Bob McFarlin: Star Tribune served readers poorly with MnDOT series

In a Dec. 20 editorial, the Star Tribune continued to perpetuate the myth that the Minnesota Department of Transportation has been less than forthcoming in providing information to media and the public. Moreover, the context within which this false charge is made clearly contradicts the premise.

In the editorial, the Star Tribune promotes its recent three-part series on transportation issues, a series that largely contained well-known information while also being parsimonious with the complete facts.

One article focused on the undisputed and well-documented fact that Hwy. 14 in southern Minnesota is in need of expansion and improvement. Hwy. 14 improvements have been a priority of the Pawlenty/Molnau administration since 2003.

Where did the Star Tribune get much of the information for its Hwy. 14 story -- the crash statistics, the history of corridor funding and improvements, future investment plans, general information on state transportation funding needs, interviews with safety and transportation policy experts, and more? That information, and the extensive effort to compile it, came from MnDOT and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

Unfortunately, the Star Tribune largely ignored the Pawlenty administration's dedication of funding for the significant advancement of two major Hwy. 14 reconstruction projects, one of which already has been completed, and it ignored the fact that Hwy. 14 projects were specific priorities in the administration's transportation funding proposals in 2003, 2006 and 2007.

In a second article, the Star Tribune again told readers what is already known. The Hwy. 61 bridge in Hastings is a safe but aging bridge that is inspected annually (most recently in August), as are all similar bridges in the state. Inspections note any emerging deficiencies, which are then annually monitored and repaired when necessary. A $2.2 million maintenance project is scheduled for this summer.

Where did the Star Tribune get information for the Hastings bridge story -- the voluminous inspection reports, bridge maintenance records, extensive and detailed professional engineering interpretation, and funding and planning documents? Again, it all came from MnDOT.

Unfortunately again, the Star Tribune failed to report, despite records provided, that maintenance has been conducted annually and that if any deficiency is in need of immediate attention, the repair is made.

In the third article, the Star Tribune revived a four-year-old story on zoning changes at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport that were adopted by MnDOT in 2004. The changes were recommended by a Joint Airport Zoning Board, a multijurisdictional body created in state law that conducted years of extensive, thorough and public examination of safety, legal and development issues. The adopted zoning regulations comply with federal and state law and are comparable to zoning restrictions applied to other urban airports across the nation.

Former Star Tribune reporter Dan Wascoe covered this story extensively from 2002 to 2004 -- when it was news. Where did the Star Tribune get information at that time and also for the most recent article -- the numerous studies, correspondence, interviews, draft findings and final MnDOT order? Once again, the information came from MnDOT.

In recent months, MnDOT has assisted more than a dozen Star Tribune reporters, providing thousands of requested documents and hundreds upon hundreds of hours of staff time from management, engineering, financial, public policy and communication professionals. This is our job and our responsibility, and it is the right thing to do. The Star Tribune's claims that this level of support and transparency is not occurring are pure myth and are a disservice to its readers.

Bob McFarlin is assistant to the commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Transportation.