1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; creating commodities
1.3 	transport corridor pilot project; directing
1.4 	commissioner of transportation to convene work group,
1.5 	study corridor project, report to the legislature, and
1.6 	implement pilot project.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. COMMODITIES TRANSPORT CORRIDOR PILOT PROJECT.
 1.9 		Subdivision 1.Composition of work group. The
1.10 	commissioner of transportation shall convene a commodities
1.11 	transport corridor pilot project work group.  The commissioner
1.12 	or the commissioner's designee shall chair the work group, and
1.13 	members must include representatives of the Department of
1.14 	Natural Resources, Itasca County, St. Louis County, the motor
1.15 	carrier industry, the forest products industry, and the mining
1.16 	industry.
1.17 		Subd. 2.Work group recommendations and project
1.18 	implementation. Under the direction of the commissioner of
1.19 	transportation, the work group shall develop recommendations for
1.20 	a pilot project for transporting commodities by motor carriers.
1.21 	The commissioner shall implement the pilot project no later than
1.22 	December 29, 2006, along Trunk Highway marked 2 between Grand
1.23 	Rapids and Duluth, and along Trunk Highway marked 169 between
1.24 	Grand Rapids and County State-Aid Highway 7.  The transport
1.25 	corridor must include, in addition to Trunk Highways marked 2
1.26 	and 169, at least two highways that lie within 25 miles of, and
2.1 	connect with, Trunk Highway marked 2.  The pilot project must
2.2 	promote safe, economical, and efficient shipping of goods by
2.3 	motor carrier in the corridor.
2.4 		Subd. 3.Report. By September 30, 2006, the work group
2.5 	shall report its recommendations to the chairs of the house of
2.6 	representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over
2.7 	transportation policy and finance.  The report must:
2.8 	(1) describe any highway improvements needed to implement
2.9 	the corridor project and estimate the costs of the improvements;
2.10 	(2) identify the corridor, which must include Trunk Highway
2.11 	marked 2 between Grand Rapids and Duluth, Trunk Highway marked
2.12 	169 between Grand Rapids and County State-Aid Highway 7, and at
2.13 	least two additional highways that lie within 25 miles of, and
2.14 	connect with, Trunk Highway marked 2;
2.15 	(3) describe the permit system to be administered to allow
2.16 	oversized, overweight vehicles to utilize the corridor, and
2.17 	establish a permit-pricing structure;
2.18 	(4) identify the gross vehicle weight, dimensions, and
2.19 	models of vehicles that would be eligible to receive a permit to
2.20 	use the corridor;
2.21 	(5) recommend appropriate driving restrictions, which may
2.22 	include, but are not limited to, time, speed, and seasonal
2.23 	restrictions;
2.24 	(6) prescribe needed training and qualifications for
2.25 	drivers of permitted vehicles;
2.26 	(7) recommend an expiration date and reporting schedule for
2.27 	the project; and 
2.28 	(8) identify any changes in law or statute necessary to
2.29 	implementing this pilot project.

2.30 	Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 2.31 	Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.