<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 162.02, subdivision 3a; 162.09, subdivision <br/>
<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>3a; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 174.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:<br/>
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<a id="bill.1.0.0"></a>

<a id="bill.1.1.0"></a><a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var>    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 162.02, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:<br/>
<a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var>    Subd. 3a. <b>Variances from rules and engineering standards.</b> (a) Subject to section <br/>
<a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var>174.75, subdivision 5, the commissioner may grant variances from the rules and from the <br/>
<a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>engineering standards developed pursuant to section 
         <statute_ref>162.021</statute_ref> or 
         <statute_ref>162.07, subdivision 2</statute_ref>. A <br/>
<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var>political subdivision in which a county state-aid highway is located or is proposed to be <br/>
<a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var>located may submit a written request to the commissioner for a variance for that highway.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>(b) The commissioner shall publish notice of the request in the State Register and <br/>
<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>give notice to all persons known to the commissioner to have an interest in the matter. The <br/>
<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>commissioner may grant or deny the variance within 30 days of providing notice of the <br/>
<a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>request. If a written objection to the request is received within seven days of providing <br/>
<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>notice, the variance shall be granted or denied only after a contested case hearing has been <br/>
<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>held on the request. If no timely objection is received and the variance is denied without <br/>
<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>hearing, the political subdivision may request, within 30 days of receiving notice of denial, <br/>
<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>and shall be granted a contested case hearing.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.22"></a><var>1.22</var>(c) For purposes of this subdivision, "political subdivision" includes (1) an agency of <br/>
<a id="pl.1.23"></a><var>1.23</var>a political subdivision which has jurisdiction over parks, and (2) a regional park authority.<br/>
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<a id="bill.1.2.0"></a><a id="pl.2.1"></a><var>2.1</var>    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 162.09, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:<br/>
<a id="pl.2.2"></a><var>2.2</var>    Subd. 3a. <b>Variances from rules and engineering standards.</b> (a) Subject to section <br/>
<a id="pl.2.3"></a><var>2.3</var>174.75, subdivision 5, the commissioner may grant variances from the rules and from the <br/>
<a id="pl.2.4"></a><var>2.4</var>engineering standards developed pursuant to section 
         <statute_ref>162.13, subdivision 2</statute_ref>. A political <br/>
<a id="pl.2.5"></a><var>2.5</var>subdivision in which a municipal state-aid street is located or is proposed to be located <br/>
<a id="pl.2.6"></a><var>2.6</var>may submit a written request to the commissioner for a variance for that street.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.7"></a><var>2.7</var>(b) The commissioner shall publish notice of the request in the State Register and <br/>
<a id="pl.2.8"></a><var>2.8</var>give notice to all persons known to the commissioner to have an interest in the matter. The <br/>
<a id="pl.2.9"></a><var>2.9</var>commissioner may grant or deny the variance within 30 days of providing notice of the <br/>
<a id="pl.2.10"></a><var>2.10</var>request. If a written objection to the request is received within seven days of providing <br/>
<a id="pl.2.11"></a><var>2.11</var>notice, the variance shall be granted or denied only after a contested case hearing has been <br/>
<a id="pl.2.12"></a><var>2.12</var>held on the request. If no timely objection is received and the variance is denied without <br/>
<a id="pl.2.13"></a><var>2.13</var>hearing, the political subdivision may request, within 30 days of receiving notice of denial, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.14"></a><var>2.14</var>and shall be granted a contested case hearing.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.15"></a><var>2.15</var>(c) For purposes of this subdivision, "political subdivision" includes (1) an agency of <br/>
<a id="pl.2.16"></a><var>2.16</var>a political subdivision which has jurisdiction over parks, and (2) a regional park authority.<br/>
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<a id="bill.1.3.0"></a><a id="pl.2.17"></a><var>2.17</var>    Sec. 3. <b>[174.75] COMPLETE STREETS.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.2.18"></a><var>2.18</var>    Subdivision 1. <b>Definition.</b> "Complete streets" is the planning, scoping, design, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.19"></a><var>2.19</var>implementation, operation, and maintenance of roads in order to reasonably address the <br/>
<a id="pl.2.20"></a><var>2.20</var>safety and accessibility needs of users of all ages and abilities. Complete streets considers <br/>
<a id="pl.2.21"></a><var>2.21</var>the needs of motorists, pedestrians, transit users and vehicles, bicyclists, and commercial <br/>
