1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; capital investment; appropriating money for certain 
1.3 	intercity passenger rail projects.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL INVESTMENT PROGRAM.
 1.6 	(a) $21,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
1.7 	commissioner of transportation for intercity passenger rail implementation on phase I 
1.8 	corridors identified in the 2015 update to the state rail plan under Minnesota Statutes, 
1.9 	section 174.03, subdivision 1b. This appropriation is available for development of rail 
1.10 	investment performance measures, project cost estimating, feasibility studies, alternatives 
1.11 	analysis, program delivery, and capital projects, including but not limited to: design, 
1.12 	preliminary and final engineering, environmental analysis and mitigation, acquisition of 
1.13 	land and right-of-way, and construction.
1.14 	(b) Of this appropriation, at least $500,000 is for a feasibility study and alternatives 
1.15 	analysis of the corridor from the Twin Cities metropolitan area to Northfield and Albert Lea.
1.16 	(c) Project development must conform with federal requirements as appropriate to 
1.17 	maximize availability of federal funds. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a portion 
1.18 	or phase of an intercity passenger rail project may be accomplished with one or more state 
1.19 	appropriations, and an intercity passenger rail project need not be completed with any one 
1.20 	appropriation. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, this appropriation 
1.21 	is available for five years after the year of appropriation.