1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to transportation; appropriating money for a 
  1.3             study of personal rapid transit in Rochester.  
  1.4   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.5      Section 1.  [GRANT FOR PERSONAL RAPID TRANSIT STUDY.] 
  1.6      Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITION.] For purpose of this section, 
  1.7   "personal rapid transit system" means a transportation system of 
  1.8   small, computer-controlled vehicles, transporting one to three 
  1.9   passengers on elevated guideways in a transportation network 
  1.10  operating on demand and nonstop directly to any stations in the 
  1.11  network. 
  1.12     Subd. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] $192,000 is appropriated from 
  1.13  the general fund to the commissioner of transportation for a 
  1.14  grant to the city of Rochester to pay up to 80 percent of the 
  1.15  costs of a planning and feasibility study of a personal rapid 
  1.16  transit system in the city.  This appropriation is available 
  1.17  until June 30, 2003.  The grant must be provided to the city in 
  1.18  two installments, as follows: 
  1.19     (1) $107,000 for phase I, studying a personal rapid transit 
  1.20  system connecting the Mayo Clinic and St. Mary's Hospital and 
  1.21  nearby destinations.  This study must include ridership 
  1.22  estimates, service and operating characteristics, system layout, 
  1.23  cost estimates, and an evaluation of operational and financial 
  1.24  feasibility.  The city shall submit a report to the 
  2.1   commissioner, governor, and legislature on the phase I study by 
  2.2   January 15, 2002. 
  2.3      (2) $85,000 for phase II, studying extension of the system 
  2.4   to connect the central business district, the Mayo Civic Center, 
  2.5   Rochester International Airport, and other important traffic 
  2.6   generators.  The study must include the same elements as the 
  2.7   phase I study.  The commissioner shall not make this installment 
  2.8   unless the commissioner determines that the phase I study has 
  2.9   demonstrated the financial and operational feasibility of the 
  2.10  phase I system.  If the phase II study is undertaken, the city 
  2.11  shall submit a report to the commissioner, governor, and 
  2.12  legislature on the study by January 15, 2003. 
  2.13     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.14     Section 1 is effective July 1, 2001.