1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to highways; requiring metered ramp study by 
  1.3             department of transportation; appropriating money. 
  1.4   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.5      Section 1.  [METERED ACCESS RAMP STUDY.] 
  1.6      (a) Notwithstanding other law to the contrary, the 
  1.7   commissioner shall order that all meters on access ramps to a 
  1.8   freeway or expressway, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 
  1.9   160.02, display flashing yellow lights for a period to be 
  1.10  determined by the consultant with whom the commissioner 
  1.11  contracts to perform the study required under paragraph (b). 
  1.12     This section does not prohibit temporary closure or other 
  1.13  traffic flow restrictions of access ramps to a freeway or 
  1.14  expressway in the interests of public safety. 
  1.15     (b) The commissioner shall study and report to the 
  1.16  legislature by February 1, 2001, the traffic flow results on 
  1.17  expressways and freeways for the period of the study.  The 
  1.18  department shall gather and compile any relevant facts, 
  1.19  comparisons, statistics, or other relevant data and report its 
  1.20  findings of fact and conclusions.  The commissioner shall 
  1.21  contract with an independent consultant to perform the study 
  1.22  required by this section. 
  1.23     (c) $....... is appropriated from the trunk highway fund to 
  1.24  the commissioner of transportation for the purposes of this 
  2.1   section.