HF 1437

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 02/27/2018 10:58am

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; requiring a study on the proposed Paul Bunyan
Expressway; appropriating money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. PAUL BUNYAN EXPRESSWAY STUDY; APPROPRIATION.

(a) The commissioner of transportation must study and report to the legislature on the
feasibility of expanding marked Trunk Highway 371 to a four-lane highway from the city
of Jenkins to the city of Cass Lake. At a minimum, the study must:

(1) identify and disclose obstacles to the roadway expansion;

(2) suggest potential routes through each impacted community, including consideration
of intersections with other roadways;

(3) identify potential impacts on storm sewers, water and sewer lines, utility lines, traffic
signals, existing or potential bikeways and recreational trails, driver and pedestrian safety,
and traffic patterns; and

(4) provide an estimated project cost, based on the scope of the project and the Department
of Transportation's design and construction standards.

(b) The commissioner must submit the report under paragraph (a) to the chairs and
ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over transportation
finance and policy no later than December 15, 2017.

(c) $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2018 is appropriated from the trunk highway fund to the
commissioner of transportation to perform the study under this section.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective the day following final enactment.