HF 1990

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; creating commodities
transport corridor pilot project; directing
commissioner of transportation to convene work group,
study corridor project, report to the legislature, and
implement pilot project.

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

Section 1. new text begin COMMODITIES TRANSPORT CORRIDOR PILOT PROJECT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Composition of work group. new text end

new text begin The
commissioner of transportation shall convene a commodities
transport corridor pilot project work group. The commissioner
or the commissioner's designee shall chair the work group, and
members must include representatives of the Department of
Natural Resources, Itasca County, St. Louis County, the motor
carrier industry, the forest products industry, and the mining
industry.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Work group recommendations and project
implementation. new text end

new text begin Under the direction of the commissioner of
transportation, the work group shall develop recommendations for
a pilot project for transporting commodities by motor carriers.
The commissioner shall implement the pilot project no later than
December 29, 2006, along Trunk Highway marked 2 between Grand
Rapids and Duluth, and along Trunk Highway marked 169 between
Grand Rapids and County State-Aid Highway 7. The transport
corridor must include, in addition to Trunk Highways marked 2
and 169, at least two highways that lie within 25 miles of, and
connect with, Trunk Highway marked 2. The pilot project must
promote safe, economical, and efficient shipping of goods by
motor carrier in the corridor.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By September 30, 2006, the work group
shall report its recommendations to the chairs of the house of
representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over
transportation policy and finance. The report must:
new text end

new text begin (1) describe any highway improvements needed to implement
the corridor project and estimate the costs of the improvements;
new text end

new text begin (2) identify the corridor, which must include Trunk Highway
marked 2 between Grand Rapids and Duluth, Trunk Highway marked
169 between Grand Rapids and County State-Aid Highway 7, and at
least two additional highways that lie within 25 miles of, and
connect with, Trunk Highway marked 2;
new text end

new text begin (3) describe the permit system to be administered to allow
oversized, overweight vehicles to utilize the corridor, and
establish a permit-pricing structure;
new text end

new text begin (4) identify the gross vehicle weight, dimensions, and
models of vehicles that would be eligible to receive a permit to
use the corridor;
new text end

new text begin (5) recommend appropriate driving restrictions, which may
include, but are not limited to, time, speed, and seasonal
restrictions;
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new text begin (6) prescribe needed training and qualifications for
drivers of permitted vehicles;
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new text begin (7) recommend an expiration date and reporting schedule for
the project; and
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new text begin (8) identify any changes in law or statute necessary to
implementing this pilot project.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end