1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; regulating design, accessibility, and maintenance of 
1.3 	transit shelters and stops; requiring access in special transportation service buses;
1.4 	proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 473.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [473.41] TRANSIT SHELTERS AND STOPS.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have 
1.8 	the meanings given.
1.9 	(a) "Transit authority" means:
1.10 	(1) a statutory or home rule charter city, with respect to rights-of-way at bus stop and 
1.11 	train stop locations, transit shelters, and transit passenger seating facilities owned by the 
1.12 	city or established pursuant to a vendor contract with the city;
1.13 	(2) the Metropolitan Council, with respect to transit shelters and transit passenger 
1.14 	seating facilities owned by the council or established pursuant to a vendor contract with 
1.15 	the council; or
1.16 	(3) a replacement service provider under section 473.388, with respect to 
1.17 	rights-of-way at bus stop and train stop locations, transit shelters, and transit passenger 
1.18 	seating facilities owned by the provider or established pursuant to a vendor contract 
1.19 	with the provider.
1.20 	(b) "Transit shelter" means a wholly or partially enclosed structure provided for 
1.21 	public use as a waiting area in conjunction with regular route transit or guideway service, 
1.22 	as defined in section 174.93, subdivision 1.
2.1 		Subd. 2.Design specifications. (a) By January 1, 2012, the Metropolitan Council 
2.2 	shall establish uniform design specifications for transit shelters. The design specifications 
2.3 	must include:
2.4 	(1) engineering standards, as appropriate;
2.5 	(2) maximization of protection from the rain, wind, snow, and other elements, 
2.6 	including but not limited to (i) walls and barriers that fully extend to the ground or base of 
2.7 	the structure, (ii) walls and barriers that fully extend to the ceiling or roof of the structure, 
2.8 	and (iii) a fully enclosed facility other than entrances;
2.9 	(3) warming capability at each shelter in which there is a proportionally high number 
2.10 	of transit service passenger boardings; and
2.11 	(4) full accessibility for the elderly and persons with disabilities, including but not 
2.12 	limited to compliance with the requirements for accessibility of public buildings under 
2.13 	section 326B.106, subdivision 9.
2.14 	(b) The council shall consult with cities, replacement service provider under section 
2.15 	473.388, and the Transportation Accessibility Advisory Committee in establishing the 
2.16 	design specifications under this subdivision.
2.17 		Subd. 3.Construction and retrofit. (a) A transit shelter that is constructed or 
2.18 	established by a transit authority, whether as a replacement shelter or as a shelter at a 
2.19 	new location, must be in compliance with the design specifications established under 
2.20 	subdivision 2.
2.21 	(b) By January 1, 2013, a transit authority shall retrofit when feasible, or otherwise 
2.22 	replace, all existing transit shelters. The design specifications under subdivision 2 do not 
2.23 	apply to a retrofitted transit shelter under this paragraph, except that the retrofitted transit 
2.24 	shelter must be in compliance with the requirements under subdivision 2, paragraph 
2.25 	(a), clauses (2) and (3).
2.26 		Subd. 4.Maintenance. A transit authority shall ensure that bus stops and transit 
2.27 	shelters are maintained in good working order and are accessible for all users of the transit 
2.28 	system. This requirement includes but is not limited to:
2.29 	(1) inspecting automatic doors and entrances on at least a weekly basis and promptly 
2.30 	repairing or replacing any that are not functioning properly;
2.31 	(2) keeping transit shelters reasonably clean and free from graffiti; and
2.32 	(3) removing snow and ice in a manner that provides accessibility for the elderly and 
2.33 	persons with disabilities to be able to (i) enter and exit transit shelters and (ii) board and 
2.34 	exit transit buses and trains at the regular boarding and exit points at each stop.
3.1 		Subd. 5.Availability of transit shelter information. The council shall maintain 
3.2 	in a centralized location on a Web site information on transit shelters, including but not 
3.3 	limited to:
3.4 	(1) the design specifications established under subdivision 2;
3.5 	(2) a summary of annual transit shelter construction, replacement, and retrofit 
3.6 	activities; and
3.7 	(3) summary financial data on the annual costs of transit shelter construction, 
3.8 	retrofits, and maintenance.

3.9 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

3.10 	Sec. 2. SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICE BUSES.
 3.11 	By January 1, 2012, the Metropolitan Council, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, 
3.12 	section 473.121, subdivision 3, shall, in consultation with the Transportation Accessibility 
3.13 	Advisory Committee, retrofit or replace all buses used in revenue service under Minnesota 
3.14 	Statutes, section 473.386, such that the first step in boarding the bus is located at a height 
3.15 	that is easily accessible to riders of the bus.

3.16 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

3.17 	Sec. 3. APPLICABILITY.
 3.18 	Section 2 applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, 
3.19 	Scott, and Washington.