America and Minnesota need better roads and bridges, and Minnesota Representative Jim Oberstar, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is the champion for quick passage and full funding of a highway bill that would provide money for infrastructure improvements. What we haven't heard enough about is how a fully-funded federal highway bill could help us get out of the economic downturn by creating jobs, as we will see in a moment.

Are improved roads and bridges important to residents of the North Star State?  A research group, The Road Information Program (TRIP), recently issued a report entitled "Future Mobility in Minnesota: Meeting the State's Need for Safe and Efficient Mobility;" see www.tripnet.org.

According to the report, the cost of crumbling infrastructure to each Twin Cities motorist is $1,501 each year. This cost derives from poor road conditions, lost time and fuel from traffic congestion, and the expense from traffic crashes. Think about the opportunity cost. Besides car repairs, how else could you spend $1,501? Perhaps a small portion of those savings could be used to pay to improve roads and bridges.

And Minnesota leads the nation with the highest share of urban roadways considered congested during peak travel time - 76 percent

About $65 billion will be needed during the next 20 years to achieve state priorities for safety, mobility and infrastructure preservation, but the Minnesota DOT estimates that only $15 billion will be available. The $50 billion gap means bridges and roads will go without maintenance and continue to jeopardize safety.