1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to transportation; modifying requirements for 
  1.3             a study of metropolitan commuter rail service; 
  1.4             amending Laws 1997, chapter 159, article 2, section 51.
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  Laws 1997, chapter 159, article 2, section 51, 
  1.7   is amended to read: 
  1.8      Sec. 51.  [COMMUTER RAIL SERVICE STUDY.] 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [STUDY.] The commissioner of 
  1.10  transportation, through the division of railroads and waterways, 
  1.11  shall conduct a study of the potential of utilizing freight rail 
  1.12  corridors in within a 70-mile radius of the Twin Cities 
  1.13  metropolitan area for commuter rail service.  The commissioner 
  1.14  shall perform the study in coordination with the metropolitan 
  1.15  council and metropolitan other affected metropolitan regional 
  1.16  rail authorities and, affected metropolitan railroad companies, 
  1.17  and the designated representatives of organized railroad 
  1.18  employees.  At least one representative of regional rail 
  1.19  authorities, of railroad management, of operating craft 
  1.20  employees, and of nonoperating craft employees shall serve on 
  1.21  the policy formulation body and all other bodies of the study 
  1.22  committee.  The study committee shall consider, among other 
  1.23  things, the positive and negative effects of commuter rail 
  1.24  service on surrounding neighborhoods. 
  1.25     Subd. 2.  [REPORT.] The commissioner shall report the 
  2.1   findings and recommendations of the study to the governor and 
  2.2   legislature by January 15, 1998, and February 1, 1999.  If in 
  2.3   the report required by January 15, 1998, the commissioner 
  2.4   identifies one or more rail corridors that have potential for a 
  2.5   commuter rail demonstration project, the commissioner, alone or 
  2.6   in cooperation with the metropolitan council and one or more 
  2.7   metropolitan regional rail authorities, may propose legislation 
  2.8   to the 1998 legislative session that provides for acquisition or 
  2.9   lease of the corridors, improvements necessary for their use for 
  2.10  commuter rail purposes, acquisition of commuter rail rolling 
  2.11  stock, and operation of commuter rail services.  The 1999 report 
  2.12  shall identify freight rail traffic volume on each rail corridor 
  2.13  identified for commuter rail service, identify and integrate 
  2.14  into the study consideration of all existing freight railroad 
  2.15  contracts and agreements that could impact commuter rail 
  2.16  service, examine the cost and feasibility of public acquisition 
  2.17  of corridors having high potential for commuter rail service, 
  2.18  and specify how commuter rail service will coordinate with light 
  2.19  rail and other public transit in the Twin Cities metropolitan 
  2.20  area.  Other than consultants hired as experts, no commercial 
  2.21  entity party to the study may profit financially from the 
  2.22  results of the study. 
  2.23     Subd. 3.  [REGIONAL RAIL AUTHORITIES.] Nothing in this 
  2.24  section may be construed to prohibit or restrict a regional rail 
  2.25  authority in the performance of any duty or exercise of any 
  2.26  power under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 398A. 
  2.27     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.28     Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.