HF 523

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 02/15/2017 12:40pm

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; appropriating money for certain intercity passenger rail
projects.

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

Section 1. new text begin INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL INVESTMENT PROGRAM;
APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) $21,000,000 in fiscal year 2018 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of transportation for intercity passenger rail implementation on phase I
corridors identified in the 2015 update to the state rail plan under Minnesota Statutes, section
174.03, subdivision 1b. This appropriation is available for development of rail investment
performance measures, project cost estimating, feasibility studies, alternatives analysis,
program delivery, and capital projects, including but not limited to: design, preliminary and
final engineering, environmental analysis and mitigation, acquisition of land and right-of-way,
and construction.
new text end

new text begin (b) Of this appropriation, at least $500,000 is for a feasibility study and alternatives
analysis of the corridor from the Twin Cities metropolitan area to Northfield and Albert
Lea.
new text end

new text begin (c) Project development must conform with federal requirements as necessary to
maximize availability of federal funds. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a portion
or phase of an intercity passenger rail project may be accomplished with one or more state
appropriations, and an intercity passenger rail project need not be completed with any one
appropriation. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, this appropriation is
available for five years after the year of appropriation.
new text end