SF 1056

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 02:18am

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; including passenger rail costs within the meaning
of public transit assistance; appropriating money for high-speed rail between
Duluth and St. Paul; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 16A.88.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 16A.88, is amended to read:

16A.88 TRANSIT ASSISTANCE FUND.

Subdivision 1.

Transit assistance fund established.

A transit assistance fund is
established within the state treasury. The fund receives money distributed under section
297B.09, subdivision 1, and other money as specified by law. Money in the fund must
be allocated to the greater Minnesota transit account under subdivision 1a and the
metropolitan area transit account under subdivision 2 in the manner specified in section
297B.09, subdivision 1, and must be used solely for transit purposes under the Minnesota
Constitution, article XIV, section 13. new text begin Costs of planning, design, engineering, construction,
and operation of high-speed passenger rail are included within the meaning of "transit
purposes" and "public transit assistance."
new text end

Subd. 1a.

Greater Minnesota transit account.

The greater Minnesota transit
account is established within the transit assistance fund in the state treasury. Money in
the account is annually appropriated to the commissioner of transportation for assistance
to transit systems outside the metropolitan area under section 174.24 new text begin , and for grants
to regional railroad authorities to develop and operate high-speed passenger rail, as
appropriated by law new text end . The commissioner may use up to $408,000 in fiscal year 2008 and
$416,000 in fiscal year 2009 and thereafter for administration of the transit program. The
commissioner shall use the account for transit operations as provided in section 174.24
deleted text begin and deleted text end new text begin , new text end related program administration new text begin , and high-speed passenger rail new text end .

Subd. 2.

Metropolitan area transit account.

The metropolitan area transit account
is established within the transit assistance fund in the state treasury. All money in the
account new text begin remaining after deducting all specific appropriations from the account new text end is annually
appropriated to the Metropolitan Council for the funding of transit systems within the
metropolitan area under sections 473.384, 473.386, 473.387, 473.388, and 473.405 to
473.449 new text begin , and for grants to regional railroad authorities to develop and operate high-speed
passenger rail, as appropriated by law new text end .

Sec. 2. new text begin PASSENGER RAIL.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner of transportation shall conduct major investment studies and
develop engineering documents for a dedicated rail line connecting the cities of Duluth
and St. Paul. The rail line must be designed and constructed to allow the operation of an
advanced high-speed rail system capable of speeds in excess of 358 miles per hour.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin GREATER MINNESOTA TRANSIT ACCOUNT.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner of transportation shall use up to $....... from the greater Minnesota
transit account in the transit assistance fund to carry out the direction in section 2.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT ACCOUNT.
new text end

new text begin $....... is appropriated to the commissioner of transportation from the metropolitan
area transit account in the transit assistance fund to carry out the direction in section 2.
This appropriation must be deducted from the account before money in the account is paid
to the Metropolitan Council under Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.88, subdivision 2.
new text end