HF 1627

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/25/2021 03:28pm

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; prohibiting the use of highway user tax distribution funds
or trunk highway funds for bicycle lanes or routes; prohibiting vehicle travel lanes
from being converted into bicycle lanes; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020,
sections 160.02, by adding subdivisions; 160.262, subdivision 1; 160.264; 160.266,
by adding a subdivision; 174.75, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for
new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 161.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 160.02, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 1b. new text end

new text begin Bicycle lane. new text end

new text begin "Bicycle lane" means a portion of a roadway or shoulder designed
for exclusive or preferential use by persons using bicycles. Bicycle lanes are to be
distinguished from the portion of the roadway or shoulder used for motor vehicle traffic by
physical barrier, striping, marking, or other similar device.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 160.02, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 1c. new text end

new text begin Bicycle route. new text end

new text begin "Bicycle route" means a roadway or shoulder signed to
encourage bicycle use.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 160.262, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Bikeways; powers and duties; design guidelines.

(a) The legislature
determines that it is in the interests of the public health, safety and welfare, to provide for
the addition of bikeways to proposed and existing public highways new text begin without converting
vehicle travel lanes into bicycle lanes or bicycle routes new text end . The commissioner of transportation
is authorized to plan, design, establish, and maintain bikeways on the right-of-way of any
trunk highway. The commissioner is responsible for the design and construction of all
bikeway projects within the right-of-way of any trunk highway. The commissioner must
consider the development of bikeways during the planning, design, construction,
reconstruction, or improvement of any trunk highway, or allow the establishment of such
bikeways within trunk highway right-of-way. new text begin The commissioner must not convert vehicle
travel lanes on the trunk highway system into a bicycle lane or bicycle route.
new text end

(b) The commissioner must maintain bikeway design guidelines consistent with the state
transportation goals in section 174.01.

(c) The commissioner must compile and maintain a map of bikeways in the state and
must publish and distribute the map's information at least once every two years in a form
and manner suitable to assist persons wishing to use the bikeways.

(d) The commissioner must maintain bikeways within the limits of trunk highway
right-of-way unless a written agreement or limited use permit provides otherwise.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 160.264, is amended to read:

160.264 REPLACING BIKEWAYS AND PEDESTRIAN WAYS.

Whenever an existing bikeway, pedestrian way, or roadway used by bicycles or
pedestrians or the sole access to such is destroyed by any new, reconstructed, or relocated
federal, state, or local highway, the road authority responsible shall replace the destroyed
facility or access with a comparable facility or access. Replacement is not required where
it would be contrary to public safety or when sparsity of population, other available ways
or other factors indicate an absence of need for such facility or access. new text begin When the road
authority is the commissioner, the commissioner must not convert vehicle travel lanes on
the trunk highway system into a bicycle lane or bicycle route.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 160.266, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 1c. new text end

new text begin Prohibition on lane conversion. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must not convert vehicle
travel lanes on the trunk highway system into a bicycle lane or bicycle route.
new text end

Sec. 6.

new text begin [161.0815] RESTRICTIONS ON FUNDING FOR BICYCLE LANES AND
ROUTES.
new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the commissioner is prohibited from spending
funds from the highway user tax distribution fund or the trunk highway fund to create,
construct, expand, mark, or maintain bicycle lanes or bicycle routes on the trunk highway
system.
new text end

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 174.75, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Prohibition on lane conversion. new text end

new text begin The complete streets policy must not allow
for the conversion of vehicle travel lanes on the trunk highway system into a bicycle lane
or bicycle route.
new text end

Sec. 8. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin This act is effective July 1, 2021, and applies to conversion of vehicle travel lanes on
the trunk highway system on or after that date.
new text end