SF 3961

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 07/03/2024 12:56pm

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; authorizing commissioner of transportation to convey
property for and promote the use of passenger rail services; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2022, sections 174.632, subdivision 2; 174.636, subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 174.632, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Responsibilities.

(a) The planning, design, development, construction, operation,
and maintenance of passenger rail track, facilities, and services are governmental functions,
serve a public purpose, and are a matter of public necessity.

(b) The commissioner is responsible for all aspects of planning, designing, developing,
constructing, equipping, operating, new text begin promoting, new text end and maintaining passenger rail, including
system planning, alternatives analysis, environmental studies, preliminary engineering, final
design, construction, negotiating with railroads, and developing financial and operating
plans.

(c) The commissioner may enter into a memorandum of understanding or agreement
with a public or private entity, including Amtrak, a regional railroad authority, a joint powers
board, and a railroad, to carry out these activities.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 174.636, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Powers.

The commissioner has all powers necessary to carry out the
duties specified in section 174.632. In the exercise of those powers, the commissioner may:

(1) acquire by purchase, gift, or by eminent domain proceedings as provided by law, all
land and property necessary to preserve future passenger rail corridors or to construct,
maintain, and improve passenger rail corridors;

new text begin (2) dispose of land and property as necessary to construct, maintain, and improve
passenger rail corridors. Notwithstanding any statutory or common law to the contrary, the
commissioner may dispose of land and property acquired under clause (1) or otherwise for
the construction, maintenance, and improvement of passenger rail corridors, whether acquired
by purchase, gift, or by eminent domain proceedings as provided by law, through conveyance
directly to a railroad company if the commissioner determines such disposition to a railroad
company is necessary for the construction, maintenance, and improvement of a passenger
rail corridor. Consideration for disposition of land and property under this clause must be
fair market value of the conveyed land and property;
new text end

new text begin (3) conduct and engage in promotional and marketing research, campaigns, outreach,
and other activities to increase awareness, education, and ridership of passenger rail in
Minnesota;
new text end

deleted text begin (2) deleted text end new text begin (4) new text end let all necessary contracts as provided by law; and

deleted text begin (3) deleted text end new text begin (5) new text end make agreements with and cooperate with any public or private entity, including
Amtrak, to carry out statutory duties related to passenger rail.