HF 3691

1st Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 04/06/2016 01:03pm

A bill for an act
relating to mass transit; requiring initiation of negotiations to extend and modify
Northstar commuter rail passenger service.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin NORTHSTAR CORRIDOR EXTENSION; NEGOTIATIONS.
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new text begin The Department of Transportation must contact Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Railway (BNSF) to negotiate an extension of the Northstar Corridor between Big Lake
and St. Cloud, subject to the following conditions:
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new text begin (1) the Northstar Corridor will add at least one morning round trip departure
between the St. Cloud Amtrak Depot and Big Lake Station with continuing service to
Target Station each weekday, plus one evening round trip between Big Lake Station and
St. Cloud Amtrak Depot that must begin at Target Station, with the departure and arrival
times set so that approximately ten or more hours elapse between the morning departure
and evening return each day for both round trips. The Department of Transportation may
also negotiate weekend departures and arrivals between St. Cloud and Target Station;
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new text begin (2) the Department of Transportation may negotiate for fewer round trip departures
from Big Lake to Target Station each weekday, and fewer round trip departures on
weekends;
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new text begin (3) BNSF must continue to crew and dispatch all trains and provide other
track-related services;
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new text begin (4) the St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) must be responsible for
fare collection in St. Cloud and must negotiate with Amtrak for using the Amtrak station.
The MTC must negotiate an agreement with the Metropolitan Council, which must require
approval by the city of St. Cloud, regarding the sharing of revenues and expenses related
to the Amtrak station, fare collection, and advertising. The MTC, city of St. Cloud, and
Stearns, Benton, and Sherburne Counties are prohibited from entering into agreements with
the Metropolitan Council on any subject other than the operation of the Northstar Corridor;
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new text begin (5) the Department of Transportation may not commit to spend any state funds
on capital expenditures;
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new text begin (6) the Department of Transportation may not commit to spend any more state funds
on operating costs than the total sum it and the Metropolitan Council have budgeted
for the Northstar Corridor; and
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new text begin (7) the Department of Transportation may negotiate with the federal government,
counties and cities, or the Northstar Corridor Development Authority to provide additional
funding for services necessary to extend the Northstar Corridor.
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