Han pasado dos décadas desde que Minnesota dejó de permitir que las personas indocumentadas soliciten una licencia de conducir. Pero hay energías renovadas en la Legislatura para revertir esa restricción. Un panel de la Cámara escuchó el testimonio ayer (martes) de un proyecto de ley de "Licencias de conducir para todos". La idea ha sido objeto de un intenso debate en los últimos años, pero no ha podido pasar bajo un gobierno estatal dividido. Sus partidarios sienten que sus posibilidades son mejores ahora, con los demócratas controlando la oficina del gobernador y la legislatura. La organizadora comunitaria Regina Olono Vidales habló a favor del plan y dijo que en la universidad era una barrera para ella y otros estudiantes indocumentados.

"Las personas como nosotros vivimos con miedo todos los días, solo por ir al trabajo, a clase, a comprar alimentos, lo que sea. Este es un tema de transporte, accesibilidad, educación, seguridad pública y mucho más," expresó Vidales.

Otros partidarios que testificaron incluyeron grupos empresariales, líderes religiosos y miembros de las fuerzas del orden. Algunos señalan que brindaría estabilidad a la fuerza laboral de Minnesota y haría que las carreteras fueran más seguras. Los republicanos que se oponen a la idea argumentan que abre la puerta a la inmigración ilegal y podría dar lugar a casos de fraude electoral.

Pero los legisladores del DFL han señalado que estas serían licencias "no conformes" relacionadas con la Ley REAL ID, lo que significa que no podrían usarse para registrarse para votar. Francisco Segovia está con COPAL MN, que está liderando una campaña para que se apruebe el proyecto de ley en los primeros 45 días de sesión. Él dice que los opositores han permitido que este tema se politice.

"Una licencia de conducir es básicamente una autorización o un privilegio para poder operar un vehículo de motor. No debería ser un problema de inmigración aquí. Y todos se benefician de tener personas conduciendo vehículos con la debida autorización y capacitación," comentó Segovia.

Segovia cree que los legisladores deben considerar la creciente población latina del estado, casi el 40% de los cuales son menores de 18 años. Dice que algunos están creciendo en hogares con padres que no pueden llevarlos a actividades y citas después de la escuela, lo que los pone en una desventaja. Casi 20 estados ya ofrecen privilegios de conducir a personas que carecen de un estatus legal permanente.

A grant from the federal government is helping improve transportation planning options in the Puget Sound region.

The nonprofit Hopelink received a $519,000 Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility Project grant, a program created through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021.

Staci Sahoo, director of mobility management for the nonprofit Hopelink, said the funds will support the second phase in the development of its online tool, the Find a Ride Trip Planner. She pointed out different transportation resources each have their own avenues for signing up.

"We're so excited for is to make it as seamless as we possibly can with all the systems diverging," Sahoo explained. "How do we bring it all into one tool so that somebody just has to apply, just has to sign up one time?"

Sahoo noted the ultimate goal of the Find a Trip Planner tool is to create a seamless process for the booking and payment of transportation. Many people currently need to work across different apps and tools to navigate the process. The planner provides transportation options across King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties.

Sahoo stressed finding transportation can be hard especially for people who may have mobility issues. However, the tool could help them identify resources for transportation.

"An individual who uses a mobility device, a person who identifies as low vision or blind, they're likely eligible for a lot more services than they realize," Sahoo observed. "That's what we're trying to help connect them with."

Sahoo added the tool has also helped to identify gaps in transportation services. For example, Snoqualmie Valley recently launched service on the weekend.

"Our first priority is the end user, the person who will be using the tool," Sahoo asserted. "We've already seen benefits on actually increasing services because we're able to more easily see what's lacking."

The Find a Ride Trip Planner was among 17 projects selected to receive an Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility Project grant. The Federal Transit Administration distributed a combined $7.8 million to the projects.


get more stories like this via email

Half a century after the goal was first conceived, Indianapolis and Evansville are now officially connected via an interstate highway.

The I-69 and I-465 interchange is opening this week on the southwest side of Indianapolis, as the sixth and final section between the two cities. Crews broke ground on the I-69 extension in 2008 in southwest Indiana, but the dream of an interstate connecting Evansville to Indianapolis spanned decades.

Gov. Eric Holcomb said the project completes a major economic vision for Indiana.

"The cost of not doing this far exceeded the cost of doing it," Holcomb contended. "This was an investment in us, this was an investment in our future, this was an investment in realizing our potential."

According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, I-69 features more than 26 miles of new interstate, more than 35 new lane miles of local access roads, 39 new bridges and 35 rebuilt or replaced bridges and the elimination of 14 traffic signals. It also reduces travel time from Indianapolis to Martinsville by 11 minutes.

Former Vice President and Gov. Mike Pence spoke at the opening of the highway, telling those in attendance that the project has been dreamed about in Indiana since before the end of World War II.

"It required patience, determination, vision and unwavering commitment," Pence emphasized. "Since 1944, I'm told, citizens, transportation planners, elected officials always looked forward to this day."

Crews are working on the finishing touches. I-69 now runs continuously from the Canadian border to Evansville. It will eventually go all the way to the Mexican border.


get more stories like this via email

Concerns about environmental and economic disruption by the proposed "Corridor H" four-lane highway project have led dozens of small businesses in two West Virginia towns to call for an alternative route.

The towns of Thomas and Davis cradle Blackwater Falls State Park and are surrounded by state parks, a national forest, two wilderness areas and a national wildlife refuge.

Matt Marcus, manager of Blackwater Bikes in Davis, said he is worried the highway will decrease foot traffic and dollars to independent businesses that are the backbone of the local economy.

"People are coming here to get away from the city and the highways," Marcus contended. "These trails will be negatively affected with the proximity of the road, road noise, the light pollution at night."

Critics of the Corridor H plan said a northern route would avoid the towns and help reduce the effects of a highway. Supporters of the project argued it will open up remote areas in Grant, Hardy and Tucker counties to economic development and boost travel into West Virginia from other states.

Linda Reeves, owner of The Studio Gallery in Thomas, recently signed a letter along with other business owners, expressing deep concerns about the economic impact of the proposed 10-mile Corridor H route. She said she has watched the region blossom since she opened her business in 2010.

"Things were pretty depressed here," Reeves recounted. "Then people came in and saw the possibilities and the beauty of these two towns and the charm of them, and started to revitalize, rent out spaces and start businesses and did very well."

Marcus added the state's Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the project has not been publicly released but he anticipates it will be under review by the Federal Highway Administration.

"Our letter to Pete Buttigieg, we have not received an answer from that yet," Marcus emphasized. "Although we are hopeful, because the Secretary of Transportation has stated that he does not want to see communities divided by the highways."

The towns are adjacent to the Blackwater River, flagged earlier this year by the group American Rivers as one of the country's most endangered waterways. It cited threats from the Corridor H project, including construction pollution, unearthing acid mine drainage into headwater streams and disrupting wildlife habitat.


get more stories like this via email