HF 246

1st Committee Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/22/2009 12:37pm

1.1A bill for an act

1.2relating to transportation; requiring a study and report on feasibility of use
1.3of light rail or commuter rail transit near the Interstate Highway 394 Corridor
1.4and the feasibility of integrating the corridor with other region transit ways;
1.5appropriating money.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7    Section 1. APPROPRIATION FOR STUDY.
1.8    Subdivision 1. Appropriation. $500,000 is appropriated from the general fund
1.9to the Metropolitan Council to work in partnership with the Center for Transportation
1.10Studies and the Center for Changing Landscapes for the purpose of conducting a study
1.11and preparing a report, and is available through December 15, 2007.
1.12    Subd. 2. Rail transit feasibility study. The Center for Changing Landscapes
1.13shall conduct a study of the feasibility of the use of light rail or commuter rail transit
1.14in a corridor to be designated within an area between a line two miles to the south of
1.15marked Interstate Highway 394 and marked Trunk Highway 55 extending from downtown
1.16Minneapolis to Ridgedale Drive in Minnetonka, with the alternative of extending to
1.17Wayzata. The study must include consideration of the feasibility of integrating the
1.18proposed rail transit corridor with other existing and proposed transit ways in the region.
1.19    Subd. 3. Elements of feasibility study. The rail transit feasibility study must
1.20include, without limitation:
1.21    (1) an identification of major operational characteristics of light rail and commuter
1.22rail transit in the corridor;
1.23    (2) a quantification of capital and operating costs;
2.1    (3) an evaluation of the interface of a rail transit system with other transportation
2.2systems in the corridor;
2.3    (4) an evaluation of the impact of a rail transit system on land use and urban
2.4development;
2.5    (5) an estimate of the cost and impact of necessary associated exercise of eminent
2.6domain;
2.7    (6) an evaluation of the impact of a rail transit system on energy and the environment;
2.8    (7) an estimate of ridership potential;
2.9    (8) a cost-benefit analysis that compares the total cost of the project with the benefits
2.10of a rail transit line, to its users, other users of the highway, and adjacent property owners;
2.11    (9) an identification of potential sources of federal, state, local, private, and other
2.12funds;
2.13    (10) an identification of the conditions necessary for rail transit to be feasible in
2.14the Interstate Highway 394 Corridor; and
2.15    (11) an evaluation of the feasibility of integrating the proposed rail transit corridor
2.16with other existing and proposed transit ways in the region.
2.17    Subd. 4. Report. The Center for Changing Landscapes and the Center for
2.18Transportation Studies, in partnership with the Metropolitan Council, shall prepare
2.19a written report of this study and submit it no later than December 15, 2007, to the
2.20legislature, in compliance with Minnesota Statutes, sections 3.195 and 3.197, and to
2.21the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives
2.22committees with jurisdiction over transportation.

2.23    Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.
2.24    This act is effective the day following final enactment.