Leaders of Twin Cities bus and rail systems are disputing an auditor's findings that distrust and a lack of public accountability have prevented better transit planning.
"The notion that somehow this is going forward willy-nilly is really pretty off base," Peter McLaughlin, chair of a board that disburses sales taxes for transit, told members of a House transportation committee on Monday.
Last week Legislative Auditor Jim Nobles released a report that found a lack of coordination among more than a dozen government boards in setting transit priorities.
McLaughlin said disagreements among the groups cited in the report are "overstated," adding that they generally share a vision for expanding transit. "We think our priorities have, in fact, meshed," he said.
The audit is likely to be a continuing Capitol topic as Gov. Mark Dayton appoints new members to the Metropolitan Council, which oversees transit in the seven-county metro area.
"We'll be digesting this for some time," Rep. Michael Beard, R-Shakopee, chair of the transportation committee, told the other members.
The report said the Met Council is "the root of the problem" because its organization lacks accountability and credibility with suburban transit agencies. Auditors recommended that the 17-member appointed council be replaced with appointed and elected members.
Dayton's newly appointed Met Council chair, Susan Haigh, said the challenge for a regional agency is to "balance the regional goals with the very local needs." While Nobles cited many transit boards with overlapping agendas, Haigh said, "sometimes complexity provides the type of local imput that you need."
The report provides ammo for critics of big government, but also gives some DFLers reason to argue for expanding regional government. The audit noted that Met Council provides dial-a-ride and park-and-ride facilities in parts of the seven counties that are not paying special transit taxes. Rep. Alice Hausman, DFL-St. Paul, has proposed that the tax district expand to include the entire seven-county region and ultimately cover more counties.
Pat Doyle • 651-222-1210
