HF 2937

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/11/2010 04:29pm

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; requiring annual report to legislature on passenger rail
projects; amending Minnesota Statutes 2009 Supplement, section 174.636.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2009 Supplement, section 174.636, is amended to read:

174.636 PASSENGER RAIL; deleted text begin EXERCISE OF POWER deleted text end new text begin GENERAL new text end .

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Exercise of powers. new text end

(a) The commissioner has all powers necessary
to carry out the duties specified in section 174.632. In the exercise of those powers, the
commissioner may:

(1) acquire by purchase, gift, or by eminent domain proceedings as provided by law,
all land and property necessary to preserve future passenger rail corridors or to construct,
maintain, and improve passenger rail corridors;

(2) let all necessary contracts as provided by law; and

(3) make agreements with and cooperate with any governmental authority or private
entity to carry out statutory duties related to passenger rail.

(b) The commissioner shall consult with metropolitan planning organizations and
regional rail authorities in areas where passenger rail corridors are under consideration
to ensure that passenger rail services are integrated with existing rail and transit services
and other transportation facilities to provide as nearly as possible connected, efficient,
and integrated services.

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Annual report on passenger rail projects. new text end

new text begin (a) Annually by February 1,
the commissioner shall submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of
the house of representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over transportation
policy and finance concerning the status of passenger rail projects currently in planning,
development, and construction.
new text end

new text begin (b) At a minimum, the report must include, for each passenger rail project:
new text end

new text begin (1) a brief description of the project;
new text end

new text begin (2) a summary of the overall status of the project;
new text end

new text begin (3) a timeline that identifies (i) project phases or components, and (ii) expected and
known dates of commencement and completion of each phase or component;
new text end

new text begin (4) a progress update on specific project phases or components completed since the
last previous submission of a report under this subdivision; and
new text end

new text begin (5) a financial breakdown that identifies expected and known (i) sources of project
funds, and (ii) project expenditures by phase or budget activity.
new text end

new text begin (c) The report must also include a financial summary that identifies, to date:
new text end

new text begin (1) total passenger rail project funding, broken down by source; and
new text end

new text begin (2) total passenger rail project expenditures, broken down by budget activity.
new text end

new text begin (d) Metropolitan planning organizations and regional rail authorities shall provide
assistance and information in a timely manner as requested by the commissioner for
completion of the report.
new text end

new text begin (e) For purposes of this subdivision, "budget activity" includes but is not limited
to environmental analysis, land acquisition, design, engineering, easements, and track
improvement and rehabilitation.
new text end