SF 2000

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/27/2015 09:14am

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; requiring Metropolitan Council to study and report
on feasibility of use of commuter rail transit in or near the Interstate Highway
394 Corridor and the feasibility of connecting the Interstate Highway 394 and
Southwest Light Rail Transit Corridors; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin COMMUTER RAIL TRANSIT FEASIBILITY STUDY.
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new text begin The Metropolitan Council shall conduct a study of the feasibility of the use of
commuter rail transit in a corridor aligned on marked Interstate Highway 394 or between
marked Interstate Highway 394 and marked Trunk Highway 55, from downtown
Minneapolis to Ridgedale Drive in Minnetonka, with the alternative of extending to
Wayzata. The study must include consideration of the feasibility of connecting the
Southwest Light Rail Transit Corridor with the Interstate Highway 394 Corridor between
downtown Minneapolis and a point of divergence west of downtown. The Metropolitan
Council may hire a consultant to assist in the study and report under section 3.
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Sec. 2. new text begin ELEMENTS OF FEASIBILITY STUDY.
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new text begin The commuter rail transit feasibility study must include, without limitation:
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new text begin (1) an identification of major operational characteristics of commuter rail transit
in the corridor;
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new text begin (2) a quantification of capital and operating costs;
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new text begin (3) an evaluation of the interface of a rail transit system with other transportation
systems in the corridor;
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new text begin (4) an evaluation of the impact of a rail transit system on land use and urban
development;
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new text begin (5) an estimate of the cost and impact of necessary associated exercise of eminent
domain;
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new text begin (6) an evaluation of the impact of a rail transit system on energy and the environment;
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new text begin (7) an estimate of ridership potential;
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new text begin (8) a cost-benefit analysis that compares the total cost of the project with the benefits
of a commuter rail transit line to its users, other users of the highway, and adjacent
property owners;
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new text begin (9) an identification of potential sources of federal, state, local, private, and other
funds;
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new text begin (10) an identification of the conditions necessary for commuter rail transit to be
feasible in the Interstate Highway 394 Corridor; and
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new text begin (11) an evaluation of the feasibility of connecting the Southwest Light Rail Transit
Corridor with the Interstate Highway 394 Corridor between downtown Minneapolis and
a point of divergence west of downtown.
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Sec. 3. new text begin REPORT.
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new text begin The Metropolitan Council shall prepare a written report of this study and submit
it no later than December 15, 2015, to the legislature, in compliance with Minnesota
Statutes, sections 3.195 and 3.197, and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the
senate and house of representatives committees with jurisdiction over transportation.
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Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the Metropolitan Council for the
purpose of conducting this study and preparing this report, and is available through
December 15, 2015.
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Sec. 5. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
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new text begin Sections 1 to 4 are effective the day following final enactment.
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