HF 2604

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/13/2023 04:51pm

A bill for an act
relating to transit; appropriating money for certain transit service improvements,
including transit fare elimination, transit shelters, zero-emission bus transition,
arterial bus rapid transit planning, and transit signal priority system planning;
establishing a working group; requiring reports.

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

Section 1. new text begin TITLE.
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new text begin This act may be cited as the "Local Bus and Transit Improvement Act."
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Sec. 2. new text begin TRANSIT SIGNAL PRIORITY SYSTEM PLANNING.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin By August 1, 2023, the Metropolitan Council must
convene a working group to perform planning on transit signal priority systems and related
transit advantage improvements on high-frequency and high-ridership bus routes in the
metropolitan area, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin The Metropolitan Council must solicit the following members
to participate in the working group:
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new text begin (1) one member representing Metro Transit, appointed by the Metropolitan Council;
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new text begin (2) one member representing the Department of Transportation, appointed by the
commissioner of transportation;
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new text begin (3) one member representing Minneapolis, appointed by the Minneapolis City Council;
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new text begin (4) one member representing St. Paul, appointed by the St. Paul City Council;
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new text begin (5) one member representing Hennepin County, appointed by the Hennepin County
Board;
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new text begin (6) one member representing Ramsey County, appointed by the Ramsey County Board;
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new text begin (7) one member from a city participating in the replacement service program under
Minnesota Statutes, section 473.388, appointed by the Suburban Transit Association;
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new text begin (8) one member from the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of
Minnesota;
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new text begin (9) one member from Move Minnesota; and
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new text begin (10) other members as identified by the Metropolitan Council.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin At a minimum, the working group must:
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new text begin (1) assess the current status and capability of transit signal priority systems among the
relevant road authorities;
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new text begin (2) identify key barriers and constraints and measures to address the barriers;
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new text begin (3) explore methods for ongoing coordination among the relevant road authorities;
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new text begin (4) estimate costs of potential improvements; and
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new text begin (5) develop a proposal or recommendations to implement transit signal priority systems
and related transit advantage improvements, including a prioritized listing of locations or
routes.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Administration. new text end

new text begin Upon request of the working group, the Metropolitan Council
and the commissioner of transportation must provide administrative and technical support
for the working group.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By December 15, 2023, the Metropolitan Council must submit a report
on transit signal priority system improvements 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 3.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin The working group under this section expires December 31, 2023.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following
final enactment and applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey,
Scott, and Washington.
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Sec. 3. new text begin TRANSIT FARE ELIMINATION PILOT PROGRAM.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Pilot program established. new text end

new text begin Subject to available funds, the Metropolitan
Council must establish a pilot program to provide transit service free of charge for all riders,
as specified in this section.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Requirements. new text end

new text begin (a) The Metropolitan Council must implement the pilot program:
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new text begin (1) from July 1, 2023, to December 31, 2024;
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new text begin (2) for at least two and up to four regular route bus lines, which may include express
bus and bus rapid transit;
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new text begin (3) on the entirety of each selected route; and
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new text begin (4) during both peak and nonpeak service hours.
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new text begin (b) The Metropolitan Council must prioritize transit lines to include in the pilot program
based on routes with:
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new text begin (1) the highest average daily ridership;
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new text begin (2) the highest estimated proportions of low-income riders;
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new text begin (3) the highest estimated proportions of riders who exclusively use transit; and
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new text begin (4) significant connections to destinations and other high-ridership transit lines.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Legislative report. new text end

new text begin (a) By February 15, 2025, the Metropolitan Council must
submit a report on the pilot program to the chairs, ranking minority members, and staff of
the legislative committees with jurisdiction over transportation policy and finance. At a
minimum, the report must include:
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new text begin (1) an overview of pilot program implementation;
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new text begin (2) evaluation of the effects on (i) ridership, (ii) travel time, (iii) service equity, and (iv)
rider experience and other measures of quality of life;
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new text begin (3) a review of fiscal impacts, including foregone revenue, costs related to service
changes, and potential cost efficiencies;
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new text begin (4) analysis of barriers, best practices, economic impacts, and other relevant
considerations; and
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new text begin (5) any recommendations regarding any subsequent implementation of free transit service.
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new text begin (b) For purposes of this subdivision, "staff" means those employees who are identified
in any of the following roles for the legislative committees: committee administrator,
committee legislative assistant, caucus research, fiscal analysis, counsel, or nonpartisan
research.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following
final enactment and applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey,
Scott, and Washington.
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Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATION; TRANSIT FARE ELIMINATION PILOT PROGRAM.
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new text begin (a) $....... in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the Metropolitan
Council for transit system operations under Minnesota Statutes, sections 473.371 to 473.449.
This appropriation is to provide for foregone revenue due to the transit fare elimination pilot
program under section 3. This is a onetime appropriation.
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new text begin (b) After accounting for foregone revenue, the Metropolitan Council may use any
remaining funds from the appropriation in paragraph (a) for transit shelter replacement and
improvements under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.41.
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new text begin APPLICATION. new text end

new text begin This section applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota,
Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington.
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Sec. 5. new text begin APPROPRIATION; TRANSIT SHELTER IMPROVEMENTS.
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new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the Metropolitan
Council for transit shelter replacement and improvements under Minnesota Statutes, section
473.41. This is a onetime appropriation.
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Sec. 6. new text begin APPROPRIATION; ZERO-EMISSION BUS TRANSITION.
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new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the Metropolitan
Council for zero-emission bus procurement and associated costs in conformance with the
zero-emission and electric transit vehicle transition plan under Minnesota Statutes, section
473.3927. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until December 31, 2028.
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Sec. 7. new text begin APPROPRIATION; ARTERIAL BUS RAPID TRANSIT PLANNING.
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new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the Metropolitan
Council for arterial bus rapid transit expansion planning. $....... in each year is added to the
base for transit system operations.
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Sec. 8. new text begin APPROPRIATION; TRANSIT SIGNAL PRIORITY SYSTEM PLANNING.
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new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the Metropolitan
Council for transit signal priority system planning support under section 2. This is a onetime
appropriation.
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