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CHAPTER 174. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Table of Sections
SectionHeadnote
174.001APPLICATION OF LAWS 2005, CHAPTER 56, TERMINOLOGY CHANGES.
174.01CREATION; POLICY.
174.02COMMISSIONER'S POWERS AND DUTIES.
174.025Repealed, 1Sp2003 c 19 art 2 s 79
174.03DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER.
174.031Repealed, 1Sp2003 c 19 art 2 s 79
174.04FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE; APPLICATIONS; DISBURSEMENT.
174.05POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY; RULES AND STANDARDS.
174.06TRANSFER OF POWERS.
174.10PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING CARRIERS.
174.11COMMISSIONER TO NOTIFY COUNTY AUDITOR OF PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS.

VALUE ENGINEERING PROPOSALS

174.14VALUE ANALYSIS OF PROJECT; POLICY.
174.15DEFINITIONS.
174.16CONTRACT TO INCLUDE VALUE ANALYSIS AUTHORIZATION.
174.17EVALUATION OF VALUE ENGINEERING PROPOSALS.

HIGHWAY CONTRACT BIDS AND NOTICE, GENERALLY

174.18ADVERTISEMENT OF HIGHWAY CONTRACT.

UNDERGROUND FUEL TANKS

174.19PETROLEUM STORAGE TANKS.

HIGH-OCCUPANCY AND ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION

174.21PUBLIC TRANSIT ASSISTANCE AND TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT; PURPOSE.
174.22DEFINITIONS.
174.23GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES.
174.24PUBLIC TRANSIT PARTICIPATION PROGRAM.
174.242Repealed, 1Sp2003 c 19 art 2 s 79
174.245Repealed, 1992 c 394 s 5
174.25Repealed, 1982 c 586 s 10
174.255PARATRANSIT PROGRAM; ACCESSIBILITY; INSURANCE.
174.256PARK-AND-RIDE PROGRAM.
174.257RIDE-SHARING PROGRAM.
174.26Repealed, 1982 c 586 s 10
174.265Repealed, 1984 c 654 art 3 s 153 subd 1
174.27PUBLIC EMPLOYER COMMUTER VAN PROGRAM.
174.28Repealed, 1981 c 363 s 58
174.29COORDINATION OF SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICE.
174.295ELIGIBILITY CERTIFICATION; PENALTY FOR FRAUD.
174.30OPERATING STANDARDS FOR SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICE.
174.31Repealed, 1984 c 654 art 3 s 153 subd 1
174.315SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION; AMBULANCE SERVICE PROHIBITED.
174.32TRANSIT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
174.35LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT.
174.36NOTICE OF STUDIES OF HIGH-SPEED RAIL.

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM FINANCING

174.50MINNESOTA STATE TRANSPORTATION FUND.
174.51MINNESOTA STATE TRANSPORTATION BONDS.
174.52LOCAL ROAD IMPROVEMENT FUND.
174.55Repealed, 2004 c 295 art 1 s 17

RAILROAD PASSENGER SERVICE

174.60RAILROAD PASSENGER SERVICE PROVIDED.
174.61DEFINITIONS.
174.62AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENT.
174.63PUBLIC HEARING; NOTICE.

MOTOR CARRIERS AND RAIL CARRIERS

174.64FUNCTIONS AND POWERS RELATING TO CARRIERS.
174.65CARRIER HEARINGS AND APPEALS.
174.66CONTINUATION OF CARRIER RULES.

PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

174.70PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO COMMUNICATIONS.

