Description
ACEC/MN is excited to have Hennepin County Commissioner McLaughlin on hand to discuss the challenges that are facing Hennepin County and actions that are being taken to address those issues. He is committed to moving the county forward as a viable and desirable place to work and live. As Minnesota’s most populous county, it is a major driver of the region’s economy. Its challenges are many and varied. Commissioner McLaughlin will discuss a variety of initiatives that county is pursing including:
- Development along the light rail lines
- Long-term construction plans (3-5 years)
- Infrastructure Funding (including transportation, water, wastewater, energy, bonding)
- Workforce Development Challenges
- Cool County Initiatives
Presenter : Commissioner Peter McLaughlin joined the Hennepin County Board in 1991. Peter has led the regional effort of labor, business and the community in successfully lobbying for light rail transit (LRT) This led to the opening of Minnesota’s first light rail line, Hiawatha, now the METRO Blue Line in 2004. In 2008, he was instrumental in establishing a dedicated county funding source to expand the region’s transit system of light rail, commuter rail and bus rapid transit lines. The Counties Transit Improvement Board, which Peter chaired, invested over $800m from a five-county ¼% sales tax for transit.
Hennepin County this year adopted a ½% sales tax to finance further expansion of the transit system.
Among other transportation-related accomplishments, he develop a comprehensive county bicycle plan and created a bicycle gap funding program to expand non-motorized transportation options for county residents and workers. In 2008, he secured $1 million in funding for infrastructure improvements to eliminate “gaps” in Hennepin’s network of bicycling facilities as part of the county’s 5-year capital improvement plan for 2008-2012. He has also an early advocate for the Target Field Station in downtown Minneapolis, which serves multiple light rail, bus, commuter rail line, as well as pedestrians and bicyclists. He supports additional funding for road and bridge projects through a county-wide wheelage tax.
Prior to joining the County Board, McLaughlin served three terms in the Minnesota Legislature, rising to the post of Assistant House Majority Leader. He was the chief author on several key pieces of legislation, including the Parental Leave law, and legislation expanding the State Jobs Program (MEED), and State Dislocated Worker Program.
Mr. McLaughlin received his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University in 1971 and his Masters degree from the School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota in 1977.