HF 3951

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 04/21/2016 08:10am

A bill for an act
relating to capital investment; setting a cap on grant amounts in the local bridge
replacement and rehabilitation program; amending Minnesota Statutes 2014,
section 174.50, subdivision 7.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 174.50, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Bridge grant program; rulemaking.

(a) The commissioner of
transportation shall develop rules, procedures for application for grants, conditions of
grant administration, standards, and criteria as provided under subdivision 6, including
bridge specifications, in cooperation with road authorities of political subdivisions, for use
in the administration of funds appropriated to the commissioner and for the administration
of grants to subdivisions.

(b) The maximum use of standardized bridges is encouraged. Regardless of the size
of the existing bridge, a bridge or replacement bridge is eligible for assistance from the
state transportation fund if a hydrological survey indicates that the bridge or replacement
bridge must be ten feet or more in length.

(c) As part of the standards or rules, the commissioner shall, in consultation with
local road authorities, establish a minimum distance between any two bridges that cross
over the same river, stream, or waterway, so that only one of the bridges is eligible for a
grant under this section. As appropriate, the commissioner may establish exceptions from
the minimum distance requirement or procedures for obtaining a variance.

(d) Political subdivisions may use grants made under this section to construct or
reconstruct bridges, including but not limited to:

(1) matching federal aid grants to construct or reconstruct key bridges;

(2) paying the costs to abandon an existing bridge that is deficient and in need of
replacement but where no replacement will be made; and

(3) paying the costs to construct a road or street to facilitate the abandonment of
an existing bridge if the commissioner determines that the bridge is deficient, and that
construction of the road or street is more economical than replacement of the existing
bridge.

(e) Funds appropriated to the commissioner from the Minnesota state transportation
fund shall be segregated from the highway tax user distribution fund and other funds
created by article XIV of the Minnesota Constitution.

new text begin (f) The maximum grant amount for a local bridge replacement or rehabilitation
project under this section is $5,000,000.
new text end