The Minnesota Department of Transportation is still figuring out how it will spend the pot of money that landed on its doorstep this week, and some projects, such as the devil's triangle in Brooklyn Park, could see orange barrels earlier than expected.

Work at the notoriously congested triple intersection along Hwy. 169 was most recently scheduled to begin in 2009, and "they don't have to do a lot of planning, a lot of engineering; they've got the land acquired for it," said House Assistant Majority Leader Michael Nelson, DFL-Brooklyn Park. "So it's one that could get started as early as this summer."

Transportation Commissioner Carol Molnau said in a statement that, per the legislation, her department will focus on bridges and other maintenance and preservation work, and that MnDOT plans to listen to input from citizens and transportation leaders around the state.

"I wish we could plug it into a formula and punch a button, and it'll say 'here's the ones we're going to do,' but it's going to take a couple months to figure it out," said Khani Sahebjam, top engineer for MnDOT's metro district.

Transit taxes

Money from the new transit sales tax, meanwhile, won't be flowing quite as quickly as revenue from the gas tax, the first phase of which starts April 1. That's because seven county boards in the metro area will weigh in on the transit plan, which includes a $20 excise tax on vehicle purchases.

Once the money starts coming in, it can only be spent on park-and-ride facilities and transitways (rail lines and designated busways). The funds can be used to build or operate transitways but can't be used for general bus operations.

The first $30.7 million collected, however, will go to the Metropolitan Council "for operating assistance for transit." That's because Metro Transit, which has an annual budget of about $264 million, is looking at a $16 million deficit if it keeps current levels of bus and train service, and the agency will face other expenses, including startup costs for the Northstar line.

Met Council officials attributed the deficit to lower-than-expected revenues from the motor vehicle sales tax.

The legislation enacted this week also instructs the Met Council to begin work "to secure federal funds for a single comprehensive program of rail transitway development, to include Rush Line, Red Rock, Southwest Corridor, and an extension of Northstar commuter rail to St. Cloud."

Jim Foti • 612-673-4491