COMMUTER RAIL

174.80DEFINITIONS.
174.82COMMUTER RAIL; COMMISSIONER'S DUTIES; CONTRACTS; LIABILITIES, RIGHTS, AND FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS.
174.84COMMUTER RAIL SYSTEM PLANNING.
174.86COMMUTER RAIL PLAN; REVIEW.
174.88COMMUTER RAIL FUNDING.
174.90COMMUTER RAIL OPERATION.
174.001 APPLICATION OF LAWS 2005, CHAPTER 56, TERMINOLOGY CHANGES.
State agencies shall use the terminology changes specified in Laws 2005, chapter 56, section
1, when printed material and signage are replaced and new printed material and signage are
obtained. State agencies do not have to replace existing printed material and signage to comply
with Laws 2005, chapter 56, sections 1 and 2. Language changes made according to Laws 2005,
chapter 56, sections 1 and 2, shall not expand or exclude eligibility to services.
History: 2005 c 56 s 3
174.01 CREATION; POLICY.
    Subdivision 1. Department created. In order to provide a balanced transportation system,
including aeronautics, highways, motor carriers, ports, public transit, railroads, and pipelines,
a Department of Transportation is created. The department is the principal agency of the state
for development, implementation, administration, consolidation, and coordination of state
transportation policies, plans, and programs.
    Subd. 2. Transportation goals. The goals of the state transportation system are as follows:
(1) to provide safe transportation for users throughout the state;
(2) to provide multimodal and intermodal transportation that enhances mobility and
economic development and provides access to all persons and businesses in Minnesota while
ensuring that there is no undue burden placed on any community;
(3) to provide a reasonable travel time for commuters;
(4) to provide for the economical, efficient, and safe movement of goods to and from markets
by rail, highway, and waterway;
(5) to encourage tourism by providing appropriate transportation to Minnesota facilities
designed to attract tourists;
(6) to provide transit services throughout the state to meet the needs of transit users;
(7) to promote productivity through system management and the utilization of technological
advancements;
(8) to maximize the benefits received for each state transportation investment;
(9) to provide funding for transportation that, at a minimum, preserves the transportation
infrastructure;
(10) to ensure that the planning and implementation of all modes of transportation are
consistent with the environmental and energy goals of the state;
(11) to increase high-occupancy vehicle use;
(12) to provide an air transportation system sufficient to encourage economic growth and
allow all regions of the state the ability to participate in the global economy;
(13) to increase transit use in the urban areas by giving highest priority to the transportation
modes with the greatest people moving capacity; and
(14) to promote and increase bicycling as an energy-efficient, nonpolluting, and healthful
transportation alternative.
History: 1976 c 166 s 1; 1991 c 298 art 1 s 1
174.02 COMMISSIONER'S POWERS AND DUTIES.
    Subdivision 1. Appointment. The department shall be supervised and controlled by the
commissioner of transportation, who shall be appointed by the governor and serve under the
provisions of section 15.06.
    Subd. 1a. Mission; efficiency; legislative report, recommendations. It is part of the
department's mission that within the department's resources the commissioner shall endeavor to:
(1) prevent the waste or unnecessary spending of public money;
(2) use innovative fiscal and human resource practices to manage the state's resources and
operate the department as efficiently as possible;
(3) coordinate the department's activities wherever appropriate with the activities of other
governmental agencies;
(4) use technology where appropriate to increase agency productivity, improve customer
service, increase public access to information about government, and increase public participation
in the business of government;
(5) utilize constructive and cooperative labor-management practices to the extent otherwise
required by chapters 43A and 179A;
(6) report to the legislature on the performance of agency operations and the accomplishment
of agency goals in the agency's biennial budget according to section 16A.10, subdivision 1; and
(7) recommend to the legislature appropriate changes in law necessary to carry out the
mission and improve the performance of the department.
    Subd. 2. Unclassified positions. The commissioner may establish four positions in the
unclassified service at the deputy and assistant commissioner, assistant to commissioner or
personal secretary levels. No more than two of these positions shall be at the deputy commissioner
level.
    Subd. 3. Departmental organization; affirmative action. (a) The commissioner shall
organize the department in a manner recognizing the administrative and staffing needs of all
modes of transportation within the commissioner's jurisdiction, and shall employ personnel as the
commissioner deems necessary to discharge the functions of the department.
(b) The commissioner shall adopt an affirmative action plan for the department in order
to insure that department hiring encourages the selection of members of groups of persons
who because of unfair or unlawful discriminatory practices have in the past been denied equal
employment opportunity. This plan need not be promulgated as a rule, but it shall be approved
by the commissioner of employee relations. The plan shall provide that the affected groups of
persons shall constitute at least the same proportional number of employees in the department as
they constitute in the total employment in state government; provided that this limitation shall
expire in respect to an affected group when the commissioner of employee relations certifies that
members of that affected group are employed in the department in the same proportion as they
constitute in the total employment in state government.
    Subd. 4. Appearances on public transportation matters. The commissioner may appear
as a party on behalf of the public in any proceeding or matter before the Surface Transportation
Board or any other agency or instrumentality of government that regulates public services or
rates relating to transportation or other matters related to the powers and responsibilities of the
commissioner as prescribed by law. The commissioner shall appear as a party on behalf of the
public in proceedings as provided by law on matters that directly relate to the powers and duties
of the commissioner or substantially affect the statewide transportation plan.
    Subd. 5. Cooperation. To facilitate the development of a unified and coordinated intrastate
and interstate transportation system:
(1) the commissioner shall maintain close liaison, coordination, and cooperation with the
private sectors of transportation, the Upper Great Lakes Seaway Development Commission
Corporation, and any multistate organization involved in transportation issues affecting the state;
(2) the commissioner shall participate in the planning, regulation, and development of the
port authorities of the state;
(3) the commissioner or the commissioner's designee is a nonvoting member of the
Metropolitan Airports Commission, as organized and established under sections 473.601 to
473.679;
(4) the commissioner shall cooperate with all federal agencies for the purpose of harmonizing
state rules and federal regulations within the state to the extent and in the manner deemed
advisable;
(5) the commissioner may conduct joint hearings with any federal agency within or outside
the state and, to the extent allowed under federal law or regulation, may approve and establish
freight rates and charges that depart from the distance principle required by any state law; and
(6) the commissioner may nominate members to any joint board as provided by federal acts.
    Subd. 6. Agreements, receipts, appropriation. To facilitate the implementation of
intergovernmental efficiencies, effectiveness, and cooperation, and to promote and encourage
economic and technological development in transportation matters within and between
governmental and nongovernmental entities:
(a) The commissioner may enter into agreements with other governmental or
nongovernmental entities for research and experimentation; for sharing facilities, equipment,
staff, data, or other means of providing transportation-related services; or for other cooperative
programs that promote efficiencies in providing governmental services or that further development
of innovation in transportation for the benefit of the citizens of Minnesota.
(b) In addition to funds otherwise appropriated by the legislature, the commissioner may
accept and spend funds received under any agreement authorized in paragraph (a) for the purposes
set forth in that paragraph, subject to a report of receipts to the commissioner of finance at the
end of each fiscal year and, if receipts from the agreements exceed $100,000 in a fiscal year, the
commissioner shall also notify the governor and the Committee on Finance of the senate and the
Committee on Ways and Means of the house of representatives.
(c) Funds received under this subdivision must be deposited in the special revenue fund and
are appropriated to the commissioner for the purposes set forth in this subdivision.
    Subd. 7. Loans to commissioner. The commissioner of transportation may apply for
and receive loans, as defined in section 446A.085, subdivision 1, paragraph (d), from the
transportation revolving loan fund created in section 446A.085, and may enter into agreements
for the repayments of the loans.
History: 1976 c 166 s 2; 1977 c 305 s 23; 1980 c 534 s 13; 1980 c 617 s 47; 1986 c 444;
1993 c 266 s 28; 1995 c 248 art 11 s 12; 1998 c 366 s 58; 1999 c 230 s 17; 2001 c 213 s 11,12
174.025 [Repealed, 1Sp2003 c 19 art 2 s 79]
174.03 DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER.
    Subdivision 1. Statewide transportation plan; priorities; schedule of expenditures. In
order to best meet the present and future transportation needs of the public, to insure a strong
state economy, to make most efficient use of public and private funds, and to promote the more
efficient use of energy and other resources for transportation purposes, the commissioner shall:
(1) three months after notification that the department is ready to commence operations
and prior to the drafting of the statewide transportation plan, hold public hearings as may
be appropriate solely for the purpose of receiving suggestions for future transportation
alternatives and priorities for the state. The Metropolitan Council, regional development
commissions, and port authorities shall appear at the hearings and submit information concerning
transportation-related planning undertaken and accomplished by these agencies. Other political
subdivisions may appear and submit such information at the hearings. These hearings shall be
completed no later than six months from the date of the commissioner's notification;
(2) develop, adopt, revise, and monitor a statewide transportation plan, taking into account
the suggestions and information submitted at the public hearings held pursuant to clause (1).
The plan shall incorporate all modes of transportation and provide for the interconnection and
coordination of different modes of transportation. The commissioner shall evaluate alternative
transportation programs and facilities proposed for inclusion in the plan in terms of economic
costs and benefits, safety aspects, impact on present and planned land uses, environmental effects,
energy efficiency, national transportation policies and priorities, and availability of federal and
other financial assistance;
(3) based upon the statewide transportation plan, develop statewide transportation priorities
and schedule authorized public capital improvements and other authorized public transportation
expenditures pursuant to the priorities;
(4) complete the plan and priorities required by this subdivision no later than July 1, 1978.
Upon completion of the plan and priorities, the commissioner shall prepare and periodically
revise, as necessary, the schedule of authorized public transportation expenditures. The plan,
priorities, and schedule are exempt from the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act.
    Subd. 1a. Revision of state transportation plan. The commissioner shall revise the state
transportation plan by January 1, 1996, January 1, 2000, and, if the requirements of clauses (1)
and (2) have been met in the previous revision, by January 1 of every third even-numbered
year thereafter. Before final adoption of a revised plan, the commissioner shall hold a hearing
to receive public comment on the preliminary draft of the revised plan. The revised state
transportation plan must:
(1) incorporate the goals of the state transportation system in section 174.01; and
(2) establish objectives, policies, and strategies for achieving those goals.
    Subd. 2. Implementation of plan. After the adoption and each revision of the statewide
transportation plan, the commissioner shall take no action inconsistent with the revised plan.
    Subd. 3. Relationship with national and local plans. The statewide plan shall recognize
established national transportation policies. The plan shall include matters of local or regional
concern if this inclusion is needed to insure a comprehensive, statewide perspective on
transportation policies and priorities. The commissioner shall recognize and attempt to
accommodate the local or regional transportation plans. However, the statewide plan shall
supersede a local or regional plan to the extent inconsistent on a matter which the commissioner
demonstrates is of statewide concern. A political subdivision may challenge the commissioner's
determination that a portion of a local or regional plan is superseded by the statewide plan. The
subdivision shall institute the challenge by filing a petition with the commissioner within 30
days after being notified by the commissioner that the local or regional plan is superseded. The
challenge shall be resolved by the commissioner as a contested case pursuant to chapter 14.
    Subd. 4. Other duties. The commissioner shall:
(1) construct and maintain transportation facilities as authorized by law;
(2) cooperate with, and may provide technical and financial assistance to, the Metropolitan
Council and regional development commissions in the regional transportation planning process,
in accordance with mutually acceptable terms and conditions;
(3) cooperate with, and may provide planning and technical assistance upon the request of,
any political subdivision or other governmental agency in accordance with mutually accepted
terms and conditions, except as otherwise restricted by law; and
(4) develop, revise, and monitor a statewide rail transportation plan as part of the statewide
transportation planning process, including a study and evaluation of alternative methods for
insuring adequate and economical transportation of agricultural commodities, supplies, and other
goods to and from rural areas of the state. The plan shall include an analysis of rail lines in the
state for the purpose of determining (i) eligibility of rail lines for assistance under federal and
state rail assistance programs, (ii) eligibility of rail lines for inclusion in the state rail bank, and
(iii) the actions required by the state to insure the continuation of rail service that meets essential
state needs and objectives.
    Subd. 5. Regional transportation planning. The Metropolitan Council, pursuant to
section 473.146, and the regional development commissions shall develop regional long-range
transportation policy plans in cooperation with the commissioner and local units of government.
Upon promulgation of the statewide transportation plan, and periodically as necessary thereafter,
each regional policy plan shall be reviewed and amended, if necessary, by the appropriate
regional agency to insure that the regional policy plan is not in conflict with the statewide
transportation plan.
    Subd. 5a.[Repealed, 1984 c 654 art 3 s 153]
    Subd. 6. Social, economic, and environmental effects. The commissioner shall consider the
social, economic, and environmental effects resulting from existing and proposed transportation
facilities and shall make continuing efforts to mitigate any adverse effects. The commissioner
shall utilize a systematic, interdisciplinary approach which shall insure the integrated use of the
natural, social, and physical sciences and the environmental design arts in plans and decisions
which may affect the environment.
    Subd. 6a. Economic analysis of nonhighway alternatives. If the commissioner considers
congestion pricing, tolls, mileage pricing, or public-private partnerships in order to meet the
transportation needs of commuters in the department's metropolitan district between 2001 and
2020, the commissioner shall, in cooperation with the Metropolitan Council and the regional
railroad authorities in the district, compare the economics of these financing methods with the
economics of nonhighway alternatives for moving commuters. The commissioner shall analyze
the economics as they relate to both individuals and to the transportation system.
    Subd. 7. Energy conservation. The commissioner, in cooperation with the commissioner
of commerce through the state energy office, shall evaluate all modes of transportation in
terms of their levels of energy consumption. The commissioner of commerce shall provide the
commissioner with projections of the future availability of energy resources for transportation.
The commissioner shall use the results of this evaluation and the projections to evaluate
alternative programs and facilities to be included in the statewide plan and to otherwise promote
the more efficient use of energy resources for transportation purposes.
    Subd. 8. Salaries and expenses. Salaries and expenses of the department relating to highway
purposes shall be paid from moneys available in the trunk highway fund. The funds provided in
sections 360.011 to 360.076 and 360.301 to 360.91 shall be expended by the commissioner of
transportation in accordance with the purposes prescribed by those sections. Funds appropriated
pursuant to the authority conferred by any constitutional article shall be expended in conformity
with the purposes and uses authorized thereby.
    Subd. 9. Forecast of revenues and expenditures. In cooperation with the Department of
Finance and as required by section 16A.103, the commissioner shall prepare in February and
November of each year a forecast of highway user tax distribution fund and trunk highway fund
revenues and expenditures. The forecast must include an analysis of economic information and
the potential impact on highway user fund revenues, historical growth rate information, and
other variables affecting revenue assumptions and forecasted future growth rates. The forecast
must include an analysis of trunk highway bonding and the necessary debt service payments,
and assumptions regarding federal transportation funds. The commissioner shall review the
forecast information with the chairs of the senate and house of representatives committees with
jurisdiction over finance, ways and means, and transportation finance and with legislative fiscal
staff no later than two weeks before the forecast is released and shall inform the chairs and
staff of changes made from previous forecasts.
History: 1976 c 166 s 3; Ex1979 c 1 s 16; 1980 c 534 s 14; 1980 c 558 s 1; 1980 c 614 s 96;
1981 c 356 s 180; 1982 c 424 s 130; 1982 c 617 s 17,18; 1983 c 289 s 115 subd 1; 1987 c 186 s
15; 1987 c 312 art 1 s 10 subd 2; 1991 c 298 art 1 s 2,3; 1994 c 635 art 2 s 6; 1997 c 159 art 2 s
37; 1998 c 403 s 17,18; 1Sp2001 c 4 art 6 s 25; 1Sp2003 c 19 art 2 s 41
174.031 [Repealed, 1Sp2003 c 19 art 2 s 79]
174.04 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE; APPLICATIONS; DISBURSEMENT.
    Subdivision 1. Review of application. Any state agency which receives an application
from a regional development commission, metropolitan council, public transit commission,
airport commission, port authority, or other political subdivision of the state, or any nonpublic
organization, for financial assistance for transportation planning, capital expenditures, or
operations to any state or federal agency, shall first submit the application to the commissioner of
transportation. The commissioner shall review the application to determine whether it contains
matters that substantially affect the statewide transportation plan and priorities. If the application
does not contain such matters, the commissioner shall within 15 days after receipt return the
application to the applicant political subdivision or nonpublic organization for forwarding to the
appropriate agency. If the application contains such matters, the commissioner shall review and
comment on the application as being consistent with the plan and priorities. The commissioner
shall return the application together with comments within 45 days after receipt to the applicant
political subdivision or nonpublic organization for forwarding with the commissioner's comments
to the appropriate agency.
    Subd. 2. Designated agent. A regional development commission, metropolitan council,
public transit commission, airport commission, port authority, or any other political subdivision of
the state, or any nonpublic organization, may designate the commissioner as its agent to receive
and disburse funds by entering into an agreement with the commissioner prescribing the terms
and conditions of the receipt and expenditure of the funds in accordance with federal and state
laws, rules, and regulations.
    Subd. 3. Exceptions. The provisions of this section shall not be construed as altering or
amending in any way the funding procedures specified in section 161.36, 360.016 or 360.0161.
History: 1976 c 166 s 4; 1986 c 444; 1996 c 455 art 3 s 29
174.05 POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY; RULES AND STANDARDS.
    Subdivision 1. Notification by Pollution Control Agency. The commissioner of the
Pollution Control Agency shall inform the commissioner of transportation of all activities of
the Pollution Control Agency which relate to the adoption, revision, or repeal of any standard
or rule concerning transportation established pursuant to section 116.07. Upon notification the
commissioner shall participate in those activities. Participation may include, but is not limited
to, access to all pertinent information collected or compiled by the Pollution Control Agency
and transmittal to the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency of information and expert
opinions concerning the ability of affected modes of transportation to accomplish the desired
objectives and the impact that alternative methods of attaining those objectives would have on
present or planned transportation systems in the state.
    Subd. 2. Commissioner to submit review of proposed rules. Prior to public hearings on
any rule concerning transportation proposed by the Pollution Control Agency, the commissioner
of transportation shall submit a written review of those rules, including an analysis of their
impact upon the state's transportation system, and may propose alternative rules or standards.
This report shall be made part of the record of the hearing and shall be made available to any
person prior to the hearing.
    Subd. 3. Report by Pollution Control Agency. Upon the adoption, revision or repeal of a
rule concerning transportation, the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency shall publish
a written report of the manner in which the adopted rule reflects consideration of the factors
specified in section 116.07, subdivision 6, and the specific issues raised in the commissioner
of transportation's report.
History: 1976 c 166 s 5; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1987 c 186 s 15
174.06 TRANSFER OF POWERS.
    Subdivision 1. Department of Highways. All powers, duties, and functions heretofore
vested in or imposed on the commissioner of highways or the Department of Highways by
chapters 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 167, 169, 173, or sections 473.405 to 473.449 or any other
law relating to the duties and powers of the commissioner of highways are transferred to, vested
in, and imposed on the commissioner of transportation. The position of the commissioner of
highways and the Department of Highways as heretofore constituted are abolished.
    Subd. 2. Department of Aeronautics. All powers, duties, and functions heretofore vested in
or imposed on the commissioner of aeronautics or the Department of Aeronautics by sections
360.011 to 360.076, 360.301 to 360.73, 360.81 to 360.91 or any other law relating to the duties
and powers of the commissioner of aeronautics are transferred to, vested in, and imposed on
the commissioner of transportation. The position of the commissioner of aeronautics and the
Department of Aeronautics as heretofore constituted are abolished.
    Subd. 3. Department of Public Service. All powers, duties, and functions heretofore vested
in or imposed on the Department of Public Service, the Public Utilities Commission, or the
commissioner of the Department of Public Service by sections 174.60 to 174.63 are transferred
to, vested in, and imposed on the commissioner of transportation.
    Subd. 4.[Repealed, 1977 c 454 s 49]
    Subd. 5. Transfer approval of commissioner of administration. Any and all transfers of
Department of Public Service personnel, records, and funds to the Department of Transportation,
made pursuant to the provisions of this section, shall be subject to the approval of the
commissioner of administration.
    Subd. 6.[Repealed, 1981 c 253 s 48]
    Subd. 7. Proposals for implementation. (a) It is the intent of the legislature that gas, oil,
slurry, and other pipelines, long-distance conveyor belt systems, and other modes of transportation
not now regulated by the state be constructed and operated in a manner that best serves the public
good and complements other means of transportation.
(b) The commissioner of transportation shall submit to the governor and the legislature, no
later than January 1, 1979, specific proposals, drafted in bill form if appropriate, to implement this
policy within the areas of responsibility assigned to the Department of Transportation.
    Subd. 8. Recommendation for statutory revision. The commissioner shall submit, together
with the proposals required by subdivision 7, specific recommendations of language to update
all statutory sections which relate to the operation of the department and are in need of revision.
The commissioner's report shall give special consideration to sections affecting rulemaking and
public hearings, to language or provisions rendered obsolete by passage of time, and to overall
clarity and brevity of the statutes.
History: 1976 c 166 s 6; 1977 c 124 s 1; 1980 c 614 s 123; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 186 s
15; 1993 c 13 art 2 s 1; 1999 c 86 art 1 s 43
174.10 PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING CARRIERS.
    Subdivision 1. Notice of contested case; fee. The commissioner in any contested case that
involves a motor carrier or common carrier by rail as a party shall give reasonable notice to
representatives of associations or other interested groups or persons who have registered their
names with the commissioner for that purpose, to all parties and to cities and municipalities that
the commissioner deems to be interested in the proceeding. The commissioner may prescribe an
annual fee as a charge to all registered groups or persons. The fee must be credited to the general
fund. This charge is to cover the out-of-pocket costs involved in providing the notice.
    Subd. 2. Investigatory powers. In all matters over which the commissioner has regulatory,
or enforcement authority, the commissioner may issue subpoenas and compel the attendance
of witnesses and the production of all necessary papers, books, records, documents, and other
evidentiary material. Any person failing or refusing to appear to testify regarding any matter
about which the person may be lawfully questioned or to produce any papers, books, records,
documents, or other evidentiary materials in the matter to be heard, after having been required by
a subpoena of the commissioner to do so may, upon application by the commissioner to the district
court in any district, be ordered to comply therewith. An administrative law judge in a rulemaking
or contested case proceeding may, on behalf of the commissioner, issue subpoenas, administer
oaths to witnesses, and take their affirmations. Depositions may be taken within or without the
state by the commissioner or the commissioner's designee in the manner provided by law for the
taking of depositions in civil actions. A subpoena or other process or paper may be served upon
any person named therein, anywhere within the state by any officer authorized to serve subpoenas
or other process or paper in civil actions, with the same fees and mileage and in the same manner
as prescribed by law for service of process issued out of the district court of this state.
    Subd. 3. Prosecution. In proceedings that involve a motor carrier or common carrier by rail
as a party, the matter must be heard by the commissioner as authorized by law.
    Subd. 4. Lack of jurisdiction. If, in any proceeding the commissioner decides that the
department does not have jurisdiction, the commissioner shall issue an order dismissing the
proceeding and stating the ground of the dismissal.
History: 1976 c 166 s 8; 1980 c 534 s 15-17; 1984 c 640 s 32; 1986 c 444; 2001 c 213 s 13-15
174.11 COMMISSIONER TO NOTIFY COUNTY AUDITOR OF PROPERTY
ACQUISITIONS.
Upon acquisition of any taxable real property, the commissioner must notify the county
auditor of the county where the property is located that the property has been acquired.
History: 1Sp2005 c 3 art 1 s 2

