HF 1526

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 04/18/2011 09:40am

A bill for an act
relating to highways; distinguishing between frontage road and ramp for
controlled access highways; authorizing municipal road authorities to issue
permits for driveway access to frontage roads and ramps for controlled access
highways; amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 161.38, subdivision 3.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 161.38, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Frontage road.

new text begin (a) new text end The commissioner for and on behalf of the state
may enter into agreements with municipalities for the construction, improvement, and
maintenance of trunk highways within the limits of said municipalities, including but not
limited to agreements for the construction and maintenance of frontage roads upon and
along trunk highways within the limits of said municipalities. Such frontage roads may be
constructed along the main-traveled lanes of the trunk highway, or they may be constructed
a reasonable distance out from the limits of the right-of-way acquired for the main-traveled
lanes if in the considered judgment of the commissioner such location is necessary to
eliminate unreasonable circuity of local travel or to provide access to properties otherwise
denied access to public highways by the establishment and construction of the trunk
highway. Such frontage roads shall connect, at least at one terminal, either with the
main lanes of the trunk highway or with another public highway. The municipalities are
authorized to enter into such agreement with the commissioner for the performance and
responsibility of the work upon such terms as may be agreed upon. new text begin Where a segment of
a frontage road serves as a ramp for a controlled access highway, the terminal of the
frontage road is located 50 feet from the divergence between the ramp and the highway.
new text end

new text begin (b) Notwithstanding section 160.18 and rules adopted under that section, authority to
issue a permit to construct or alter a driveway giving access to a frontage road within a
municipality belongs exclusively to the municipality in which the frontage road is located.
The municipal road authority shall not deny reasonable driveway access to a frontage
road. A driveway affords reasonable access when it is a first or second point of access to
the frontage road that is at least 100 feet, or a distance equivalent to the minimum stopping
sight distance, from the nearest intersection. Driveway access on that segment of a ramp
that is not a part of the frontage road under paragraph (a) is reasonable when it is located
on the opposite side of the road from the ramp and appropriate measures exist to prevent
traffic from crossing from the driveway to the ramp.
new text end