HF 1722

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/25/2019 02:50pm

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 COMMUTER RAIL LINE EXTENSION;
NEGOTIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin The Department of Transportation must contact Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway
(BNSF) to negotiate an extension of the Northstar Commuter Rail line between Big Lake
and St. Cloud. Negotiations under this section are subject to the following conditions:
new text end

new text begin (1) the Northstar Commuter Rail line will add at least one morning round trip departure
between the St. Cloud Amtrak Depot and Big Lake Station with continuing service to Target
Field Station each weekday, plus one evening round trip between Big Lake Station and St.
Cloud Amtrak Depot that must begin at Target Field 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 Field Station;
new text end

new text begin (2) the Department of Transportation may negotiate for fewer round trip departures from
Big Lake to Target Field Station each weekday, and fewer round trip departures on weekends;
new text end

new text begin (3) BNSF must continue to crew and dispatch all trains and provide other track-related
services;
new text end

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 is subject to
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 Commuter
Rail line;
new text end

new text begin (5) the Department of Transportation is prohibited from committing to spend any state
funds on capital expenditures;
new text end

new text begin (6) the Department of Transportation is prohibited from committing to spend any more
state funds on operating costs than the total sum it and the Metropolitan Council have
budgeted for the Northstar Commuter Rail line; and
new text end

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 Commuter Rail line.
new text end