<a id="pl.2.22"></a><var>2.22</var>and emergency vehicles moving along and across roads, intersections, and crossings in a <br/>
<a id="pl.2.23"></a><var>2.23</var>manner that recognizes that the needs vary in urban, suburban, and rural settings.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.24"></a><var>2.24</var>    Subd. 2. <b>Implementation.</b> The commissioner shall implement a complete streets <br/>
<a id="pl.2.25"></a><var>2.25</var>policy after consultation with stakeholders, state and regional agencies, local governments, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.26"></a><var>2.26</var>and road authorities. The commissioner, after such consultation, shall address relevant <br/>
<a id="pl.2.27"></a><var>2.27</var>protocols, guidance, standards, requirements, and training, and shall integrate related <br/>
<a id="pl.2.28"></a><var>2.28</var>principles of context-sensitive solutions.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.29"></a><var>2.29</var>    Subd. 3. <b>Report.</b> Beginning in 2011, the commissioner shall report on the <br/>
<a id="pl.2.30"></a><var>2.30</var>implementation of the complete streets policy in the agency's biennial budget submission <br/>
<a id="pl.2.31"></a><var>2.31</var>under section 174.02.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.32"></a><var>2.32</var>    Subd. 4. <b>Local road authorities.</b> Local road authorities are encouraged, but not <br/>
<a id="pl.2.33"></a><var>2.33</var>required, to create and adopt complete streets policies for their roads that reflect local <br/>
<a id="pl.2.34"></a><var>2.34</var>context and goals. Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit a local road <br/>
<a id="pl.3.1"></a><var>3.1</var>authority from adopting a complete streets policy that incorporates or exceeds statutory <br/>
<a id="pl.3.2"></a><var>3.2</var>complete streets principles.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.3"></a><var>3.3</var>    Subd. 5. <b>Variances from engineering standards.</b> (a) When evaluating a request <br/>
<a id="pl.3.4"></a><var>3.4</var>for a variance from the engineering standards for state-aid projects under chapter 162 in <br/>
<a id="pl.3.5"></a><var>3.5</var>which the variance request is related to complete streets, the commissioner shall consider <br/>
<a id="pl.3.6"></a><var>3.6</var>the latest edition of (1) A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, from the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.7"></a><var>3.7</var>American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials; and (2) for projects <br/>
<a id="pl.3.8"></a><var>3.8</var>in urban areas, the Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares <br/>
<a id="pl.3.9"></a><var>3.9</var>for Walkable Communities, from the Institute of Transportation Engineers.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.10"></a><var>3.10</var>(b) If the commissioner denies a variance request related to complete streets, the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.11"></a><var>3.11</var>commissioner shall provide a brief written reason for the denial to the political subdivision <br/>
<a id="pl.3.12"></a><var>3.12</var>that submitted the request.<br/>
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<a id="bill.2.0.0"></a>

<a id="bill.2.1.0"></a><a id="pl.3.15"></a><var>3.15</var>    Section 1. <b>COMPLETE STREETS REPORTS.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.3.16"></a><var>3.16</var>The commissioner of transportation shall submit to the chairs and ranking minority <br/>
<a id="pl.3.17"></a><var>3.17</var>members of the house of representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over <br/>
<a id="pl.3.18"></a><var>3.18</var>transportation policy and finance reports that:<br/>
<a id="pl.3.19"></a><var>3.19</var>(1) by November 15, 2010, summarize the department's complete streets initiatives, <br/>
<a id="pl.3.20"></a><var>3.20</var>summarize steps taken to expedite and improve the transparency of the state-aid variance <br/>
<a id="pl.3.21"></a><var>3.21</var>process related to complete streets, outline plans to develop and implement a complete <br/>
<a id="pl.3.22"></a><var>3.22</var>streets policy, and identify any statutory barriers to complete streets implementation;<br/>
<a id="pl.3.23"></a><var>3.23</var>(2) by November 15, 2011, summarize the results of the collaboration under <br/>
<a id="pl.3.24"></a><var>3.24</var>Minnesota Statutes, section 174.75, subdivision 3; identify modifications made to or <br/>
<a id="pl.3.25"></a><var>3.25</var>recommended for protocols, guidance, standards, or other requirements to facilitate <br/>
<a id="pl.3.26"></a><var>3.26</var>complete streets implementation; report status of development of complete streets <br/>
<a id="pl.3.27"></a><var>3.27</var>performance indicators; outline other work planned related to the complete streets <br/>
<a id="pl.3.28"></a><var>3.28</var>policy; and identify statutory recommendations to facilitate complete streets policy <br/>
<a id="pl.3.29"></a><var>3.29</var>implementation; and<br/>
<a id="pl.3.30"></a><var>3.30</var>(3) by November 15, 2013, overview the department's implementation of complete <br/>
<a id="pl.3.31"></a><var>3.31</var>streets policy; note updates to protocols, guidance, standards, or requirements; identify <br/>
<a id="pl.3.32"></a><var>3.32</var>any recommendations for supporting local complete streets implementation under the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.33"></a><var>3.33</var>state-aid standards variance process; and identify statutory recommendations to facilitate <br/>
<a id="pl.3.34"></a><var>3.34</var>complete streets policy implementation.<br/>
<a id="pl.4.1"></a><var>4.1</var>The reports in clauses (1), (2), and (3) must be made available electronically and <br/>
<a id="pl.4.2"></a><var>4.2</var>made available in print only upon request.<br/>