1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; regulating design, accessibility, and maintenance of 
1.3 	transit shelters and stops; requiring access in special transportation service buses;
1.4 	proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 473.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [473.41] TRANSIT SHELTERS AND STOPS.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have 
1.8 	the meanings given.
1.9 	(a) "Transit authority" means:
1.10 	(1) a statutory or home rule charter city, with respect to rights-of-way at bus stop and 
1.11 	train stop locations, transit shelters, and transit passenger seating facilities owned by the 
1.12 	city or established pursuant to a vendor contract with the city;
1.13 	(2) the Metropolitan Council, with respect to transit shelters and transit passenger 
1.14 	seating facilities owned by the council or established pursuant to a vendor contract with 
1.15 	the council; or
1.16 	(3) a replacement service provider under section 473.388, with respect to 
1.17 	rights-of-way at bus stop and train stop locations, transit shelters, and transit passenger 
1.18 	seating facilities owned by the provider or established pursuant to a vendor contract 
1.19 	with the provider.
1.20 	(b) "Transit shelter" means a wholly or partially enclosed structure provided for 
1.21 	public use as a waiting area in conjunction with light rail transit, bus rapid transit, or 
1.22 	regular route transit.
1.23 		Subd. 2.Design. (a) A transit authority shall establish design specifications for 
1.24 	establishment and replacement of its transit shelters, which must include:
2.1 	(1) engineering standards, as appropriate;
2.2 	(2) maximization of protection from the wind, snow, and other elements, including 
2.3 	but not limited to (i) walls and barriers that fully extend to the ground or base of the 
2.4 	structure, (ii) entrances that are equivalently sized to regular doorways, and (iii) other 
2.5 	than entrances, a fully enclosed facility;
2.6 	(3) to the extent feasible, inclusion of warming capability at each shelter in which 
2.7 	there is a proportionally high number of transit service passenger boardings; and
2.8 	(4) full accessibility for the elderly and persons with disabilities.
2.9 	(b) The council shall consult with the Transportation Accessibility Advisory 
2.10 	Committee in establishing the specifications under this subdivision.
2.11 		Subd. 3.Maintenance. A transit authority shall ensure that bus stops and transit 
2.12 	shelters are maintained in good working order and are accessible to all users of the transit 
2.13 	system. This requirement includes but is not limited to:
2.14 	(1) inspecting automatic doors and entrances on at least a weekly basis and promptly 
2.15 	repairing or replacing any that are not functioning properly;
2.16 	(2) keeping transit shelters reasonably clean and free from graffiti; and
2.17 	(3) removing snow and ice in a manner that provides accessibility for the elderly and 
2.18 	persons with disabilities to be able to (i) enter and exit transit shelters and (ii) board and 
2.19 	exit transit buses and trains at the regular boarding and exit points at each stop.

2.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

2.21 	Sec. 2. SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICE BUSES.
 2.22 	By January 1, 2011, the Metropolitan Council, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, 
2.23 	section 473.121, subdivision 3, shall, in consultation with Transportation Accessibility 
2.24 	Advisory Committee, retrofit or replace all buses used in revenue service under Minnesota 
2.25 	Statutes, section 473.386, such that the first step in boarding the bus is located at a height 
2.26 	that is easily accessible to riders of the bus.

2.27 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

2.28 	Sec. 3. APPLICABILITY.
 2.29 	Section 2 applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, 
2.30 	Scott, and Washington.