SF 1840

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/07/2017 09:34am

A bill for an act
relating to mass transit; requiring initiation of negotiations to extend and modify
Northstar commuter rail passenger service.

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

Section 1. new text begin NORTHSTAR CORRIDOR EXTENSION; NEGOTIATIONS.
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new text begin The Department of Transportation must contact Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway
(BNSF) to negotiate an extension of the Northstar Corridor between Big Lake and St. Cloud.
Negotiations under this section are subject to the following conditions:
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new text begin (1) the Northstar Corridor will add at least one morning round trip departure between
the St. Cloud Amtrak Depot and Big Lake Station with continuing service to Target Station
each weekday, plus one evening round trip between Big Lake Station and St. Cloud Amtrak
Depot that must begin at Target Station, with the departure and arrival times set so that
approximately ten or more hours elapse between the morning departure and evening return
each day for both round trips. The Department of Transportation may also negotiate weekend
departures and arrivals between St. Cloud and Target Station;
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new text begin (2) the Department of Transportation may negotiate for fewer round trip departures from
Big Lake to Target Station each weekday, and fewer round trip departures on weekends;
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new text begin (3) BNSF must continue to crew and dispatch all trains and provide other track-related
services;
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new text begin (4) the St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) must be responsible for fare
collection in St. Cloud and must negotiate with Amtrak for using the Amtrak station. The
MTC must negotiate an agreement with the Metropolitan Council, which is subject to
approval by the city of St. Cloud, regarding the sharing of revenues and expenses related
to the Amtrak station, fare collection, and advertising. The MTC, city of St. Cloud, and
Stearns, Benton, and Sherburne Counties are prohibited from entering into agreements with
the Metropolitan Council on any subject other than the operation of the Northstar Corridor;
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new text begin (5) the Department of Transportation is prohibited from committing to spend any state
funds on capital expenditures;
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new text begin (6) the Department of Transportation is prohibited from committing to spend any more
state funds on operating costs than the total sum it and the Metropolitan Council have
budgeted for the Northstar Corridor; and
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new text begin (7) the Department of Transportation may negotiate with the federal government, counties
and cities, or the Northstar Corridor Development Authority to provide additional funding
for services necessary to extend the Northstar Corridor.
new text end