E Relating to transportation; requiring commissioner of administration approval of state contracts exceeding the duration limit under the procurement program; modifying certain road authority map or plat recording requirements; transferring the trunk highway revolving loan account from the trunk highway fund to the transportation revolving loan fund and authorizing the commissioner of transportation to transfer money from the trunk highway fund to the trunk highway revolving loan account; authorizing the commissioner to set the dates for seasonal load restrictions on county highways, town roads or city streets and to apply for and receive loans from the transportation revolving loan fund for trunk highway projects, requiring deposit of the loans in the trunk highway fund and providing an annual appropriation of loan proceeds to the commissioner; changing the description of trunk highway route 233; requiring the commissioner to maintain a file of trunk highway temporary designation and location orders as permanent records; increasing the limit on trunk highway construction contracts allowed to be directly negotiated by the commissioner; modifying certain county state aid highway and municipal state aid street fund estimate and administrative costs deduction requirements and transferring the revolving loan accounts to the transportation revolving loan fund; eliminating the requirement for the commissioner to certify certain state transportation fund disbursements to the commissioner of finance; placing responsibility for planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of commuter rail with the commissioner of transportation; authorizing the commissioner to enter into a memorandum of understanding or agreement with a public or private entity to carry out the duties; requiring the commissioner to adopt by a certain date a commuter rail system plan, requiring consultation with affected regional railroad authorities to avoid duplication of efforts and authorizing periodic updates; requiring approval of the plan by metropolitan planning organizations in areas of commuter rail location before final design of commuter rail facilities; requiring the plan to include engineering standards providing for integrated operation of commuter rail equipment, facilities and services; specifying certain public hearing requirements; providing for local participation in the physical design component, requiring and providing for an advanced corridor plan, requiring metropolitan planning organization review; establishing a commuter rail corridor coordinating committee to advise the commissioner, providing for funding and authorizing commissioner contracts for operation of the facilities; extending the exemption from hours of service restrictions for motor carrier transport of sugar beets; specifying a minimum age requirement for drivers of certain motorized tank truck vehicles engaged in the intrastate transpiration of petroleum products; authorizing the commissioner to convey portions of previously acquired rail bank rights-of-way to state agencies or local government units under certain conditions, requiring deposit of sale proceeds in the rail bank maintenance account; expanding eligibility for air service marketing grants; increasing the operation and maintenance duration requirement for airports receiving financial assistance for acquisition costs; authorizing regional railroad authority grants or funds to the DOT, the metropolitan council or other state or local government units for railroad facilities acquisition and operation purposes; restricting regional railroad authority expenditure of state or federal funds to engage in planning for or development of light rail or commuter rail transit; expanding the joint powers agreements authority of regional railroad authorities to agreements with state agencies and the metropolitan council; authorizing the commissioner to use a design build method of project development and construction for LRT; requiring approval of public facilities authority loans from the transportation revolving loan fund by the transportation committee; exempting land held by local government units for highway projects purposes from tort liability; modifying certain metropolitan area transportation system performance audit requirements of the metropolitan council; modifying certain requirements for the distribution of transitways grants to county regional rail authorities, requiring execution of a work program memorandum of understanding with the commissioner and providing for funding of the central corridor between the downtowns of St. Paul and Minneapolis; restricting state or local government unit application for federal or receipt of state assistance for LRT construction pending construction of LRT facilities in certain corridors; requiring the metropolitan council in consultation with the commissioner, metropolitan area regional railroad authorities and the LRT joint powers board to develop a regional master plan for presentation to the legislature by a certain date; repealing certain commissioner of transportation seasonal load restrictions imposition restrictions relating to market arteries, a certain provision restricting the use as evidence in motorcycle, motor scooter or motorbike negligence actions of the wearing of protective headgear and requiring reduction of damages for head injuries of persons not wearing helmets, certain LRT alternatives analysis requirements and the LRT joint powers board(ra, ja)