Twin Cities Pay More, Get Less in State's Transportation Equation

An Star Tribune analysis finds residents in the Twin Cities region are generously supporting the transportation infrastructure spending of the rest of the state.

1 minute read

March 21, 2017, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Minneapolis Traffic

Nick Lundgren / Shutterstock

"Greater Minnesota gets far more money for roads and bridges than its residents pay in taxes for those projects, a new Star Tribune analysis of transportation funding has found," report J. Patrick Coolican and Mary Jo Webster. Throughout the article, the "Metro" is used to describe counties in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, while "Greater Minnesota" is used to describe the rest of the state.

"The review found that metro and greater Minnesota taxpayers each provide about half the money for Minnesota’s roads and bridges, but greater Minnesota gets twice as much back in projects," add Coolican and Webster.  To be exact, Metro area counties generate 52 percent of the state's vehicles sales tax, vehicle registration fees, and fuel taxes revenues. However, the same counties only receive 32 percent of the state's transportation investment.

According to the article, the findings of the analysis "contradicts a commonly held perception in greater Minnesota — and one heard often in political campaigns — that the metro is taking more than it gives." That common misconception is not unique to Minnesota, of course.

The analysis emerges as Republican Senate leaders "are planning to review their 10-year transportation funding plan," and while debate regarding the Southwest light rail project continues at the state and regional levels.

Monday, March 20, 2017 in Star Tribune

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Brutalist grey department of housing and urban development building in Washington DC.

How Trump's HUD Budget Proposal Would Harm Homelessness Response

Experts say the change to the HUD budget would make it more difficult to identify people who are homeless and connect them with services, and to prevent homelessness.

3 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Lancaster Boulevard with tree-lined median and wide sidewalks in Lancaster, California.

The Vast Potential of the Right-of-Way

One writer argues that the space between two building faces is the most important element of the built environment.

3 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

Sign in front of building for seior services center in St. Petersburg, Fl.

Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk

High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.

5 hours ago - WESH