SF 1524

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 02/28/2017 09:42am

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; requiring the commissioner of transportation to develop
a policy for evaluating, ranking, and selecting projects; requiring a report to the
legislature; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 174.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [174.95] PROJECT SELECTION REQUIREMENTS.
new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner, after consultation with the Federal Highway Administration,
metropolitan planning organizations, regional development commissions, area transportation
partnerships, local governments, the Metropolitan Council, and transportation stakeholders,
must develop, adopt, and implement a project evaluation and selection policy to apply to
the standard project selection process. The commissioner may update the policy only after
consultation with the Federal Highway Administration, metropolitan planning organizations,
regional development commissions, area transportation partnerships, local governments,
the Metropolitan Council, and transportation stakeholders. The commissioner must publicize
the policy and updates on the department's Web site and through other effective means
selected by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (b) The policy adopted under this section must include:
new text end

new text begin (1) a ranking system that assigns scores to each project, the criteria that will be considered,
and the weight of each criterion; the ranking system may consider project readiness as a
criterion for evaluation, but project readiness must not be a major factor in determining the
final score;
new text end

new text begin (2) a process to inform the stakeholders and the general public of the score for each
project considered, which projects were selected, and which projects were not selected; and
new text end

new text begin (3) a process that requires the involvement of area transportation partnerships and other
local authorities in the process of ranking and scoring projects.
new text end

new text begin (c) The projects in the state transportation improvement program must include the score
assigned to the project under this section. The projects must be prioritized based on the
score assigned and executed in that priority order.
new text end

new text begin (d) The policy required by this section must be adopted by October 1, 2018, and must
be applied to project evaluation and selection that occurs on or after that date. The assigned
scores must first appear in the first state transportation improvement program update that
is completed on or after October 1, 2018.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin REPORT TO LEGISLATURE.
new text end

new text begin By February 15, 2018, the commissioner must report to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the senate and house of representatives committees having jurisdiction over
transportation policy and finance concerning the adopted policy and how the policy is
anticipated to improve the consistency, objectivity, and transparency of the selection process.
The report must include information on input from members of the public and the
organizations identified in Minnesota Statutes, section 174.95, paragraph (a). The report
must also include proposed legislation to codify the ranking system established in the policy.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin This act is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end