VALUE ENGINEERING PROPOSALS

174.14 VALUE ANALYSIS OF PROJECT; POLICY.
The legislature finds that the application of the principles and techniques of value analysis
in reducing the cost of state construction projects is in the interest of the efficient operation of
state government. It is therefore the policy of the legislature to support, encourage, and, where
necessary, authorize the application of some or all of those principles by agencies and departments
of the state.
History: 1977 c 251 s 1
174.15 DEFINITIONS.
    Subdivision 1. Scope. For the purposes of sections 174.14 to 174.17, and unless a different
meaning is indicated by the context, the terms defined in this section have the meanings given
them.
    Subd. 2. Construction project. "Construction project" means any state construction project
undertaken by the Department of Transportation.
    Subd. 3. Value analysis. "Value analysis" means the systematic and creative functional
analysis of construction projects, specifications, standards, practices and procedures for the
purposes of identifying and eliminating unnecessary costs by developing modifications which
satisfy required functions of a project for the lowest cost in a manner consistent with requirements
for performance, reliability, quality and maintainability.
    Subd. 4. Value engineering proposal. "Value engineering proposal" means a formal written
proposal with supporting documentation. A value engineering proposal shall be developed by
application of value analysis principles, shall be documented by a contractor or subcontractor
pursuant to the provisions of the construction contract, and shall suggest one or more changes in
the construction project, specifications, standards, practices, or procedures which would result in
direct and immediate net savings in terms of reducing the costs of the construction contract.
History: 1977 c 251 s 2
174.16 CONTRACT TO INCLUDE VALUE ANALYSIS AUTHORIZATION.
All contracts for construction projects may contain contract provisions which:
(1) authorize the contractor, with regard to specified matters governed by the contract, and
any subcontractor, with regard to matters governed by the subcontracting agreement with the
contractor, to submit value engineering proposals as provided in sections 174.15 to 174.17;
(2) specify such procedural and substantive requirements for the preparation, development
and documentation for value engineering proposals as may be required for the particular
construction project;
(3) require that copies of all value engineering proposals and all supporting documents be
submitted to the commissioner of transportation; and
(4) provide that if a value engineering proposal is adopted for the construction project
contract as provided in section 174.17, a supplemental agreement shall reduce contract payments
to the contractor or subcontractor that submitted the value engineering proposal, by an amount
equal to one-half of the amount of direct and immediate net savings under the contract resulting
from the adoption of the value engineering proposal.
History: 1977 c 251 s 3
174.17 EVALUATION OF VALUE ENGINEERING PROPOSALS.
    Subdivision 1. Investigate, analyze, and estimate savings. After receipt of a value
engineering proposal and supporting documents, the commissioner of transportation shall
investigate and analyze the value engineering proposal, estimate the amount of the direct and
immediate net savings in terms of construction project contract costs which would result upon
adoption of the value engineering proposal.
    Subd. 2. Approval. Subject to the provisions of sections 174.15 to 174.17 and the provisions
of any other applicable law, if the commissioner of transportation determines, based upon the
reports and recommendations of the department, that adoption of a value engineering proposal will
result in direct and immediate savings in the construction project contract costs, the commissioner
shall approve and authorize the adoption of the implementing supplemental agreement and the
supplemental agreement shall be processed and adopted as otherwise provided by law.
History: 1977 c 251 s 4; 1986 c 444

HIGHWAY CONTRACT BIDS AND NOTICE, GENERALLY

174.18 ADVERTISEMENT OF HIGHWAY CONTRACT.
Notwithstanding anything in chapter 16C to the contrary, all contracts for the repair,
improvement, maintenance, or construction of highways or highway bridges must be advertised
and let as provided by law for highway construction contracts.
History: 1998 c 386 art 1 s 32

UNDERGROUND FUEL TANKS

174.19 PETROLEUM STORAGE TANKS.
Specifications issued by the commissioner of transportation relating to the procurement of
underground fuel storage tanks by the Department of Transportation and used by the department
must be written in such a way that they include all types of fiberglass and steel underground
storage tanks that have been approved by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the United
States Environmental Protection Agency for underground storage of fuel, or meet the standards
for tank approval established by those agencies.
History: 1999 c 88 s 1

