South Dakota's Senate Bill 103

By Steve Willard

In 2004 the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SD DOT) was informed by the state's attorney general that state spending on public transportation would no longer be allowed as it was not specifically allowed by the state constitution or by state statute. Funding was available through 2005, but after that no monies would be made available to the local paratransit operators.

In South Dakota there are 33 public and special transportation agencies providing rides in 209 communities and counties. The financial loss would have ended service in most of those localities, as the nearly $300,000 a year provided by the state had been used to match federal funds.

The South Dakota members of the Dakota Transit Association, working in cooperation with the SD DOT introduced legislation to specifically allow the use of state highway money for public transportation. The bill, Senate Bill 103, passed with overwhelming support once the local operators overcame the objections of Senators who were concerned that spending on public transportation would siphon funds from highways, roads and bridges.

The language became effective July 1, 2005, and essentially guarantees a source of funds for public transportation for years to come. It was a significant victory for the public transportation systems and a testament to the work done in each of the communities transit serves.

In this issue...

• From the President
• St. Louis EXPO
• What is TCRP and How Can I Participate?
• SURTC Director on TOPS Committee
• Mutualizing Risk
• South Dakota's Senate Bill 103
• North Dakota Legislative Session in Review
• Minneapolis National RTAP Meeting
• DTA Roadeo and Conference
• Regional RTAP Library
• Public Transits Feeding Interstate Bus Lines
• PASS Training in Spearfish
• Emergency Evacuation