Munnich, Lee

The Mileage-Based User Fee (MBUF) Policy taskforce report presents the finding and recommendations of the MBUF Policy Study and the taskforce. It presents the agreed upon policy objectives and the 6 recommendations voted and adopted by the taskforce. The report also presents a minority opinion section. The MBUF Policy Study was commissioned by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to identify and evaluate issues related to potential future implementation of an MBUF system in Minnesota. Under a potential MBUF system, drivers would be charged based on the number of miles they drive, regardless of the type of energy source used to propel the vehicle, instead of being charged by the gallon for fuel consumed in operating a vehicle. Over a period of approximately one year, the MBUF Project Management Team – comprised of individuals from MnDOT and the qualitative policy feedback, drove completion of several deliverables including development of potential MBUF business models, and staffed a Policy Task Force.

This project seeks to advance the state of knowledge of the relationship between transportation and economic development by investigating how firms in competitive industry clusters use transportation networks and what role the networks play in the formation and growth of these clusters. The approach combines quantitative and qualitative techniques to geographically identify competitive industry clusters and to investigate the role of transportation. The U.S. Cluster Mapping tool is used to identify competitive clusters by employment location quotients in 25 Minnesota metropolitan and micropolitan regions. Twelve competitive clusters were selected for further study, and in-depth interviews and site visits were conducted with businesses in each cluster to explore the competitive importance of different modes of transportation. These methods can yield valuable insights into how transportation functions as an input within competitive industry clusters and how it can inform economic development strategies tailored to certain locations and industries.

The Mileage-Based User Fee (MBUF) Policy Study Supporting Technical Information document is intended to offer necessary detail regarding the work performed and reviewed as part of the MBUF Policy Study. The document serves to complement the separate MBUF Policy Task Force Report; it summarizes activity within and inputs informing all phases of the MBUF Policy Study process, including findings from: Greater Minnesota listening sessions; 2011 MBUF Symposium in Breckenridge, CO; perspectives from national experts; national expert and transportation finance roundtable events; Internet panel survey of Minnesotans; and additional targeted outreach. The MBUF Policy Study was commissioned by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to identify and evaluate issues related to potential future implementation of an MBUF system in Minnesota. Under a potential MBUF system, drivers would be charged based on the number of miles they drive, regardless of the type of energy source used to propel the vehicle, instead of being charged by the gallon for fuel consumed in operating a vehicle. Over a period of approximately one year, the MBUF Project Management Team - comprised of individuals from MnDOT and the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, as well as consultants - secured valuable quantitative and qualitative policy feedback, drove completion of several deliverables including development of potential MBUF business models, and staffed a Policy Task Force.

This research project investigates the status of personal rapid transit (PRT) applications in airport environments, to understand the characteristics and attributes of these systems, to explore the viability of a PRT system in the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, and to prepare a synthesis report and presentation that document the project's findings.

The State and Local Policy Program (SLPP) of the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) and the Metropolitan Council originally designed a project that envisioned extensive research, outreach, and education activities leading to identification and support for a demonstration project by the end of the three year project period. With early acceptance and support for the I-394 MnPASS project by the Governor and Legislature, the Humphrey Institute in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration revised the project to focus on research, outreach, and education activities focused specifically on the I-394 MnPASS project. The major findings of this project are detailed in the summary and supported by the appendices. The appendices include multiple papers submitted to the Transportation Research Board, final reports from the first two waves of the longitudinal panel survey, the community task force report, and an information booklet designed to quickly educate lawmakers.

Report #2 in the Series: Local and Regional Planning, Management, Design and Evaluation of Advanced Transportation Technologies.

Report #1 in the Series: Local and Regional Planning, Management, Design and Evaluation of Advanced Transportation Technologies.

The State and Local Policy Program of the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Council, has studied value pricing since 1994. These partners were awarded a grant by the Federal Highway Administration in Fall 1999 to continue this work. This project included major components of both national outreach and continuing efforts to develop political support for value pricing in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region. This report summarizes the major activities that took place as part of this project, and includes as appendices, the major documents that were produced. These include three papers that were presented at the Transportation Research Board, a major pilot project proposal, and some other documents that were used locally.

This collection of studies addresses legal and institutional issues around applying telecommunications, wireless, and Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies to transportation, with a focus on the development of sustainable communities.