The Advocacy Coalition Behind Minnesota’s Transit Funding Victory

The Minnesota State Legislature approved HF 2887 in May 2023, in effect adopting a transportation omnibus bill with $2 billion for public transit programs included in $9 billion total for transportation funds. Notably, the bill created several new funding sources, like a local sales tax, a gas tax indexed to inflation, a retail delivery fee, and a new sales tax on motor vehicles. Projects funded by the bill will include an intercity rail route between the Twin Cities and Duluth, an extension of the Blue Line light rail route between downtown Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park, and more.

The story of how the bill was approved provides a model advocates around the country, especially those operating in states with a Democratic trifecta in the governor’s office and the two houses of the legislature.

According to an article published by TransitCenter, the motivation for Minnesota legislators to approve the historic transportation bill came from not wanting to repeat a similar failure the last time Democrats held a trifecta—ten years ago. Further, the advocates quoted in the article from the Move MN, Sierra Club North Star Chapter, ISAIAH, and—all members of the Transportation Forward coalition—describe how HF 2887 was able to build support as a climate bill. Further aligning the stars for the coalition was the quick success of a 100 percent clean energy bill adopted in February and a ten-year effort to test transportation legislation and build to the historic moment.

More details of the advocacy coalition that achieved the success, and how it might provide a model for advocates in other states to achieve similar victories for transit and the climate.