Legislative Session number- 81

Bill Name: SF1762

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)