1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; establishing certain project funding requirements for the 
1.3 	regional solicitation process of the Metropolitan Council.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. REGIONAL SOLICITATION PROCESS; HIGHWAY GAPS.
 1.6 	(a) As part of the 2018 regional solicitation process, the Metropolitan Council must 
1.7 	establish a funding application category for highway expansion projects. Eligible projects 
1.8 	for the highway expansion category must add a general purpose lane of travel in each 
1.9 	direction on an interstate highway segment containing fewer lanes of travel compared to 
1.10 	the highway beyond both ends of the project limits.
1.11 	(b) In collaboration with the commissioner of transportation, the Metropolitan Council 
1.12 	must:
1.13 	(1) identify eligible projects under paragraph (a);
1.14 	(2) determine total project cost estimates; and
1.15 	(3) set aside sufficient funds in the council's regional solicitation process to provide at 
1.16 	least 85 percent of the project cost estimates average determined under clause (2).
1.17 	(c) The Metropolitan Council must evaluate and rank identified projects under this 
1.18 	section and award funding following a ranking or scoring priority order. The council is 
1.19 	prohibited from establishing a maximum award amount for the highway expansion category.

2.1 	EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION. This section is effective the day following 
2.2 	final enactment and applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, 
2.3 	Scott, and Washington.