SF 826

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 02/10/2017 09:28am

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; establishing a local bicycle infrastructure pilot program;
requiring a legislative report; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATION; LOCAL BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE PILOT
PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin $10,000,000 in fiscal year 2018 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of transportation for the local bicycle infrastructure pilot program under section 2.
Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, this appropriation is available for two
years after the year of appropriation. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin LOCAL BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE PILOT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Pilot program established. new text end

new text begin Upon availability of funds, the commissioner
of transportation must implement a local bicycle infrastructure pilot program to support
bicycling activities as provided in this section. The pilot program is for discretionary grants
to political subdivisions for projects that improve cyclist safety and convenience.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Program administration. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of transportation must establish:
new text end

new text begin (1) a grant application process that creates minimal applicant burdens;
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new text begin (2) objective criteria for evaluation of applications;
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new text begin (3) a process and committee for competitive project review and selection; and
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new text begin (4) procedures for payment of financial assistance.
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new text begin (b) The commissioner must make reasonable efforts to publicize each solicitation for
applications to all eligible recipients and provide assistance in creating and submitting
applications.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner may expend no more than one percent of total funds made available
for the program in a fiscal year on program administration.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Program requirements. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of transportation must establish
pilot program requirements, which must include:
new text end

new text begin (1) project eligibility, which must involve planning or infrastructure work that (i)
improves bicyclist safety and convenience, and (ii) meets functional bicycle commuting
needs;
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new text begin (2) a bicycle system plan or nonmotorized transportation system plan, whether municipal
or regional, that applies to the jurisdiction of the grant applicant;
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new text begin (3) project consistency with the statewide bicycle system plan;
new text end

new text begin (4) a local match commitment from nonstate and nonfederal sources of funds that equals
at least ten percent of the total project cost estimate; and
new text end

new text begin (5) a maximum single recipient grant award that is no more than 25 percent of total
funds made available in a fiscal year for the program.
new text end

new text begin (b) The only eligible recipients of grant awards under the program are political
subdivisions.
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new text begin (c) The commissioner must specify permissible uses of funds provided under the program,
which must include but are not limited to: bicycle-related planning, bikeway design and
engineering, right-of-way acquisition, bikeway construction, bikeway maintenance or
improvement, bicycle-related traffic control, secure bicycle parking, elimination of hazardous
bicycle conditions, and elimination of bicycle travel or bicycle network connection barriers.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Legislative report. new text end

new text begin By February 1, 2019, the commissioner of transportation
must submit a report on the pilot program to the chairs and ranking minority members 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 the pilot program design, including project selection criteria and
general program requirements;
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new text begin (2) a summary of funded projects, with categorization by project type;
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new text begin (3) a fiscal summary; and
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new text begin (4) an analysis of the pilot program and its outcomes, including recommendations
regarding continuation of the program and any programmatic changes.
new text end