SF 3168

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 07/05/2023 03:01pm

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; appropriating money for planning of Midtown Greenway
bicycle and pedestrian trail expansion in the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATION; MIDTOWN GREENWAY BICYCLE AND
PEDESTRIAN TRAIL EXPANSION PLANNING.
new text end

new text begin (a) $....... in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the Metropolitan
Council to plan continuous and dedicated bicycle and pedestrian trails from the current
eastern terminus of the Midtown Greenway in Hennepin County to 27th Avenue Southeast
in Hennepin County and to Allianz Field in Ramsey County. This amount is available to
support project management and implementation, data collection, legal analysis, community
engagement, and use of consultants. From this amount, the Metropolitan Council may
provide grants to local units of government for these purposes. This is a onetime appropriation
and is available until June 30, 2026.
new text end

new text begin (b) When planning the trail expansions, the Metropolitan Council must coordinate with
the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority, the Ramsey County Regional Railroad
Authority, other local governments, and affected property owners.
new text end

new text begin (c) The bicycle and pedestrian trails to be planned must include the following segments:
new text end

new text begin (1) Segment 1 from the eastern terminus of the Midtown Greenway extending eastward
over the Short Line Bridge on the railroad right-of-way to Cleveland Avenue North in the
city of St. Paul. Segment 1 must include a connection to the existing bicycle facility on
Pelham Boulevard via a new trail on St. Anthony Avenue;
new text end

new text begin (2) Segment 2 from the eastern end of the Short Line Bridge extending over marked
Interstate Highway 94 to the existing bicycle facility on 27th Avenue Southeast in the city
of Minneapolis. Segment 2 must include connections to Franklin Avenue Southeast, Cecil
Street Southeast, Seymour Avenue Southeast, and the existing pedestrian bridge at Seymour
Avenue Southeast over marked Interstate Highway 94;
new text end

new text begin (3) Segment 3 from Cleveland Avenue North extending eastward on Gilbert Avenue to
Prior Avenue North and on Prior Avenue North northward to the intersection of Prior Avenue
North and St. Anthony Avenue;
new text end

new text begin (4) Segment 4 from Prior Avenue North extending eastward on St. Anthony Avenue to
the existing bicycle and pedestrian bridge at Aldine Street over marked Interstate Highway
94; and
new text end

new text begin (5) Segment 5 from the intersection of Aldine Street and St. Anthony Avenue to Allianz
Field on a route to be determined that does not include railroad right-of-way.
new text end

new text begin (d) At a minimum, the developed plans must include:
new text end

new text begin (1) a project layout that provides a safe and consistent two-way, curb-separated trail
protected from motor vehicle traffic wherever possible;
new text end

new text begin (2) features of the existing Midtown Greenway that provide safety and wayfinding,
including but not limited to lighting, signage, and emergency call boxes;
new text end

new text begin (3) an analysis of which portions of the planned trails can be completed independently
of other portions. In completing this analysis, the Metropolitan Council may subdivide the
segments listed in paragraph (c) as needed;
new text end

new text begin (4) an analysis of what portions of the planned trails can be completed either without
using railroad right-of-way or on railroad right-of-way without significantly affecting current
rail operations;
new text end

new text begin (5) a recommendation for a reasonable easement or shared use agreement for the Short
Line Bridge between the railroad and Hennepin County that maintains active rail tracks on
the upstream side of the bridge while accommodating a bicycle and pedestrian trail on the
downstream side of the bridge; and
new text end

new text begin (6) estimates for construction costs broken out by segments and features.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

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