SF 3893

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; permitting statewide use of freeway shoulders by
transit and metro mobility buses; allowing limited use of bus stops by motor
carriers of passengers; amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 169.306;
473.411, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 169.306, is amended to read:

169.306 USE OF new text begin FREEWAY new text end SHOULDERS BY BUSES.

(a) The commissioner of transportation may permit the use by transit buses and
metro mobility buses of a shoulder of a freeway or expressway, as defined in section
160.02 deleted text begin , in the seven-county metropolitan area deleted text end .

(b) If the commissioner permits the use of a freeway or expressway shoulder by
transit buses, the commissioner shall also permit the use on that shoulder of a bus with a
seating capacity of 40 passengers or more operated by a motor carrier of passengers, as
defined in section 221.011, subdivision 48, while operating in intrastate commerce.

(c) Buses authorized to use the shoulder under this section may be operated on the
shoulder only when main line traffic speeds are less than 35 miles per hour. Drivers of
buses being operated on the shoulder may not exceed the speed of main line traffic by
more than 15 miles per hour and may never exceed 35 miles per hour. Drivers of buses
being operated on the shoulder must yield to merging, entering, and exiting traffic and
must yield to other vehicles on the shoulder. Buses operated on the shoulder must be
registered with the Department of Transportation.

(d) For the purposes of this section, the term "metro mobility bus" means a motor
vehicle of not less than 20 feet in length engaged in providing special transportation
services under section 473.386 that is:

(1) operated by the Metropolitan Council, or operated by a public or private entity
receiving financial assistance from the Metropolitan Council; and

(2) authorized by the council to use freeway or expressway shoulders.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 473.411, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Use of bus stops. new text end

new text begin (a) The council shall take all necessary steps to permit
an eligible provider to use bus stops and bus shelters that the council uses in providing
regular route transit service, unless use by those vehicles unreasonably interferes with the
safety and reliability of the council's transit operations. This subdivision applies only to
vehicles that:
new text end

new text begin (1) provide transit service originating outside the metropolitan area as defined in
section new text begin 473.121, subdivision 2 new text end ;
new text end

new text begin (2) while inbound to the metropolitan area, do not pick up passengers within the
metropolitan area; and
new text end

new text begin (3) while outbound from the metropolitan area, do not drop off passengers within the
metropolitan area.
new text end

new text begin (b) For purposes of this section, "eligible provider" means a provider of transit by a
motor carrier of passengers registered under section 221.0252 and operated:
new text end

new text begin (1) primarily to provide regular route transit, as defined in section 174.22,
subdivision 8;
new text end

new text begin (2) to provide service to an urban area having a population of at least 50,000; and
new text end

new text begin (3) without financial operating assistance from the state or any political subdivision
of the state.
new text end