HIGH-OCCUPANCY AND ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION

174.21 PUBLIC TRANSIT ASSISTANCE AND TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT;
PURPOSE.
It is the purpose of sections 174.21 to 174.27 to:
(1) provide access to transit for persons who have no alternative mode of transit available;
(2) increase the efficiency and productivity of public transit systems;
(3) alleviate problems of automobile congestion and energy consumption and promote
desirable land use where such activities are cost-effective;
(4) maintain a state commitment to public transportation; and
(5) meet the needs of individual transit systems to the extent they are consistent with the
other objectives stated above.
History: 1977 c 454 s 18; 1978 c 793 s 66; 1982 c 586 s 1
174.22 DEFINITIONS.
    Subdivision 1. Scope. For the purposes of sections 174.21 to 174.27 the following terms
have the meanings given them.
    Subd. 2. Commuter van. "Commuter van" means a motor vehicle used in a ride-sharing
arrangement and used principally to provide prearranged transportation of persons for a fee to or
from their place of employment or to or from a transit stop authorized by a local transit authority:
(1) when the vehicle is operated by a person who does not drive the vehicle for that person's
principal occupation but is driving it only to or from that person's principal place of employment
or to or from a transit stop authorized by a local transit authority; or
(2) when the vehicle is operated for personal use at other times by an authorized driver.
    Subd. 2a.[Renumbered subd 2c]
    Subd. 2b. Elderly and disabled service. "Elderly and disabled service" means transportation
service provided on a regular basis in urbanized or large urbanized areas and designed exclusively
or primarily to serve individuals who are elderly or disabled and unable to use regular means of
public transportation.
    Subd. 2c. Metropolitan area. "Metropolitan area" has the meaning given it in section
473.121.
    Subd. 3. Metropolitan Council. "Metropolitan Council" means the council established
by section 473.123.
    Subd. 4.[Repealed, 1994 c 628 art 3 s 209]
    Subd. 5. Operating deficit. "Operating deficit" means the amount by which the total prudent
operating expenses incurred in the operation of the public transit system exceeds the amount of
operating revenue derived from the system.
    Subd. 6. Paratransit. "Paratransit" means the transportation of passengers by motor vehicle
or other means of conveyance by persons operating on a regular and continuing basis and the
transportation or delivery of packages in conjunction with an operation having the transportation
of passengers as its primary and predominant purpose and activity, but excluding regular route
transit. "Paratransit" includes transportation by car pool and commuter van, point deviation and
route deviation services, shared-ride taxi service, dial-a-ride service, and other similar services.
    Subd. 7. Public transit or transit. "Public transit" or "transit" means general or specific
transportation service provided to the public on a regular and continuing basis. "Public transit" or
"transit" includes paratransit and regular route transit.
    Subd. 8. Regular route transit. "Regular route transit" means transportation of passengers
for hire by a motor vehicle or other means of conveyance by any person operating on a regular
and continuing basis as a common carrier on fixed routes and schedules. "Regular route transit"
does not include transportation of children to or from school or of passengers between a common
carrier terminal station and a hotel or motel, transportation by common carrier railroad or common
carrier railroads or by taxi, transportation furnished by a person solely for that person's employees
or customers, or paratransit.
    Subd. 9.[Repealed, 1Sp2001 c 8 art 2 s 76]
    Subd. 10.[Renumbered subd 15]
    Subd. 11.[Renumbered subd 14]
    Subd. 12. Rural area service. "Rural area service" means a transportation service primarily
operated in an area having population centers of less than 2,500 persons.
    Subd. 13.[Renumbered subd 2b]
    Subd. 14. Small urban area service. "Small urban area service" means a transportation
service operating in an area with a population between 2,500 and 50,000.
    Subd. 15. Urbanized area service. "Urbanized area service" means a transportation service
operating in an urban area of more than 50,000 persons but does not include elderly and disabled
service, as defined in subdivision 2b.
History: 1977 c 454 s 19; 1982 c 586 s 2; 1983 c 371 s 2; 1984 c 654 art 3 s 63-66; 1986
c 444; 2005 c 56 s 1
174.23 GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES.
    Subdivision 1. General. The commissioner shall have all powers necessary and convenient
to carry out the provisions of sections 174.21 to 174.27 including the power to: (1) review
applications for financial assistance, execute contracts, and obligate and expend program funds,
upon conditions and limitations as the commissioner deems necessary for purposes of program
and project implementation, operation, and evaluation, (2) accept and disburse federal funds
available for the purposes of sections 174.21 to 174.27, and (3) act upon request as the designated
agent of any eligible person for the receipt and disbursal of federal funds. The commissioner shall
perform the duties and exercise the powers under sections 174.21 to 174.27 in coordination
with and in furtherance of statewide, regional, and local transportation plans and transportation
development programs. The commissioner shall set guidelines for financial assistance under the
public transit subsidy program. The commissioner shall present any proposed guidelines regarding
public transit financial assistance to a legislative committee composed of equal numbers appointed
by the house local and urban affairs and senate transportation committees. The commissioner
shall not implement any new guidelines regarding public transit financial assistance, between the
period January 1, 1981 to April 15, 1982, without the prior approval of that committee.
    Subd. 2. Financial assistance. The commissioner shall seek out and select eligible recipients
of financial assistance under sections 174.21 to 174.27. The commissioner shall establish by rule
the procedures and standards for review and approval of applications for financial assistance
submitted to the commissioner pursuant to sections 174.21 to 174.27. Any applicant shall provide
to the commissioner any financial or other information required by the commissioner to carry out
the commissioner's duties. The commissioner may require local contributions from applicants as a
condition for receiving financial assistance. Before the commissioner approves any grant, the
application for the grant shall be reviewed and approved by the appropriate regional development
commission only for consistency with regional transportation plans and development guides. If an
applicant proposes a project within the jurisdiction of a transit authority or commission or a transit
system assisted or operated by a city or county, the application shall also be reviewed by that
commission, authority, or political subdivision for consistency with its transit programs, policies,
and plans. Any regional development commission that has not adopted a transportation plan may
review but may not approve or disapprove of any application.
    Subd. 3. Technical and professional assistance. The commissioner shall offer, use,
and apply the information developed pursuant to sections 174.21 to 174.27 to assist and
advise political subdivisions and recipients of financial assistance in the planning, promotion,
development, operation, and evaluation of programs and projects to accomplish the purposes of
sections 174.21 to 174.27. The commissioner shall seek out and select eligible recipients of such
technical and professional assistance.
    Subd. 4. Research; evaluation. The commissioner shall conduct research and shall study,
analyze, and evaluate concepts, techniques, programs, and projects to accomplish the purposes
of sections 174.21 to 174.27, including traffic operations improvements, preferential treatment
and other encouragement of transit and paratransit services and high-occupancy vehicles,
improvements in the management and operation of regular route transit services, special provision
for pedestrians and bicycles, management and control of parking, changes in work schedules,
and reduction of vehicle use in congested and residential areas. The commissioner shall examine
and evaluate such concepts, techniques, programs, and projects now or previously employed or
proposed in this state and elsewhere. The commissioner or an independent third party under
contract to the commissioner shall monitor and evaluate the management and operation of public
transit systems, services, and projects receiving financial or professional and technical assistance
under sections 174.21 to 174.27 or other state programs to determine the manner in which and
the extent to which such systems, services, and projects contribute or may contribute to the
purposes of sections 174.21 to 174.27. The commissioner shall develop and promote proposals
and projects to accomplish the purposes of sections 174.21 to 174.27 and shall actively solicit
such proposals from municipalities, counties, legislatively established transit commissions and
authorities, regional development commissions, and potential vendors. In conducting such
activities the commissioner shall make the greatest possible use of already available research and
information. The commissioner shall use the information developed under sections 174.21 to
174.27 in developing or revising the state transportation plan.
    Subd. 5.[Repealed, 1997 c 7 art 2 s 67]
    Subd. 6. Driver training. The commissioner may make grants to any project eligible
for assistance under sections 174.24 to 174.27, for the purpose of training drivers of vehicles
operated by the project. The subjects of the training may include safe driving skills, techniques
of assisting elderly and disabled passengers, and first aid. The commissioner may also contract
with a public or private agency or institution to provide driver training to drivers of vehicles
utilized by eligible projects.
    Subd. 7. Rulemaking; total operating cost. The commissioner shall by rule define "total
operating cost" as the term is used in carrying out the purposes of section 174.24. "Total operating
cost" may include provisions for a fee for service. The commissioner shall consult with eligible
recipients to the maximum extent feasible in formulating these rules and develop necessary and
reasonable changes in cost and fee allowability provisions and financial examination procedures
where possible. The rules are subject to the provisions in the Administrative Procedure Act of
sections 14.001 to 14.69.
    Subd. 8. Program administration. The commissioner shall assign the administration of
the programs set forth in sections 174.21 to 174.27 to a single division within the Department of
Transportation.
    Subd. 9. Cost reimbursement policies. The commissioner of transportation shall establish
reimbursement policies based on the cost principles of the federal acquisition regulations to
determine the reasonableness and allowability of various costs, including overhead factors, direct
salary costs, and other costs of design and consultant contracts.
History: 1977 c 454 s 20; Ex1979 c 1 s 17,18; 1981 c 363 s 41; 1982 c 424 s 130; 1982 c
586 s 3,4; 1984 c 654 art 3 s 67,68; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 384 art 2 s 1; 1990 c 422 s 10; 1997
c 143 s 16; 2005 c 56 s 1
174.24 PUBLIC TRANSIT PARTICIPATION PROGRAM.
    Subdivision 1. Establishment; purpose. A public transit participation program is established
to carry out the objectives stated in section 174.21 by providing financial assistance from the
state, including the greater Minnesota transit fund established in section 16A.88, to eligible
recipients outside of the metropolitan area.
    Subd. 2. Eligibility; application. Any legislatively established public transit commission
or authority, any county or statutory or home rule charter city providing financial assistance to
or operating public transit, any private operator of public transit, or any combination thereof is
eligible to receive financial assistance through the public transit participation program. Eligible
recipients must be located outside of the metropolitan area.
    Subd. 2a. Eligible activities. Activities eligible for assistance under the program include
but are not limited to:
(1) planning and engineering design for transit services and facilities;
(2) capital assistance to purchase or refurbish transit vehicles and other capital expenditures
necessary to provide a transit service;
(3) operating assistance as provided under subdivision 3b; and
(4) other assistance for public transit services that furthers the purposes of section 174.21.
    Subd. 3. Financial assistance. Payment of financial assistance shall be by contract between
the commissioner and an eligible recipient.
    Subd. 3a.[Repealed, 1984 c 654 art 3 s 153 subd 1]
    Subd. 3b. Operating assistance; recipient classifications. (a) The commissioner shall
determine the total operating cost of any public transit system receiving or applying for assistance
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. To be eligible for financial
assistance, an applicant or recipient shall provide to the commissioner all financial records
and other information and shall permit any inspection reasonably necessary to determine total
operating cost and correspondingly the amount of assistance that may be paid to the applicant or
recipient. Where more than one county or municipality contributes assistance to the operation of
a public transit system, the commissioner shall identify one as lead agency for the purpose of
receiving money under this section.
(b) Prior to distributing operating assistance to eligible recipients for any contract period,
the commissioner shall place all recipients into one of the following classifications: urbanized
area service, small urban area service, rural area service, and elderly and disabled service. The
commissioner shall distribute funds under this section so that the percentage of total operating
cost paid by any recipient from local sources will not exceed the percentage for that recipient's
classification, except as provided in an undue hardship case. The percentages must be: for
urbanized area service and small urban area service, 20 percent; for rural area service, 15 percent;
and for elderly and disabled service, 15 percent. The remainder of the total operating cost will be
paid from state funds less any assistance received by the recipient from any federal source. For
purposes of this subdivision, "local sources" means all local sources of funds and includes all
operating revenue, tax levies, and contributions from public funds, except that the commissioner
may exclude from the total assistance contract revenues derived from operations the cost of
which is excluded from the computation of total operating cost. Total operating costs of the
Duluth Transit Authority or a successor agency does not include costs related to the Superior,
Wisconsin service contract and the Independent School District No. 709 service contract. For
calendar years 2004 and 2005, to enable public transit systems to meet the provisions of this
section, the commissioner may adjust payments of financial assistance to recipients that were
under a contract with the department on January 1, 2003. Payments to such a recipient in calendar
years 2004 and 2005 from the greater Minnesota transit fund may not be less than the payment
to the recipient from that fund in calendar year 2003, except for reductions made necessary
by reductions in base funding for those years.
(c) If a recipient informs the commissioner in writing after the establishment of these
percentages but prior to the distribution of financial assistance for any year that paying its
designated percentage of total operating cost from local sources will cause undue hardship, the
commissioner may reduce the percentage to be paid from local sources by the recipient and
increase the percentage to be paid from local sources by one or more other recipients inside or
