Clearly, somebody besides the driver is paying for Minnesota’s roads. Drivers – through gasoline taxes,
car registration fees and sales taxes on vehicles – actually pay only 62% of the costs of roads. General
taxpayers “subsidize” the rest, no matter how much or little they drive. Because of this arrangement, a
good portion of Minnesota’s demand for roads is forced to compete with the whole array of other
pressing government needs. This competition now threatens the integrity of our road system, especially in
busy urban areas. It also chokes off opportunities to provide other viable transport choices, like transit.