Minnesota’s trunk highway system is a network of state-owned roadways that spans across the state, connecting communities big and small. In these different contexts, state highways take various forms, from Greater Minnesota main streets to suburban arterials to large urban freeways.
Across the state, these roads serve all transportation modes, including those who bike, walk, roll, use public transit, and drive. These highways aren’t just for cars—they’re vital corridors that connect our communities, whether we’re driving, walking, biking, or taking public transit. However, a narrow interpretation of the 1920 constitutional amendment prioritized funding for one mode at the expense of all others.
The Origins of “Highway Purpose”
The Minnesota Constitution requires that the Highway User Tax Distribution Fund (HUTDF) be spent on “highway purposes”. The origin of this language dates back to a 1920 constitutional amendment that established the state’s trunk highway system and dedicated funding to support “any reasonable means of communication” between points on the system. This was later amended to restrict funding to “highway purposes” via a 1956 amendment.
Since then, “highway purpose” has been narrowly interpreted to mean only pavement and asphalt for cars, not for any pedestrian, bicycle, or transit infrastructure within the highway right-of-way. This interpretation makes little sense, given that when the trunk highway system was first established, Minnesotans used a variety of travel modes on the highway system, including biking, walking, streetcars, and even horses and buggies. Seeing highways as multimodal systems is just as important today as we build a transportation system for everyone, including the 20% of Minnesotans who don’t drive.
Clarifying “highway purpose” to include all modes.
Our Streets is working with allies to advance legislation clarifying that highway funds can be used for all types of transportation infrastructure along highway corridors. Other states, including Colorado, passed similar legislation in 2013.
This change has strong public support—66% of Minnesotans favor using state and federal highway funding to improve various transportation options rather than just expanding highways.
Clarifying highway purposes would benefit Minnesotans by:
- Making our transportation dollars go further by allowing more flexible and efficient use of existing funding
- Creating safer and more accessible routes for everyone, regardless of how they choose to travel
- Increasing the efficiency of projects that invest in transit and roads at the same time, saving taxpayers millions, reducing construction delays, and reducing duplicative planning
- Supporting Minnesota’s environmental goals by making it easier to fund climate-friendly transportation options
- Reducing project costs and delays by eliminating the need to find separate funding sources for multi-modal infrastructure along highways, preserving union job stability
- Increasing Minnesota’s economic vitality by connecting people to jobs, opportunities, and daily needs through a transportation system that works for all
This is a commonsense clarification that aligns our state’s funding practices with how Minnesotans actually use our trunk highways today, building safer streets for all, connecting communities with opportunities, and saving the state money. Fundamentally, this clarification respects the original intent of the State Constitution to provide a transportation system for all Minnesotans– regardless of how people choose to travel.
Doing so helps us achieve a transportation system for all, saves money, and facilitates good projects in communities across our state.
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