outside the classification. However, the commissioner may not reduce or increase any recipient's
percentage under this paragraph for more than two years successively. If for any year the funds
appropriated to the commissioner to carry out the purposes of this section are insufficient to allow
the commissioner to pay the state share of total operating cost as provided in this paragraph, the
commissioner shall reduce the state share in each classification to the extent necessary.
    Subd. 3c. Nonoperating assistance. The commissioner shall determine the total cost of
any planning and engineering design, capital assistance, other capital expenditures, and other
assistance for public transit services that furthers the purposes of section 174.21 for any public
transit system receiving or applying for the assistance in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles. To be eligible for non-operating-cost financial assistance, an applicant or
recipient shall provide to the commissioner all financial records and other information and shall
permit any inspection reasonably necessary to determine total cost and the amount of assistance
that may be paid to the applicant or recipient. When more than one county or municipality
contributes assistance to the operation of a public transit system, the commissioner shall identify
one as a lead agency for the purpose of receiving money under this section. The commissioner
has the sole discretion to determine the amount of state funds distributed to any recipient for
non-operating-cost assistance.
    Subd. 4.[Repealed, 1984 c 654 art 3 s 153 subd 1]
    Subd. 5. Method of payment, operating assistance. Payments for operating assistance
under this section must be made in the following manner:
(a) For payments made from the general fund:
(1) 50 percent of the total contract amount in the first month of operation;
(2) 40 percent of the total contract amount in the seventh month of operation;
(3) 9 percent of the total contract amount in the 12th month of operation; and
(4) 1 percent of the total contract amount after the final audit.
(b) For payments made from the greater Minnesota transit fund:
(1) 50 percent of the total contract amount in the seventh month of operation; and
(2) 50 percent of the total contract amount in the 11th month of operation.
    Subd. 5a. Method of payment, nonoperating assistance. Payments for planning and
engineering design, eligible capital assistance, and other eligible assistance for public transit
services furthering the purposes of section 174.21, excluding operating assistance, shall be made
in an appropriate manner as determined by the commissioner.
    Subd. 6. Service contract. (a) Any legislatively established public transit commission or
authority, county, or statutory or home rule charter city that (1) is located outside the metropolitan
area, and (2) provides financial assistance to or operates public transit, may provide paratransit as
a complement to fixed route service as required in United States Code, title 42, section 12143, as
amended through December 31, 1994, outside its jurisdictional boundaries.
(b) Service described in paragraph (a) may be provided only if (1) the commission, authority,
county, or city enters into a contract for the service with a political subdivision, individual,
or private entity for the service, and (2) the contract requires full or partial payment to the
commission, authority, county, or city for the cost of the service.
History: 1977 c 454 s 21; Ex1979 c 1 s 19-21; 1981 c 363 s 42,43; 3Sp1981 c 2 art 1 s 17;
1982 c 424 s 130; 1982 c 586 s 5-8; 1983 c 293 s 75; 1984 c 654 art 3 s 69-72; 1991 c 233 s 62;
1992 c 394 s 1-4; 1995 c 101 s 1; 1999 c 238 art 2 s 30; 1Sp2001 c 5 art 3 s 9; 1Sp2001 c 8 art 2
s 51; 1Sp2003 c 19 art 2 s 42-44; 2004 c 228 art 1 s 76; 2005 c 56 s 1
174.242 [Repealed, 1Sp2003 c 19 art 2 s 79]
174.245 [Repealed, 1992 c 394 s 5]
174.25 [Repealed, 1982 c 586 s 10]
174.255 PARATRANSIT PROGRAM; ACCESSIBILITY; INSURANCE.
    Subdivision 1. Accessibility for people with disability. The commissioner shall require
any paratransit project receiving assistance under section 174.24 that includes the operation
of two or more vehicles other than automobiles or taxis to provide at least one vehicle that is
accessible to disabled individuals and may require additional accessible vehicles if necessary to
serve disabled individuals expected to use the project. A vehicle is accessible if it is equipped to
allow transportation of an individual confined to a wheelchair or using an orthopedic device.
    Subd. 2. Assistance in obtaining insurance. In order to reduce the expense of liability
insurance required for paratransit projects eligible for assistance under section 174.24, the
commissioner and the commissioner of commerce shall investigate the causes of high liability
insurance costs and shall take the appropriate administrative action to assist paratransit projects to
obtain liability insurance coverage from qualified insurance carriers at the lowest available cost.
Appropriate administrative action includes: (1) taking bids from and negotiating and entering
into contracts with qualified carriers to provide liability insurance for eligible paratransit projects
that wish to be covered, and (2) providing technical and administrative assistance to eligible
paratransit projects to assist them in securing low-cost liability insurance.
    Subd. 3. Operator assistance. A person operating or assisting the operation of a vehicle
while employed by a program such as "project mobility" may leave the vehicle to enter premises
in order to assist a person who does not require emergency ambulance service to gain access and
entrance to the vehicle. The assistance shall include assisting through the first entrance to a
building. Operators of the special transportation vehicles shall provide the necessary passenger
assistance for door-through-door service. Assistance shall also include assisting wheelchair
passengers over any exterior steps essential to either departure or destination buildings, subject
to both the steps and the wheelchair being in good repair. If an operator or assistant refuses to
assist because of the condition of the steps or the wheelchair, the operator of the service shall
send letters to the commissioner of transportation and the person denied service detailing the
corrective measures necessary to qualify for service.
History: Ex1979 c 1 s 24; 1981 c 357 s 67; 1983 c 289 s 114 subd 1; 1984 c 655 art 1 s
92; 1987 c 384 art 2 s 41,42
174.256 PARK-AND-RIDE PROGRAM.
    Subdivision 1. Purpose. It is the purpose of this section to encourage citizens of Minnesota
to transfer from low-occupancy vehicles to multioccupancy vehicles, to reduce the use of
the automobile and provide for more efficient usage of existing facilities in heavily traveled
corridors and congested areas, to divert automobile drivers from parking spaces in metro areas, to
decrease low-occupancy vehicle miles driven and the congestion, pollution, energy consumption,
highway damage, and other costs associated with highway use, and to increase the efficiency and
productivity of and benefit from public investments in public park-and-ride facilities and systems
in the state, reducing the need for increases in urban land used for parking. It is also the purpose
of this section to encourage the use of vanpools, car pools, and ride sharing by the citizens of
the state.
    Subd. 2. Definitions. For purposes of this section the following terms have the meanings
given them in this subdivision:
(a) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of transportation.
(b) "Park-and-ride facility" means a facility consisting of a park-and-ride lot where
commuters' automobiles are parked and, within a reasonable walking distance, a station or some
transfer point where commuters board the transit mode.
(c) "Transit mode" includes transportation by bus, car pool, van-pool, and other similar
services.
(d) "Exclusive use park-and-ride lot" means a parking lot that is intended to be used
exclusively for park-and-ride purposes, is constructed with public money, and is located within
100 miles of a central business district.
(e) "Joint use park-and-ride lot" means a parking lot that is intended to be used for other
purposes in addition to park and ride and is located within 100 miles of a central business district.
(f) "Fringe parking lot" means a parking lot located outside but near a central business district.
    Subd. 3. General powers and duties. (a) The commissioner shall have the power to:
(1) develop and monitor a comprehensive park-and-ride facility program throughout the
state. The program shall coordinate and provide money for the development of a statewide
program of park-and-ride facilities, including joint use park-and-ride lots, exclusive use
park-and-ride lots, and fringe park-and-ride lots;
(2) offer, use, and apply the information developed pursuant to clause (1) to assist and
advise political subdivisions and recipients of financial assistance in the planning, promotion,
development, operation, and evaluation of park-and-ride service facilities. The political
subdivision or eligible recipient is responsible for the repair and maintenance of the facility
by using local money;
(3) act upon request as the designated agent of any eligible person for the receipt and
disbursal of federal money;
(4) contract for or provide services as needed in the design or construction of park-and-ride
facilities; and
(5) establish rules necessary for implementation of the program.
(b) The commissioner shall perform the duties and exercise the powers under this section in
coordination with and in furtherance of statewide, regional, and local transportation plans and
transportation development programs.
    Subd. 4. Eligibility; applications. A statutory or home rule charter city, county, school
district, independent board, or agency is eligible to receive financial assistance through the
park-and-ride grant program. Applications for grants shall be approved or denied by the
commissioner within 120 days of receipt.
    Subd. 5. Evaluation. The commissioner shall evaluate or contract for the evaluation of
park-and-ride programs developed under this section and submit a report to the legislature by
January 15, 1981, including the following information:
(1) the amounts of money spent or obligated for the park-and-ride program by the
commissioner and the persons receiving those amounts;
(2) the number and type of public park-and-ride lots in use and a physical description of each;
(3) the types of lots in use, number of individuals served, and areas covered;
(4) a comparison of the cost of providing different types of service;
(5) a review of the achievements or failures of the project, problems encountered in
implementation, and conclusions and recommendations concerning future action.
History: 1980 c 579 s 14; 1Sp1981 c 4 art 2 s 13; 1985 c 248 s 70
174.257 RIDE-SHARING PROGRAM.
    Subdivision 1. Requirements. (a) The commissioner of transportation shall establish
a ride-sharing program in order to advise citizens of the available alternatives to travel by
low-occupancy vehicles and the benefits derived from sharing rides. The program must provide
citizens with necessary information and opportunities for sharing rides, encourage citizens to
share rides, and assist citizens in obtaining access to shared rides. The program must make use of
existing services and agencies whenever possible. The program must give priority to assisting
employers who will implement employee ride-sharing programs.
(b) The services provided by the program must include:
(1) providing general information to potential ride-sharing users;
(2) establishing procedures for the implementation of ride-sharing programs by individuals,
groups, corporations, or local agencies;
(3) offering assistance to local governments and other political subdivisions in implementing
ride-sharing programs;
(4) providing technical assistance to those individuals, groups, corporations, or local
agencies;
(5) providing advice to individuals requesting assistance in finding ride-sharing opportunities
and programs;
(6) providing assistance in obtaining insured leased vans and management assistance to
individuals and persons implementing ride-sharing programs.
    Subd. 2. No tax or license. No political subdivision may impose a tax on, or require a license
for a ride-sharing arrangement as defined in section 169.01, subdivision 63.
    Subd. 3. Vehicle use by political subdivision. A political subdivision may authorize the
use of motor vehicles which it owns or operates for ride-sharing arrangements for its employees,
and may establish reasonable reimbursement rates for that use.
    Subd. 4. Vehicle use by state. The state may authorize the use of motor vehicles which it
owns or operates for ride-sharing arrangements for its employees, and shall establish reasonable
reimbursement rates for that use. The commissioner of administration shall by September 1, 1983,
establish a demonstration program for using state-owned vehicles, other than commuter vans, for
use in ride-sharing arrangements for state employees.
History: 1980 c 579 s 15; 1980 c 618 s 13; 1983 c 311 s 7
174.26 [Repealed, 1982 c 586 s 10]
174.265 [Repealed, 1984 c 654 art 3 s 153 subd 1]
174.27 PUBLIC EMPLOYER COMMUTER VAN PROGRAM.
Any statutory or home rule charter city, county, school district, independent board, or agency
may acquire or lease commuter vans, enter into contracts with another public or private employer
to acquire or lease such vans, or purchase such a service for the use of its employees. The
governing body of any such city, county, or school district may by resolution establish a commuter
van revolving fund to be used to acquire or lease commuter vans for the use of its employees.
Any payments out of the fund shall be repaid to the fund out of revenues derived from the use
by the employees of the city, county, or school district, of the vans so purchased or leased. Any
city, county, or school district which establishes a commuter van acquisition program or contracts
for this service is authorized to levy a tax annually on all taxable property in the subdivision for
the purpose of establishing a commuter van revolving fund and of paying the administrative and
promotional costs of the program, which levy may be in excess of all charter taxing limitations.
The governing body of any city, county, or school district may by resolution terminate the
commuter van revolving fund and use the funds for other purposes authorized by law.
History: 1977 c 454 s 24; 1989 c 277 art 4 s 17; 1992 c 511 art 5 s 5; 1994 c 505 art 2 s 3
174.28 [Repealed, 1981 c 363 s 58]
174.29 COORDINATION OF SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICE.
    Subdivision 1. Definition. For the purpose of sections 174.29 and 174.30 "special
transportation service" means motor vehicle transportation provided on a regular basis by a
public or private entity or person that is designed exclusively or primarily to serve individuals
who are elderly or disabled and who are unable to use regular means of transportation but do not
require ambulance service, as defined in section 144E.001, subdivision 3. Special transportation
service includes but is not limited to service provided by specially equipped buses, vans, taxis,
and volunteers driving private automobiles.
    Subd. 2. Coordination of services. In order to provide more adequate access to
transportation service for the elderly and disabled with special transportation needs and to more
efficiently utilize public and private funds expended for that purpose, all state agencies that
assist, provide, reimburse, or regulate special transportation services shall promote, support, and
facilitate coordination of those services with other special services and with regular transportation
services offered to the general public.
    Subd. 3.[Expired]
History: Ex1979 c 1 s 27; 1982 c 556 s 1; 1986 c 420 s 4; 1987 c 209 s 39; 1987 c 384 art 2
s 43; 1997 c 199 s 14; 2005 c 56 s 1
174.295 ELIGIBILITY CERTIFICATION; PENALTY FOR FRAUD.
    Subdivision 1. Notice. A provider of special transportation service, as defined in section
174.29, receiving financial assistance under section 174.24, shall include on the application form
for special transportation service, and on the eligibility certification form if different from the
