SF 3990
Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)
Posted on 04/23/2026 08:43 a.m.
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A bill for an act
relating to transportation; modifying certain requirements for trunk highway project
development, scoping, and alternatives analysis; establishing a working group;
requiring a report; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 161.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
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[161.1615] PROJECT SCOPING AND DEVELOPMENT.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Definitions. new text end
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(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
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(b) "Major highway project" has the meaning given in section 174.56, subdivision 1,
paragraph (b).
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(c) "Principal transportation system users" means each of the following users of surface
transportation right-of-way for transportation purposes: motorists, commercial vehicles,
pedestrians, bicyclists and other nonmotorized vehicle operators, and transit users and
vehicles.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Application. new text end
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(a) The requirements in this section apply to a major highway
project on the trunk highway system that:
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(1) involves construction, reconstruction, bridge replacement, or acquisition of permanent
right-of-way;
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(2) adds highway traffic capacity or provides for grade separation of motor vehicle traffic
at an intersection, excluding auxiliary lanes with a length of less than 2,500 feet; or
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(3) requires an environmental impact statement under chapter 116D for the project.
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(b) Except for a project under paragraph (a), clause (1), the requirements in this section
do not apply to reconditioning, resurfacing, rehabilitation, preventive maintenance, other
routine infrastructure maintenance activities or projects, and associated capital set-asides.
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(c) The requirements in this section are effective for a project that first enters the
appropriate state or metropolitan transportation improvement program for fiscal year 2031
or a subsequent year. This section does not apply to a project that (1) was included in the
appropriate transportation improvement program, or (2) has submitted for approval a
geometric layout before July 1, 2030.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Purpose and need statement. new text end
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(a) The purpose and need statement established
by the commissioner for a project under this section must:
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(1) allow for consideration of alternatives as provided in subdivision 4; and
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(2) provide for evaluation of impacts of safety, accessibility, and mobility for principal
transportation system users.
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(b) The purpose and need statement must not identify, tacitly presume, or preclude a
specific improvement to address the stated transportation deficiency or problem.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end
new text begin Project alternatives. new text end
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(a) The project development process for a project under
this section must include identification and analysis of a suitably comprehensive set of
design alternatives to address the project purpose and need. The process must:
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(1) incorporate alternatives that improve access to destinations for principal transportation
system users;
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(2) include evaluation of appropriate multimodal alternatives;
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(3) include evaluation of at least one alternative that reduces traffic lanes, reduces the
area of the road right-of-way, or lowers the functional classification of the road;
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(4) consider relevant traffic models, safety analyses, air quality analyses, and other data;
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(5) consider coordination of transportation investments in the corridor, including transit
and active transportation projects, to maximize project delivery efficiency and minimize
negative impacts to system users, local units of government, and affected property owners;
and
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(6) conform with state transportation system goals under section 174.01, subdivision 2.
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(b) The project development process must not conflict with the requirements under
chapter 116D and the National Environmental Policy Act under United States Code, title
42, section 4331, et seq.
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Sec. 2. new text begin PROJECT SCOPING AND DEVELOPMENT WORKING GROUP.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Definitions. new text end
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(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
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(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of transportation.
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(c) "Working group" means the Project Scoping and Development Working Group
established in this section.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Establishment. new text end
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The commissioner must convene a working group to develop
a comprehensive framework to implement the trunk highway project scoping and
development requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section 161.1615. The commissioner
must seek to collaborate with the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of
Minnesota to lead the working group.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Membership. new text end
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The commissioner of transportation must solicit the following
to participate as members in the working group:
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(1) Department of Transportation district staff who perform planning and engineering
functions;
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(2) metropolitan planning organizations;
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(3) county engineers;
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(4) city engineers; and
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(5) individuals with relevant experience and expertise in transportation planning,
multimodal highway project development, and cost-benefit analysis, which may include
but is not limited to the following areas:
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(i) multimodal transportation planning;
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(ii) transit operations and planning;
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(iii) pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure design and planning;
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(iv) land use planning;
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(v) highway traffic modeling;
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(vi) highway safety analysis; and
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(vii) highway right-sizing or roadway reconfiguration.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end
new text begin Duties. new text end
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At a minimum, the working group must:
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(1) evaluate and make recommendations on project scoping and development practices
by the Department of Transportation; and
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(2) develop and propose an updated methodology for cost-benefit analyses performed
to comprehensively evaluate major trunk highway project investments.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end
new text begin Administration. new text end
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Upon request of the working group, the commissioner must
provide administrative and technical support.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end
new text begin Report. new text end
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By February 1, 2027, the working group must submit a report on trunk
highway project scoping and development to the chairs and ranking minority members of
the legislative committees with jurisdiction over transportation policy and finance. At a
minimum, the report must summarize the results of the working group and provide
information on each of the activities specified in subdivision 4.
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new text begin Subd. 7. new text end
new text begin Expiration. new text end
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The working group expires June 30, 2027.
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Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION; PROJECT DEVELOPMENT.
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$....... in fiscal year 2027 is appropriated from the trunk highway fund to the commissioner
of transportation for the Project Scoping and Development Working Group under section
2 and to implement the project scoping and development requirements under Minnesota
Statutes, section 161.1615.
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