Saying that Minnesota's highways, roads, bridges and public transit systems are in decline, Gov. Mark Dayton wants an advisory board to find ways to reverse the trend.

Transportation Commissioner Tom Sorel will set up the Commissioner’s Transportation Finance Advisory Group, which has this lofty mandate:

"...identify investment opportunities to support a thriving economy and a high quality of life for Minnesotans over the next twenty years, identify and analyze the potential of various revenue sources and non-traditional approaches to transportation financing, as well as opportunities for public-private partnerships to invest in transportation improvements, and help develop a strategic marketing plan to obtain public support for the investment plan and any additional steps needed to obtain the funding."

Said Dayton:

“After traveling the state and meeting with business owners across Minnesota over the past several months, I have been reminded of how essential transportation infrastructure is to business success in Minnesota. Workers need to be able to get to and from work, and businesses need to be able to get goods to and from their markets. We must either improve our transportation systems or else suffer the consequences of their decline. I have asked Commissioner Sorel to gather the best and the brightest minds together to help us find new, innovative ways to finance improving our transportation systems.”

The governor suggested that the advisory group include:

• DEED Commissioner Mark Phillips
• Met Council Chair Sue Haigh
• Members of the public to represent businesses in the seven-county metropolitan area and Greater Minnesota
• A representative of the investment community
• A representative of unions
• A representative of county government
• An economist
• Two members each from the state Senate and House, one from the majority party and one from the minority party

The governor wants a written report with recommendations by Dec. 1.