HF 1809

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/04/2021 02:37pm

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; amending provisions relating to grants for local bridge
replacement or rehabilitation projects; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section
174.50, subdivisions 6d, 7.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 174.50, subdivision 6d, is amended to read:

Subd. 6d.

Major local bridges.

deleted text begin For an appropriation made specifically for purposes of
this subdivision, deleted text end new text begin The commissioner may make grants pursuant to this subdivision only if
an enacted appropriation specifically references this specific subdivision. The commissioner
must not make grants pursuant to this subdivision if an enacted appropriation references
this section generally. When authorized by this subdivision, new text end the commissioner may make
a grant deleted text begin under this section deleted text end to any political subdivision for replacement or rehabilitation of a
major local bridge deleted text begin in which the grant award is deleted text end new text begin with a total project cost estimate of new text end $7,000,000
or more. If in any year money appropriated for local bridge replacement and rehabilitation
projects under this subdivision remains available after all identified and eligible projects
under this subdivision have been funded, the commissioner may use remaining funds to
make grants under this section for new text begin replacement or rehabilitation projects with a total project
cost estimate of new text end less than $7,000,000.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2021, and applies to grants made
on or after that date.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 174.50, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Bridge grant program; rulemaking.

(a) The commissioner of transportation
shall develop rules, procedures for application for grants, conditions of grant administration,
standards, and criteria as provided under subdivision 6, including bridge specifications, in
cooperation with road authorities of political subdivisions, for use in the administration of
funds appropriated to the commissioner and for the administration of grants to subdivisions.
Grants under this section are subject to the procedures and criteria established in this
subdivision and in subdivisions 5 and 6.

(b) The maximum use of standardized bridges is encouraged. Regardless of the size of
the existing bridge, a bridge or replacement bridge is eligible for assistance from the state
transportation fund if a hydrological survey indicates that the bridge or replacement bridge
must be ten feet or more in length.

(c) As part of the standards or rules, the commissioner shall, in consultation with local
road authorities, establish a minimum distance between any two bridges that cross over the
same river, stream, or waterway, so that only one of the bridges is eligible for a grant under
this section. As appropriate, the commissioner may establish exceptions from the minimum
distance requirement or procedures for obtaining a variance.

(d) Political subdivisions may use grants made under this section to construct or
reconstruct bridges, including but not limited to:

(1) matching federal aid grants to construct or reconstruct key bridges;

(2) paying the costs to abandon an existing bridge that is deficient and in need of
replacement but where no replacement will be made; and

(3) paying the costs to construct a road or street to facilitate the abandonment of an
existing bridge if the commissioner determines that the bridge is deficient, and that
construction of the road or street is more economical than replacement of the existing bridge.

(e) Funds appropriated to the commissioner from the Minnesota state transportation
fund shall be segregated from the highway tax user distribution fund and other funds created
by article XIV of the Minnesota Constitution.

(f) deleted text begin Except as provided in subdivision 6d, the commissioner is prohibited from awarding
a grant under this section for a local bridge replacement or rehabilitation project with a total
project cost estimate of $7,000,000 or more. deleted text end new text begin The commissioner must maintain a local bridge
project list that includes every project:
new text end

new text begin (1) that is a local bridge replacement or rehabilitation project;
new text end

new text begin (2) that has approved plans or is in the design process; and
new text end

new text begin (3) for which the county or city has hired a bridge consultant to develop the bridge plans
for approval by the department.
new text end

new text begin The list must include the total project cost estimate for each project. The commissioner
must update this list annually. The commissioner must publish the list on the department's
website.
new text end

(g) deleted text begin Notwithstanding paragraph (f), the commissioner may award a grant under this
section for a portion of a local bridge replacement or rehabilitation project with a total
project cost estimate of $7,000,000 or more if every other local bridge replacement or
rehabilitation project on the commissioner's priority list with a total project cost estimate
of less than $7,000,000 has been fully funded. deleted text end new text begin The commissioner is prohibited from awarding
a grant of $7,000,000 or more under this section for a local bridge replacement or
rehabilitation project, except:
new text end

new text begin (1) for major local bridges as provided in subdivision 6d; or
new text end

new text begin (2) if every other local bridge replacement or rehabilitation project with a total project
cost estimate of $7,000,000 or less on the local bridge project list required by paragraph (f)
has been fully funded.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2021, and applies to grants made
on or after that date.
new text end