Minnesota Bill Would Increase Gas Tax.

Byline: Bill Salisbury

Apr. 20--Minnesota's gasoline tax would increase 3 cents a gallon and would automatically rise an additional half-penny in future years under a massive transportation funding bill approved by a key Senate panel Thursday night.

The measure would also:

-- Ask metro-area voters to vote to boost the region's sales tax by half a cent for highways and mass transit.

-- Block a planned 25-cent fare increase for Metro Transit buses.

-- Grant St. Paul $3 million to purchase Union Depot and redevelop it into a terminal for Amtrak commuter and high-speed trains.

-- Make a down payment on high-speed rail service to Chicago, commuter rail service around the Twin Cities and a bus or …