1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; establishing a pilot
1.3 	project to provide transportation opportunities for
1.4 	elderly and disabled people in greater Minnesota where
1.5 	transit is limited or nonexistent; requiring a report;
1.6 	appropriating money.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. PILOT TRANSPORTATION PROJECT IN GREATER
1.9 	MINNESOTA.
 1.10 	The commissioner of transportation shall design and
1.11 	implement a pilot project to increase transportation
1.12 	opportunities for residents of greater Minnesota, particularly
1.13 	for individuals who are elderly or disabled, or who have special
1.14 	transportation needs, in areas where transit service is limited
1.15 	or nonexistent.

1.16 	Sec. 2. CRITERIA FOR PARTICIPATION AND PUBLICITY.
 1.17 	The commissioner shall establish criteria for participation
1.18 	in the pilot project, and shall publicize the project, criteria
1.19 	for participation, and information about the application process.

1.20 	Sec. 3. APPLICATION PROCESS AND AWARD OF GRANTS.
 1.21 	The commissioner shall design and implement a process by
1.22 	which local units of government and providers of special
1.23 	transportation services, within the meaning of Minnesota
1.24 	Statutes, section 174.29, subdivision 1, may apply to
1.25 	participate in the pilot project.  The commissioner shall award
1.26 	grants to those applicants the commissioner selects as
2.1 	participants.

2.2 	Sec. 4. DUTIES OF SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION PROVIDERS.
 2.3 	Local units of government and special transportation
2.4 	service providers that are selected to participate in the pilot
2.5 	project shall:
2.6 	(1) provide special transportation services within the
2.7 	state, outside the metropolitan area, as defined in Minnesota
2.8 	Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2;
2.9 	(2) provide transportation services to individuals who are
2.10 	elderly or disabled, or have special transportation needs, on
2.11 	days and at times when regular-route transit or other transit
2.12 	services are unavailable or offer only limited availability;
2.13 	(3) collect all or a portion of the fare from each
2.14 	passenger, and reimburse itself from the grant proceeds for that
2.15 	portion of the fare that exceeds $5 but is less than $20; and 
2.16 	(4) report to the commissioner concerning the provider's
2.17 	disposition of the grant proceeds, number of rides and
2.18 	passengers served, effectiveness of the pilot project in
2.19 	expanding transportation opportunities in the area served, and
2.20 	perceived remaining unmet needs for special transportation
2.21 	services in the area served.

2.22 	Sec. 5. REPORT.
 2.23 	The commissioner shall report to the chairs of the house of
2.24 	representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over
2.25 	transportation policy and budget on or before February 15, 2007,
2.26 	concerning the implementation and effectiveness of the pilot
2.27 	project and information received through the grant recipients'
2.28 	reports.

2.29 	Sec. 6. GREATER MINNESOTA TRANSIT APPROPRIATIONS.
 2.30 		Subdivision 1.Pilot project appropriation. $1,100,000
2.31 	is appropriated to the commissioner of transportation from the
2.32 	general fund to design and implement the special transportation
2.33 	services pilot project in fiscal years 2006 and 2007.  Of this
2.34 	amount, up to $100,000 may be used for administration,
2.35 	marketing, and program evaluation.
2.36 		Subd. 2.Transit assistance appropriation. $16,600,000
3.1 	in fiscal year 2006 and $16,600,000 in fiscal year 2007 is
3.2 	appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
3.3 	transportation for transit assistance in greater Minnesota.

3.4 	Sec. 7. METROPOLITAN TRANSIT APPROPRIATIONS.
 3.5 	$54,400,000 in fiscal year 2006 and $55,800,000 in fiscal
3.6 	year 2007 is appropriated from the general fund to the
3.7 	Metropolitan Council for bus operations.  Of this amount,
3.8 	$19,800,000 in fiscal year 2006 and $21,200,000 in fiscal year
3.9 	2007 is for the operation of Metro Mobility.

3.10 	Sec. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 3.11 	Sections 1 to 5 are effective July 1, 2005, and expire on
3.12 	June 30, 2007.