application form, a notice of the penalty for fraudulent certification under subdivision 4.
    Subd. 2. Certifier statement. A provider shall include on the application or eligibility
certification form a place for the person certifying the applicant as eligible for special
transportation service to sign, and the person certifying the applicant shall sign, stating that
the certifier understands the penalty for fraudulent certification and that the certifier believes
the applicant to be eligible.
    Subd. 3. Applicant statement. A provider shall include on the application form a place for
the applicant to sign, and the applicant shall sign, stating that the applicant understands the
penalty for fraudulent certification and that the information on the application is true.
    Subd. 4. Misdemeanor. A person is guilty of a misdemeanor if:
(1) the person fraudulently certifies to the special transportation service provider that the
applicant is eligible for special transportation service; or
(2) the person obtains certification for special transportation service by misrepresentation or
fraud.
History: 1993 c 326 art 4 s 4
174.30 OPERATING STANDARDS FOR SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICE.
    Subdivision 1. Applicability. (a) The operating standards for special transportation service
adopted under this section do not apply to special transportation provided by:
(1) a common carrier operating on fixed routes and schedules;
(2) a volunteer driver using a private automobile;
(3) a school bus as defined in section 169.01, subdivision 6; or
(4) an emergency ambulance regulated under chapter 144.
(b) The operating standards adopted under this section only apply to providers of special
transportation service who receive grants or other financial assistance from either the state
or the federal government, or both, to provide or assist in providing that service; except that
the operating standards adopted under this section do not apply to any nursing home licensed
under section 144A.02, to any board and care facility licensed under section 144.50, or to any
day training and habilitation services, day care, or group home facility licensed under sections
245A.01 to 245A.19 unless the facility or program provides transportation to nonresidents on
a regular basis and the facility receives reimbursement, other than per diem payments, for that
service under rules promulgated by the commissioner of human services.
(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (b), the operating standards adopted under this section do not
apply to any vendor of services licensed under chapter 245B that provides transportation services
to consumers or residents of other vendors licensed under chapter 245B and transports 15 or
fewer persons, including consumers or residents and the driver.
    Subd. 2. Rules. (a) The commissioner of transportation shall adopt by rule standards for
the operation of vehicles used to provide special transportation service which are reasonably
necessary to protect the health and safety of individuals using that service. The commissioner, as
far as practicable, consistent with the purpose of the standards, shall avoid adoption of standards
that unduly restrict any public or private entity or person from providing special transportation
service because of the administrative or other cost of compliance.
(b) Standards adopted under this section must include but are not limited to:
(1) qualifications of drivers and attendants, including driver training requirements that must
be met before a driver provides special transportation;
(2) safety of vehicles and necessary safety equipment;
(3) general requirements concerning inspection and maintenance of vehicles, replacement
vehicles, standard vehicle equipment, and specialized equipment necessary to ensure vehicle
usability and safety for disabled persons; and
(4) minimum insurance requirements.
(c) The commissioner shall consult with the Council on Disability before making a decision
on a variance from the standards.
    Subd. 2a. Vehicle and equipment safety; provider responsibilities. (a) Every special
transportation service provider shall systematically inspect, repair, and maintain, or cause to
be inspected, repaired, and maintained, the vehicles and equipment subject to the control of
the provider. Each vehicle and its equipment must be inspected daily. A vehicle may not be
operated in a condition that is likely to cause an accident or breakdown of the vehicle. Equipment,
including specialized equipment necessary to ensure vehicle usability and safety for disabled
persons, must be in proper and safe operating condition at all times.
(b) Each special transportation provider shall maintain the following records for each vehicle:
(1) an identification of the vehicle, including make, serial number, and year, and, if the
vehicle is not owned by the provider, the name and address of the person furnishing the vehicle;
(2) a schedule of inspection and maintenance operations to be performed;
(3) a record of inspections, repairs, and maintenance showing the date and nature;
(4) a lubrication record; and
(5) a record of tests conducted to ensure that emergency doors or windows and wheelchair
lifts function properly.
    Subd. 3. Other standards; wheelchair securement. (a) A special transportation service that
transports individuals occupying wheelchairs is subject to the provisions of sections 299A.11
to 299A.18 concerning wheelchair securement devices. The commissioners of transportation
and public safety shall cooperate in the enforcement of this section and sections 299A.11 to
299A.18 so that a single inspection is sufficient to ascertain compliance with sections 299A.11 to
299A.18 and with the standards adopted under this section. Representatives of the Department
of Transportation may inspect wheelchair securement devices in vehicles operated by special
transportation service providers to determine compliance with sections 299A.11 to 299A.18 and
to issue certificates under section 299A.14, subdivision 4.
(b) In place of a certificate issued under section 299A.14, the commissioner may issue
a decal under subdivision 4 for a vehicle equipped with a wheelchair securement device if the
device complies with sections 299A.11 to 299A.18 and the decal displays the information
in section 299A.14, subdivision 4.
    Subd. 4. Vehicle and equipment inspection; decal. (a) The commissioner shall inspect or
provide for the inspection of vehicles at least annually. In addition to scheduled annual inspections
and reinspections scheduled for the purpose of verifying that deficiencies have been corrected,
unannounced inspections of any vehicle may be conducted.
(b) On determining that a vehicle or vehicle equipment is in a condition that is likely to cause
an accident or breakdown, the commissioner shall require the vehicle to be taken out of service
immediately. The commissioner shall require that vehicles and equipment not meeting standards
be repaired and brought into conformance with the standards and shall require written evidence of
compliance from the operator before allowing the operator to return the vehicle to service.
(c) The commissioner shall provide in the rules procedures for inspecting vehicles, removing
unsafe vehicles from service, determining and requiring compliance, and reviewing driver
qualifications.
(d) The commissioner shall design a distinctive decal to be issued to special transportation
service providers with a current certificate of compliance under this section. A decal is valid for
one year from the last day of the month in which it is issued. A person who is subject to the
operating standards adopted under this section may not provide special transportation service in a
vehicle that does not conspicuously display a decal issued by the commissioner.
    Subd. 4a. Certification of special transportation provider. The commissioner shall
annually evaluate or provide for the evaluation of each provider of special transportation service
regulated under this section and certify that the provider is in compliance with the standards
under this section.
    Subd. 5. Rules. The rules authorized under this section shall be adopted in accordance with
the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, sections 14.001 to 14.69.
    Subd. 6. Preemption of other requirements. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, ordinance,
or resolution to the contrary, an operator of special transportation service that has been issued a
current certificate of compliance under subdivision 4a for vehicles used to provide that service
is not required to obtain any other state or local permit, license or certificate as a condition of
operating the vehicles for that purpose. This subdivision does not exempt any vehicle from
the requirements imposed on vehicles generally as a condition of using the public streets and
highways.
(b) The requirements of sections 169.781 to 169.783 and chapter 221 do not apply to
vehicles when they are being operated under a current certificate of compliance issued by the
commissioner.
    Subd. 7. Enforcement. No state agency, political subdivision, or other public agency
shall provide any capital or operating assistance to or reimbursement for special transportation
service unless the operator providing the service has a current certificate of compliance issued
under subdivision 4a.
    Subd. 8. Administrative penalties. The commissioner may issue an order requiring
violations of this section and the operating standards adopted under this section to be corrected
and assessing monetary penalties of up to $1,000 for all violations identified during a single
inspection, investigation, or audit. Section 221.036 applies to administrative penalty orders issued
under this section or section 174.315. The commissioner shall suspend, without a hearing, a
special transportation service provider's certificate of compliance for failure to pay, or make
satisfactory arrangements to pay, an administrative penalty when due.
Penalties collected under this section must be deposited in the state treasury and credited
to the trunk highway fund.
    Subd. 9. Complaint data; classification. When information is furnished to the Department
of Transportation that alleges a violation of this section, an operating standard adopted under this
section, or section 174.315, the following data are classified as confidential data or protected
nonpublic data:
(1) names of complainants;
(2) complaint letters; and
(3) other unsolicited data when furnished by a person who is not the subject of the data and
who is not a department employee.
History: Ex1979 c 1 s 28; 1982 c 424 s 130; 1982 c 556 s 2; 1984 c 654 art 5 s 58; 1987 c
88 s 1-7; 1987 c 354 s 8; 1987 c 384 art 2 s 1; 1989 c 209 art 2 s 1; 1989 c 318 s 6; 1990 c 422 s
10; 1992 c 578 s 12; 1993 c 339 s 1; 1995 c 155 s 3-8; 1Sp2003 c 14 art 3 s 1
174.31 [Repealed, 1984 c 654 art 3 s 153 subd 1]
174.315 SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION; AMBULANCE SERVICE PROHIBITED.
    Subdivision 1. Prohibition. Special transportation services shall not provide or offer
transportation to persons who might reasonably require ambulance service, as defined in section
144E.001, subdivision 3, while in the special transportation vehicle. The commissioner of
transportation shall investigate all complaints alleging violations of this section. When requested,
the commissioner of health shall assist the commissioner of transportation in determining whether
a violation occurred.
    Subd. 2. Data classified. Data relating to an individual's physical condition or medical
treatment collected, received, or maintained by the Department of Transportation under this
section are private data on individuals. The commissioner of transportation may disclose data
classified as private data on individuals to the commissioner of health to the extent necessary to
determine if a violation of this section occurred.
    Subd. 3. Penalties. Notwithstanding section 174.30, subdivision 8, the commissioner of
transportation may issue an order assessing a monetary penalty of up to $10,000 for a violation of
this section. The minimum penalty for a third violation of this section within three years shall
be revocation of the certificate issued under section 174.30, subdivision 4a. A person whose
certificate is revoked under this section may appeal the commissioner's action in a contested
case proceeding under chapter 14.
History: 1990 c 556 s 3; 1995 c 155 s 9; 1997 c 199 s 14
174.32 TRANSIT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
    Subdivision 1. Establishment; purpose. A transit assistance program is established to
provide transit assistance within the state from the fund created in subdivision 2 to eligible
recipients for transit service activities as provided in this section.
    Subd. 2. Transit assistance fund; distribution. The transit assistance fund receives money
distributed under section 297B.09. Eighty percent of the receipts of the fund must be placed into
a metropolitan account for distribution to recipients located in the metropolitan area and 20
percent into a separate account for distribution to recipients located outside of the metropolitan
area. Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the Metropolitan Council is responsible for
distributing assistance from the metropolitan account, and the commissioner is responsible for
distributing assistance from the other account.
    Subd. 3. Eligible recipient. A legislatively established public transit commission; a public
authority organized and existing under chapter 398A; a county or statutory or home rule charter
city operating, intending to operate, or providing financial assistance to a transit service; a rail
authority; or a private operator of public transit is eligible for assistance under the program. The
National Railroad Passenger Corporation, known as Amtrak, and any trolley system outside the
metropolitan area are not eligible for assistance under the program.
    Subd. 4. Eligible service. Transit services eligible for assistance under the program include
but are not limited to:
(1) public transit;
(2) light rail transit;
(3) commuter van, car pool, ride share, and park and ride; and
(4) other services that further the purposes of section 174.21.
    Subd. 5. Eligible activity. Activities eligible for assistance under the program include but are
not limited to:
(1) planning and engineering design for transit services;
(2) capital assistance to purchase or refurbish transit vehicles, purchase rail lines and
associated facilities for light rail transit, purchase rights-of-way, and other capital expenditures
necessary to provide a transit service; and
(3) other assistance for public transit services.
    Subd. 6. Investment of transit assistance fund money. For money deposited in the transit
assistance fund on or after January 15, 1985, the commissioner of transportation shall certify to
the State Board of Investment the amount of the transit assistance fund that in the judgment of the
commissioner is not required for immediate use. The certified amount of the transit assistance
fund not currently needed shall be invested by the State Board of Investment subject to section
11A.25. All investment income and all investment losses attributable to the investments must be
credited to the transit assistance fund. The commissioner of finance is the custodian of securities
purchased under this section.
History: 1984 c 654 art 3 s 74; 1Sp1985 c 10 s 78-81; 1988 c 684 art 2 s 4; 1989 c 339 s 1;
1993 c 353 s 1; 1994 c 628 art 3 s 15
174.35 LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT.
The commissioner of transportation may exercise the powers granted in this chapter and
chapter 473, as necessary, to plan, design, acquire, construct, and equip light rail transit facilities
in the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2. The commissioner shall
not spend state funds to study light rail transit unless the funds are appropriated in legislation
that identifies the route, including the origin and destination.
History: 1993 c 353 s 2; 1Sp2001 c 8 art 2 s 52
174.36 NOTICE OF STUDIES OF HIGH-SPEED RAIL.
The commissioner shall notify the chairs of the senate and house of representatives
committees with jurisdiction over transportation finance whenever the commissioner spends state
funds to study high-speed intercity passenger rail service.
History: 1Sp2001 c 8 art 2 s 53

