a lot of people that look into moving to the suburbs that that into account I think (at least I should hope so)... so less people in need of public transport.

Originally Posted by golfgal

Right.....and that same upper class person in Minneapolis ???? Get over it already. Why should bus transportation be by "class"? How many of these "poor" people have jobs to begin with?? YOu do realize that ridership in your beloved Minneapolis is dismal at best, right.

Wow... you're quite biased when it comes to Minneapolis. There are quite a good few of us in Minneapolis who use public transport to get to and from our very stable jobs. It's much more convenient than looking for downtown parking or battling traffic down West Broadway. I hate to tell you but there are people who actually live here. I see them all the time. And guess what, some of us are lower income AND have jobs as well. A couple of them even.

Also, I worked very hard to get a car after a couple of years riding because the buses were always so crowded on my route. It's obvious you don't have any first hand experience on things you're talking about.

[Beenhere4ever]

Whenever I had a downtown job, I used transit exclusively. One exception: Worked for a savings and loan which let me park about three levels down for free. My car was always warm, there was no cost, and I worked nights. But most times everything made me want to ride down, not drive down. As a result, all my addresses were on good lines. Sure it limited where I could live, but even now I doubt that the rentals away from good lines were any better.

[ionosphere]

I moved here recently and the public transportation is horrible. Without a car here in the suburbs, you'd be screwed. Why doesn't this area have a subway like other cities?