HF 273

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 01/25/2021 01:42pm

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; requiring commissioners of transportation and
employment and economic development to develop a statewide freight network
optimization tool; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin FREIGHT NETWORK OPTIMIZATION TOOL CREATION.
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new text begin (a) The commissioner of transportation, in consultation with the commissioner of
employment and economic development, must contract with a vendor to develop a statewide
freight network optimization tool. The tool, at a minimum, must be able to:
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new text begin (1) use data and mathematical models to reduce transportation inefficiencies and lower
supply chain costs to Minnesota businesses and citizens;
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new text begin (2) develop return on investment metrics to promote public-private partnerships that
result in network investments that address supply chain bottlenecks;
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new text begin (3) analyze site locations for economic development that result in the lowest landed cost;
and
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new text begin (4) improve the state's capabilities for network planning and creating an efficient
multimodal network for moving goods and people.
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new text begin (b) The commissioner of transportation must use the freight optimization tool to identify
and help prioritize investments that relieve freight network constraints that result in the
greatest cost reduction to freight transportation system users, and the highest public benefits.
The commissioner of employment and economic development must use the tool to develop
strategic supply chain information to help identify economic development opportunities for
business expansion or relocation in Minnesota.
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new text begin (c) The commissioner of transportation, in consultation with the commissioner of
employment and economic development and the Minnesota Freight Advisory Committee,
must establish a process that allows public or private entities to access and use the tool. The
commissioner may charge a fee to access the tool.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of transportation to develop the tool required in section 1 and for database hosting and tool
maintenance through fiscal year 2024. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28,
the appropriation does not lapse and is available until June 30, 2024, for the purposes stated
in this section.
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