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM FINANCING

174.50 MINNESOTA STATE TRANSPORTATION FUND.
    Subdivision 1. Legislative findings; purpose. State assistance is needed to supplement
local effort and the highway user tax distribution fund in financing capital improvements to
preserve and develop a balanced transportation system throughout the state. Such a system is
a proper function and concern of state government and necessary to protect the safety and
personal and economic welfare of all citizens. It requires capital expenditures for public
facilities, improvements, and equipment that are complementary, additional, and alternate to
highways and are a proper object for contracting public debt and engaging in works of internal
improvements under article XI, section 5, clause (a), of the Constitution. These expenditures
are needed to harmonize state and local highway systems with the requirements of the federal
interstate highway system, to avoid harmful environmental impact of arterial highways on
urban, scenic, and recreational areas, and to provide auxiliary facilities for the convenience and
safety of persons crossing highways and persons living and working adjacent to them. Capital
expenditures of this nature exceed requirements for basic highway systems and should be funded
from sources other than the taxes and bonds authorized in article XIV of the Constitution.
However, the improvements tend to reduce the cost of maintenance of highways to the minimum
required for accommodation of traffic, and the cost may and shall continue to be paid from taxes
authorized in article XIV of the Constitution. Immediate improvement needs are reconstruction
and replacement of key bridges and approaches to remove obstructions to the flow of traffic on
state and county highways, municipal streets, and town roads and expedited completion of the
interstate highway system in Minnesota by paying the state share of interstate highway segments,
and a portion of the local share of interstate highway substitution projects when those interstate
substitution projects are approved in accordance with state and federal law.
    Subd. 1a. Rail line. An additional need of the state transportation system is the acquisition
and betterment of rail lines and right-of-way for preservation in the state rail bank as provided in
section 222.63.
    Subd. 2. Fund created. A Minnesota state transportation fund is created as a separate
bookkeeping account in the general books of account of the state, to record receipts and
disbursements of money appropriated from the fund to agencies and subdivisions of the state for
the acquisition and betterment of public land, buildings, and capital improvements needed for the
development of the state transportation system.
    Subd. 3. Fund revenue; appropriation. The commissioner of finance shall deposit in the
fund as received all proceeds of Minnesota state transportation bonds, except accrued interest
and premiums; all other money appropriated by law for the purposes of the fund; and all money
granted to the state for these purposes by the federal government or any agency thereof. All such
receipts are annually appropriated for the permanent construction and improvement purposes of
the fund and shall be and remain available for expenditure in accordance with this section and
applicable federal laws until the purposes for which the appropriations were made have been
accomplished or abandoned. Upon certification to the commissioner of finance by the agency or
subdivision to which any appropriation of bond proceeds has been made that the purpose thereof
has been accomplished or abandoned, any unexpended balance of the appropriation, unless
reappropriated by law, shall be transferred to the state bond fund and is appropriated to reduce
the amount of tax otherwise required by the Constitution to be levied for that fund. No money
shall be transferred to the state transportation fund from the highway user tax distribution fund
or any other fund created by article XIV of the Constitution.
    Subd. 4.[Repealed, 2004 c 180 s 1]
    Subd. 5. Certification and disbursal for project of political subdivision. Before
disbursement of an appropriation made from the fund to the commissioner of transportation for
grants to subdivisions of the state, the commissioner shall certify:
(1) that the project for which the grant is made has been reviewed as provided in subdivision
4;
(2) that the project conforms to the program authorized by the appropriation law and rules
adopted by the Department of Transportation consistent therewith; and
(3) that the financing of any estimated cost of the project in excess of the amount of the grant
is assured by the appropriation of the proceeds of bonds or other funds of the subdivision, or by a
grant from an agency of the federal government, within the amount of funds then appropriated to
that agency and allocated by it to projects within the state, and by an irrevocable undertaking,
in a resolution of the governing body of the subdivision, to use all funds so made available
exclusively for the project, and to pay any additional amount by which the cost exceeds the
estimate through appropriation to the construction fund of additional funds or the proceeds of
additional bonds to be issued by the subdivision.
    Subd. 6. Grant rules. Procedures for application for grants from the fund, conditions for
their administration, and criteria for priority, unless established in the laws authorizing the grants,
shall be established by rules of the Department of Transportation consistent with those laws.
Criteria for determining priorities and amounts of grants shall be based on consideration of:
(1) effectiveness of the project in eliminating a deficiency in the transportation system;
(2) number of persons affected by the deficiency;
(3) economic feasibility;
(4) effect on optimum land use and other concerns of state and regional planning;
(5) availability of other financing capability; and
(6) adequacy of provision for proper operation and maintenance after construction.
    Subd. 6a. Grant for preliminary engineering of river crossing. (a) The commissioner may
make a grant to any political subdivision for preliminary engineering of a river crossing which
requires extensive studies and evaluations to determine the environmental impact, location and
design features of the crossing. A grant shall not exceed $300,000 for a single bridge project and
shall not be used for the preparation of construction plans or specifications.
(b) Application for a grant shall be made by resolution of the governing body of the
subdivision proposing to construct or reconstruct the bridge. A grant under this subdivision
is subject to the procedures and criteria provided in subdivisions 5 and 6. A grant shall also
be subject to the priority ranking established under the existing rules of the department if
the proposed bridge has been ranked under those rules. No new rules are required for the
administration of the grant program established by this subdivision.
    Subd. 6b. Bridge engineering and design costs in smaller cities. Until June 30, 2007, the
commissioner may make grants from the state transportation fund to a home rule or statutory
city with a population of 5,000 or less and a net tax capacity of under $200,000 for design and
preliminary engineering of bridges on city streets. Grants under this subdivision are subject to
the procedures and criteria established under subdivisions 5 and 6, and may be used for 100
percent of the design and preliminary engineering costs. Total grants under this subdivision to
all cities may not exceed $200,000.
    Subd. 7. Rules for administering funds and grants. The commissioner of transportation
shall develop rules, standards and criteria, including bridge specifications, in cooperation with
road authorities of political subdivisions, for use in the administration of funds appropriated to
the commissioner and for the administration of grants to subdivisions. The maximum use of
standardized bridges is encouraged. Regardless of the size of the existing bridge, a bridge or
replacement bridge is eligible for assistance from the state transportation fund if a hydrological
survey indicates that the bridge or replacement bridge must be ten feet or more in length.
Funds appropriated to the commissioner from the Minnesota state transportation fund shall be
segregated from the highway tax user distribution fund and other funds created by article XIV
of the Constitution.
History: 1976 c 339 s 1; 1977 c 454 s 26; 1979 c 280 s 3; 1981 c 338 s 1; 1981 c 361 s 16;
1984 c 412 s 1; 1999 c 230 s 18; 2003 c 112 art 2 s 50; 1Sp2005 c 6 art 3 s 79
174.51 MINNESOTA STATE TRANSPORTATION BONDS.
    Subdivision 1. Purposes. For the purpose of providing money appropriated to agencies or
subdivisions of the state from the Minnesota state transportation fund for the acquisition and
betterment of public land, buildings, and capital improvements needed for the development
of the state transportation system, when such appropriations or loans are authorized by Laws
1976, chapter 339, section 3 or another law and funds therefor are requested by the governor, the
commissioner of finance shall sell and issue bonds of the state of Minnesota for the prompt and
full payment of which, with interest thereon, the full faith and credit and taxing powers of the
state are irrevocably pledged. Bonds shall be issued pursuant to this section only as authorized
by a law specifying the purpose thereof and the maximum amount of the proceeds authorized
to be expended for that purpose. Any such law, together with this section, constitutes complete
authority for the issue, and such bonds shall not be subject to restrictions or limitations contained
in any other law.
    Subd. 2. Sale; general obligations. The bonds shall be sold upon sealed bids and upon
notice, at a price, in form and denominations, bearing interest at a rate or rates, maturing in
amounts and on dates, without option of prior redemption or subject to prepayment upon notice
and at times and prices, payable at a bank or banks within or outside the state, with or without
provisions for registration, conversion, exchange, and issuance of temporary bonds or notes in
anticipation of the sale or delivery of definitive bonds, and in accordance with further provisions,
as the commissioner of finance shall determine subject to the approval of the attorney general,
but not subject to the provisions of chapter 14, including section 14.386. Each bond shall mature
within 20 years from its date of issue and shall be executed by the commissioner of finance under
official seal. The signature on the bonds and on any interest coupons and the seal may be printed
or otherwise reproduced, except that each bond shall be authenticated by the manual signature
on its face of the commissioner of finance or of a person authorized to sign on behalf of a bank
designated by the commissioner as registrar or other authenticating agent. The commissioner of
finance shall ascertain and certify to the purchasers of the bonds the performance and existence of
all acts, conditions, and things necessary to make them valid and binding general obligations of
the state of Minnesota, subject to the approval of the attorney general.
    Subd. 3. Expenses. All expenses incidental to the sale, printing, execution, and delivery
of bonds pursuant to this section, including but not limited to actual and necessary travel and
subsistence expenses of state officers and employees for such purposes, shall be paid from the
Minnesota state transportation fund and the amounts necessary therefor are appropriated from
that fund.
    Subd. 4. Account; appropriation. The commissioner of finance shall maintain in the state
bond fund a separate bookkeeping account designated as the Minnesota state transportation bond
account, to record receipts and disbursements of money transferred to the fund to pay Minnesota
state transportation bonds and interest thereon, and of income from the investment of such money,
which income shall be credited to the account in each fiscal year in an amount equal to the
approximate average rate of return that year on all funds invested by the commissioner of finance,
as determined by the commissioner of finance, times the average balance in the account that year.
    Subd. 5. Money credited; appropriated. The premium and accrued interest received on
each issue of Minnesota state transportation bonds shall be credited to the bond account. There
shall also be credited to the bond account from the general fund in the state treasury, on November
1 in each year, a sum of money equal to the amount of the tax which article XI of the Constitution
would otherwise require to be levied for collection in the following year, to increase the balance
in the account to an amount sufficient to pay principal and interest due and to become due with
respect to Minnesota state transportation bonds. All money so credited and all income from the
investment thereof is annually appropriated to the bond account for the payment of such bonds
and interest thereon, and shall be available in the bond account prior to the levy of a tax for
the state bond fund in any year as required by article XI of the Constitution. No money shall
be transferred to the Minnesota state transportation bond account from the highway user tax
distribution fund or any other fund created by article XIV of the Constitution. The commissioner
of finance is directed to make the appropriate entries in the accounts of the respective funds.
    Subd. 6. Levy; transfer of funds; appropriations. On or before December 1 in each year, if
the full amount appropriated to the bond account in subdivision 5 has not been credited thereto,
the tax required by article XI of the Constitution shall be levied upon all taxable property within
the state. This tax shall be subject to no limitation of rate or amount until all Minnesota state
transportation bonds and interest thereon are fully paid. The proceeds of this tax are appropriated
and shall be credited to the state bond fund, and the principal of and interest on the bonds
are payable from such proceeds, and the whole thereof, or so much as may be necessary, is
appropriated for such payments. If at any time there is not sufficient money from the proceeds of
such taxes to pay the principal and interest when due on Minnesota state transportation bonds,
such principal and interest shall be paid out of the general fund in the state treasury, and the
amount necessary therefor is hereby appropriated.
History: 1976 c 339 s 2; 1982 c 424 s 130; 1983 c 301 s 143,144; 1Sp1985 c 14 art 4 s 29;
1995 c 233 art 2 s 56; 1997 c 187 art 5 s 25; 2003 c 112 art 2 s 24,50
174.52 LOCAL ROAD IMPROVEMENT FUND.
    Subdivision 1. Fund created. A local road improvement fund is created in the state treasury.
The fund consists of money transferred to the fund through appropriation, gift, or grant.
    Subd. 2. Trunk highway corridor projects account. A trunk highway corridor projects
account is established in the local road improvement fund. Money in the account is annually
appropriated to the commissioner of transportation for expenditure as specified in this section.
Money in the account must be used as grants or loans to statutory or home rule charter cities,
towns, and counties to assist in paying the local share of trunk highway projects that have local
costs that are directly or partially related to the trunk highway improvement and that are not
funded or are only partially funded with other state and federal funds. The commissioner shall
determine the amount of the local share of costs eligible for assistance from the account.
    Subd. 3. Advisory committee. (a) The commissioner shall establish an advisory committee
consisting of five members, including:
(1) one county commissioner;
(2) one county engineer;
(3) one city engineer;
(4) one city council member or city administrator representing a city with a population
over 5,000; and
(5) one city council member or city administrator representing a city with a population under
5,000. The advisory committee shall provide recommendations to the commissioner regarding
expenditures from the trunk highway corridor projects account.
(b) Notwithstanding section 15.059, subdivision 5, the committee does not expire.
    Subd. 4. Local road account for routes of regional significance. A local road account for
routes of regional significance is established in the local road improvement fund. Money in
the account is annually appropriated to the commissioner of transportation for expenditure as
specified in this section. Money in the account must be used as grants or loans to statutory or
home rule charter cities, towns, and counties to assist in paying the costs of constructing or
reconstructing city streets, county highways, or town roads with statewide or regional significance
that have not been fully funded through other state, federal, or local funding sources.
    Subd. 4a. Rural road safety account; appropriation. (a) A rural road safety account is
established in the local road improvement fund. Money in the account is annually appropriated to
the commissioner of transportation for expenditure as specified in this subdivision. Money in the
account must be used as grants to counties to assist in paying the costs of capital improvement
projects on county state-aid highways that are intended primarily to reduce traffic crashes, deaths,
injuries, and property damage.
(b) The commissioner shall establish procedures for counties to apply for grants from the
rural road safety account and criteria to be used to select projects for funding. The commissioner
shall establish these procedures and criteria in consultation with representatives appointed by the
Association of Minnesota Counties. Eligibility for project selection must be based on the ability
of each proposed project to reduce the frequency and severity of crashes.
(c) Money in the account must be allocated in each fiscal year as follows:
(1) one-third of money in the account must be used for projects in the counties of Anoka,
Chisago, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington; and
(2) the remainder must be used for projects elsewhere in the state.
    Subd. 5. Grant procedures and criteria. The commissioner shall establish procedures for
statutory or home rule charter cities, towns, and counties to apply for grants or loans from the
fund and criteria to be used to select projects for funding. The commissioner shall establish these
procedures and criteria in consultation with representatives appointed by the Association of
Minnesota Counties, League of Minnesota Cities, Minnesota Association of Townships, and the
appropriate state agency as needed. The criteria for determining project priority and the amount of
a grant or loan must be based upon consideration of:
(1) the availability of other state, federal, and local funds;
(2) the regional significance of the route;
(3) effectiveness of the proposed project in eliminating a transportation system deficiency;
(4) the number of persons who will be positively impacted by the project;
(5) the project's contribution to other local, regional, or state economic development or
redevelopment efforts including livestock and other agricultural operations permitted after the
effective date of this section; and
(6) ability of the local unit of government to adequately provide for the safe operation and
maintenance of the facility upon project completion.
    Subd. 6. Administrative costs. A sum of 0.25 percent of the total amount in the fund, other
than amounts deposited in the fund from the proceeds from the sale of state bonds, is available
to be used for administrative costs incurred by the department in carrying out the provisions
of this section.
History: 2002 c 393 s 55; 2004 c 295 art 1 s 15; 2005 c 20 art 1 s 36; 1Sp2005 c 1 art 1 s 83
174.55 [Repealed, 2004 c 295 art 1 s 17]

RAILROAD PASSENGER SERVICE

174.60 RAILROAD PASSENGER SERVICE PROVIDED.
The purpose and intent of sections 174.60 to 174.63 is to provide for a balanced
transportation system in the state, required by the public convenience and necessity, by making
available rail passenger service not provided by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation in
its basic national rail passenger system.
History: 1971 c 956 s 1
174.61 DEFINITIONS.
    Subdivision 1. Scope. For the purposes of sections 174.60 to 174.63 the terms defined in
this section have the meanings given them.
    Subd. 2. Corporation. "Corporation" means the National Railroad Passenger Corporation
created pursuant to the Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970, Public Law 91-518.
    Subd. 3. Governmental unit. "Governmental unit" means a regional development
commission, county, city or town.
History: 1971 c 956 s 2; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7
174.62 AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENT.
The commissioner of transportation, any governmental unit, or any combination thereof,
may enter into any contracts or agreements pursuant to Public Law 91-518 and in conformance
with state law governing contracts by state agencies and governmental units, to reimburse the
corporation for a reasonable portion of any losses associated with the institution of intercity
rail passenger service by the corporation beyond that included within the basic national rail
passenger system.
History: 1971 c 956 s 3; 1976 c 166 s 6 subd 3
174.63 PUBLIC HEARING; NOTICE.
Before any contract or agreement, as provided in section 174.62, is entered into, the
governing body of the governmental unit shall hold a public hearing on such proposed contract
or agreement. Notice of the time and place of said hearing shall be published in one or more
legal newspapers of general circulation in the area once in each week for two successive weeks
prior to said hearing. The published notice shall be in a form determined by the governing body,
which form shall be sufficient in size and prominent in format in order to attract the attention
of the reader. In any event the notice shall be of a size at least two columns in width by six
inches in length. The notice shall set forth the portion of any losses that the governmental unit
proposes to reimburse the corporation.
History: 1971 c 956 s 4

MOTOR CARRIERS AND RAIL CARRIERS

174.64 FUNCTIONS AND POWERS RELATING TO CARRIERS.
    Subdivision 1. Commissioner's powers generally. Some of the functions of the
commissioner of transportation, related to motor carriers and common carriers by rail, are
quasi-judicial in nature. The commissioner may make investigations and determinations, hold
hearings, prescribe rules, and issue orders with respect to the control and conduct of the carrier
businesses coming within the commissioner's jurisdiction as authorized by law.
    Subd. 2. Specific functions and powers. (a) To the extent allowed under federal law or
regulation, the commissioner shall further hold hearings and issue orders in cases brought on the
commissioner's own motion or by a third party in the following areas:
(1) adequacy of services that carriers are providing to the public, including the continuation,
termination, or modification of services and facilities;
(2) reasonableness of tariffs of rates, fares, and charges, or a part or classification of a
tariff; and
(3) issuing permits.
(b) For purposes of paragraph (a), clause (2), the commissioner may authorize common
carriers by rail and motor carriers for hire to file tariffs of rates, fares, and charges individually or
by group. Carriers participating in group ratemaking have the free and unrestrained right to take
independent action either before or after a determination arrived at through that procedure.
    Subd. 3. Subpoena power. The commissioner shall have subpoena power.
    Subd. 4. Petition, notice, and hearing. (a) With respect to those matters within the
commissioner's jurisdiction, the commissioner shall receive, hear, and determine all petitions filed
with the commissioner in accordance with the procedures established by law and may hold
hearings and make determinations upon the commissioner's own motion to the same extent, and
in every instance, in which the commissioner may do so upon petition.
(b) Upon receiving a petition filed pursuant to section 221.121, subdivision 1, or 221.151,
the commissioner shall give notice of the filing of the petition to representatives of associations
or other interested groups or persons who have registered their names with the commissioner
for that purpose and to whomever the commissioner deems to be interested in the petition. The
commissioner may grant or deny the request of the petition 30 days after notice of the filing
has been fully given.
(c) If the commissioner receives a written objection and notice of intent to appear at a
hearing to object to the petition from any person within 20 days of the notice having been fully
given, the request of the petition must be granted or denied only after a contested case hearing
has been conducted on the petition, unless the objection is withdrawn before the hearing. The
commissioner may elect to hold a contested case hearing if no objections to the petition are
received. If a timely objection is not received, or if received and withdrawn, and the request of
the petition is denied without hearing, the petitioner may request within 30 days of receiving the
notice of denial, and must be granted, a contested case hearing on the petition.
History: 1980 c 534 s 2; 1983 c 293 s 76; 1986 c 468 s 1; 1999 c 238 art 2 s 32; 2001 c 213
s 16-18,30; 1Sp2003 c 19 art 2 s 46
174.65 CARRIER HEARINGS AND APPEALS.
    Subdivision 1. Hearings. All hearings related to common carriers by rail or motor carriers
and required to be conducted by the commissioner of transportation must be conducted pursuant
to sections 14.001 to 14.69.
    Subd. 2. Appeals. An appeal from an order of the commissioner must be in accordance
with chapter 14.
History: 1980 c 534 s 4; 1982 c 424 s 130; 1987 c 384 art 2 s 1; 1990 c 422 s 10; 2001 c
213 s 19,30
174.66 CONTINUATION OF CARRIER RULES.
(a) Orders and directives in force, issued, or promulgated under authority of chapters 174A,
216A, 218, 219, 221, and 222 remain and continue in force and effect until repealed, modified, or
superseded by duly authorized orders or directives of the commissioner of transportation. To the
extent allowed under federal law or regulation, rules adopted under authority of the following
sections are transferred to the commissioner of transportation and continue in force and effect
until repealed, modified, or superseded by duly authorized rules of the commissioner:
(1) section 218.041 except rules related to the form and manner of filing railroad rates,
railroad accounting rules, and safety rules;
(2) section 219.40;
(3) rules relating to rates or tariffs, or the granting, limiting, or modifying of permits or
certificates of convenience and necessity under section 221.031, subdivision 1;
(4) rules relating to the sale, assignment, pledge, or other transfer of a stock interest in a
corporation holding authority to operate as a permit carrier as prescribed in section 221.151,
subdivision 1
;
(5) rules relating to rates, charges, and practices under section 221.161, subdivision 4; and
(6) rules relating to rates, tariffs, or the granting, limiting, or modifying of permits under
sections 221.121 and 221.151.
(b) The commissioner shall review the transferred rules, orders, and directives and, when
appropriate, develop and adopt new rules, orders, or directives.
History: 1980 c 534 s 6; 1983 c 293 s 77; 1985 c 299 s 14; 1998 c 403 s 19; 1999 c 238 art
2 s 33; 2001 c 213 s 20,30

PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

174.70 PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO COMMUNICATIONS.
    Subdivision 1. Authority of commissioner. The commissioner of transportation may
exercise the powers granted in this chapter and in sections 403.21 to 403.34, to plan and
implement the communications system as provided in sections 403.21 to 403.34.
    Subd. 2. State communications system implementation; towers and other facilities.
(a) In order to facilitate construction and maintenance of the state's communications systems
and to reduce the proliferation of communications towers, the commissioner may, by purchase,
lease, gift, exchange, or other means, obtain sites for the erection of towers and the location
of equipment and may construct buildings and structures needed for developing the state's
communications systems.
(b) The commissioner may negotiate with commercial wireless service providers and other
tower owners to obtain sites, towers, and equipment. Notwithstanding sections 161.433, 161.434,
161.45, and 161.46, the commissioner may by agreement lease, allow, or permit commercial
wireless service providers or other tower owners to install privately owned equipment on
state-owned lands, buildings, and other structures under the jurisdiction of the commissioner
when it is practical and feasible to do so. The commissioner shall annually publish a list of
state-owned tower sites that are available to commercial wireless service providers and other
tower owners for installation of their equipment on a first-come, first-served basis for each
tower or site. The commissioner may not make agreements that grant the exclusive use of
towers. After the commissioner has agreed to make space available on a specific tower or at a
specific site, the commissioner shall charge a site use fee for the value of the real property or
structure made available. In lieu of a site use fee, the commissioner may make agreements with
commercial wireless service providers or other tower owners to place state equipment on privately
owned towers and may accept improvements such as tower reinforcement, reconstruction, site
development, or other site improvements to the state's communications system facilities or real
or personal property.
(c) This section does not create a right to install privately owned towers on the trunk
highway right-of-way.
    Subd. 3. Deposit of fees; appropriation. Fees collected under subdivision 2 must be
deposited in the trunk highway fund. The fees collected are appropriated to the commissioner to
pay for developing and maintaining the communications systems that serve state agencies.
History: 1995 c 195 art 1 s 1; 1999 c 238 art 2 s 31; 1Sp2001 c 8 art 2 s 56,57; 1Sp2003
c 1 art 2 s 135

COMMUTER RAIL

174.80 DEFINITIONS.
    Subdivision 1. Terms. For the purposes of sections 174.80 to 174.90, the terms defined in
this section have the meanings given them.
    Subd. 2. Advanced corridor plan. "Advanced corridor plan" means a commuter rail
plan that:
(1) contains a physical design component that identifies the physical design of facilities,
including:
(i) location, length, and termini of routes;
(ii) maintenance facility locations;
(iii) safety improvements;
(iv) station locations and design; and
(v) related park-and-ride, parking, and other transportation facilities;
(2) specifies track and signal improvements;
(3) addresses disability access;
(4) specifies intermodal coordination and connections with bus and light rail transit operation
and routes;
(5) projects ridership, capital costs, operating costs, and revenues;
(6) identifies sources of funds for operating subsidies and funding for final design,
construction, and operation;
(7) describes an implementation method;
(8) describes a plan for public involvement and public information;
(9) defines anticipated agreements with the railroads; and
(10) addresses land use impacts.
The preliminary design plan may include the draft environmental impact statement for the
proposed commuter rail facilities.
    Subd. 3. Preliminary engineering plan. "Preliminary engineering plan" means a commuter
rail plan that includes those items in the advanced corridor plan that relate to facilities
proposed for construction, but with additional detail and specificity in satisfaction of applicable
environmental requirements.
    Subd. 4. Final design plan. "Final design plan" means a commuter rail plan that includes the
items in the advanced corridor plan and the preliminary engineering plan, but with additional
detail and specificity as needed for construction and operation.
History: 1999 c 230 s 19; 2005 c 56 s 1
174.82 COMMUTER RAIL; COMMISSIONER'S DUTIES; CONTRACTS; LIABILITIES,
RIGHTS, AND FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS.
The planning, development, construction, operation, and maintenance of commuter rail
track, facilities, and services are governmental functions, serve a public purpose, and are a matter
of public necessity. The commissioner shall be responsible for all aspects of planning, developing,
constructing, operating, and maintaining commuter rail, including system planning, advanced
corridor planning, preliminary engineering, final design, construction, negotiating with railroads,
and developing financial and operating plans. The commissioner may enter into a memorandum
of understanding or agreement with a public or private entity, including a regional railroad
authority, a joint powers board, and a railroad, to carry out these activities. The commissioner,
or public entity contracting with the commissioner, may contract with a railroad that is a Class
I railroad under federal law for the joint or shared use of the railroad's right-of-way or the
construction, operation, or maintenance of rail track, facilities, or services for commuter rail
purposes. Notwithstanding section 3.732, subdivision 1, clause (2), or section 466.01, subdivision
6, sections 466.04 and 466.06 govern the liability of the Class I railroad and its employees
arising from the joint or shared use of the railroad right-of-way or the provision of commuter
rail construction, operation, or maintenance services pursuant to the contract. Notwithstanding
any law to the contrary, a contract with the Class I railroad for any commuter rail service, or
joint or shared use of the railroad's right-of-way, may also provide for the allocation of financial
responsibility, indemnification, and the procurement of insurance for the parties for all types of
claims or damages. A contract entered into under this section does not affect rights of employees
under the Federal Employers Liability Act or the federal Railway Labor Act.
History: 1999 c 230 s 20; 2006 c 206 s 1
174.84 COMMUTER RAIL SYSTEM PLANNING.
    Subdivision 1. General plan requirements. By January 15, 2000, the commissioner
shall adopt a commuter rail system plan to ensure that if commuter rail facilities are acquired,
developed, constructed, owned, and operated in Minnesota, these activities will be done in an
efficient, cost-effective manner, and in coordination with buses and other transportation modes
and facilities. The commissioner shall consult with affected regional railroad authorities and may
incorporate into its plan elements of the plans of regional railroad authorities in order to avoid
duplication of efforts. The commissioner may periodically update the system plan.
    Subd. 2. Approval of commuter rail system plan. The commuter rail system plan must be
approved by metropolitan planning organizations in areas in which commuter rail will be located
before the commissioner may begin final design of commuter rail facilities. Following approval of
the plan, the commissioner shall act in conformity with the plan. The commissioner shall ensure
that final design plans are consistent with the commuter rail plan.
    Subd. 3. Engineering standards. The plan must include engineering standards that provide
for integrated operation of all commuter rail equipment, facilities, and services, including security,
station design parameters, fare box systems, and safety.
    Subd. 4. Integration of system. The commissioner and metropolitan planning organizations
shall ensure that if commuter rail facilities are planned, designed, and implemented in Minnesota,
they will be planned, designed, and implemented in such a way as to move transit users to,
from, and within the metropolitan area, and to provide a unified, integrated, and efficient
multimodal transportation system with rail transit lines that interface with each other and with
other transportation facilities.
History: 1999 c 230 s 21
174.86 COMMUTER RAIL PLAN; REVIEW.
    Subdivision 1. Advanced corridor plan; public hearing. Before a final design plan is
prepared for commuter rail facilities, the commissioner must hold a public hearing on the physical
design component of the advanced corridor plan. The commissioner must provide appropriate
public notice of the hearing and publicity to ensure that affected parties have an opportunity
to present their views at the hearing. The commissioner shall summarize the proceedings and
testimony and maintain the record of a hearing held under this subdivision, including any written
statements submitted.
    Subd. 2. Physical design component; local participation. At least 30 days before the
hearing under subdivision 1, the commissioner shall submit the physical design component of the
advanced corridor plan to the governing body of each statutory and home rule charter city, county,
and town in which the route is to be located. Within 45 days after the hearing under subdivision 1,
the city, county, or town shall review and comment on the plan. Within 45 days of the hearing, a
city or town shall approve or disapprove the location and design of the station to be located in
the city or town. A city or town that disapproves shall describe specific amendments to the plan
that, if adopted, would cause the city or town to withdraw its disapproval. Failure to comment in
writing within 45 days after the hearing is deemed to be accepted unless an extension of time is
agreed to by the metropolitan planning organization and the commissioner of transportation.
    Subd. 3. Modification of advanced corridor plan. After the hearing under subdivision
1, and after the receipt of comment under subdivision 2, the commissioner may modify the
advanced corridor plan.
    Subd. 4. Advanced corridor plan; metropolitan planning organization review. Before
constructing commuter rail facilities, the commissioner shall submit the advanced corridor plan to
each metropolitan planning organization in which the route is to be located. The metropolitan
planning organization shall hold a hearing on the plan allowing the commissioner, local
governmental units, and other persons to present their views as to whether the plan is consistent
with the metropolitan planning organization's development guide. Within 60 days after the hearing,
the metropolitan planning organization shall review the plan submitted by the commissioner to
determine whether it is consistent with the development guide. If the plan is consistent with the
development guide, the metropolitan planning organization shall approve it. If the plan is not
consistent with the development guide, the metropolitan planning organization shall submit to
the commissioner proposed amendments to the plan to make it consistent with the development
guide. The commissioner shall incorporate the proposed amendments into the final design plan.
    Subd. 5. Commuter Rail Corridor Coordinating Committee. (a) A Commuter Rail
Corridor Coordinating Committee shall be established to advise the commissioner on issues
relating to the alternatives analysis, environmental review, advanced corridor planning,
preliminary engineering, final design, implementation method, construction of commuter rail,
public involvement, land use, service, and safety. The Commuter Rail Corridor Coordinating
Committee shall consist of:
(1) one member representing each significant funding partner in whose jurisdiction the line
or lines are located;
(2) one member appointed by each county in which the corridors are located;
(3) one member appointed by each city in which advanced corridor plans indicate that
a station may be located;
(4) two members appointed by the commissioner, one of whom shall be designated by the
commissioner as the chair of the committee;
(5) one member appointed by each metropolitan planning organization through which the
commuter rail line may pass; and
(6) one member appointed by the president of the University of Minnesota, if a designated
corridor provides direct service to the university.
(b) A joint powers board existing on April 1, 1999, consisting of local governments along
a commuter rail corridor, shall perform the functions set forth in paragraph (a) in place of the
committee.
(c) Notwithstanding section 15.059, subdivision 5, the committee does not expire.
History: 1999 c 230 s 22; 1Sp2005 c 6 art 3 s 80
174.88 COMMUTER RAIL FUNDING.
    Subdivision 1. Federal fund applications. The commissioner, in cooperation with
appropriate metropolitan planning organizations, may apply for funding from federal,
state, regional, local, and private sources for commuter rail facility construction, operation,
implementation, maintenance, and improvement.
    Subd. 2. Expenditure of state funds. The commissioner shall not spend any state funds for
construction or equipment of commuter rail facilities unless the funds have been appropriated
by law specifically for those purposes. The commissioner shall not spend state funds to study
commuter rail unless the funds are appropriated in legislation that identifies the route, including
origin and destination.
History: 1999 c 230 s 23; 2000 c 479 art 1 s 20; 1Sp2001 c 8 art 2 s 58
174.90 COMMUTER RAIL OPERATION.
The commissioner may contract for operation of commuter rail facilities with the
Metropolitan Council or other public or private entities and shall commence revenue service after
an appropriate period of start-up to ensure satisfactory performance. The commissioner shall
coordinate with transit providers to ensure integration of the commuter rail system with bus
and light rail transit service to avoid duplication of service and to ensure the greatest access to
commuter rail lines in suburban and urban areas.
History: 1999 c 230 s 24

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes