Purpose

To prevent the Minnesota Department of Transportation (the commissioner of transportation) from reducing travel lanes or pursuing a boulevard or land bridge design on Interstate Highway 94 between Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Main Provisions

• a) The commissioner must not reduce, close, or remove any travel lanes designed for vehicular travel on marked Interstate 94 between Minneapolis and St. Paul.
• b) The commissioner must not spend funds to study, analyze, promote, review, consult, or propose a boulevard or land bridge design for marked Interstate 94. If a redesign or modification is deemed necessary, the commissioner is prohibited from adopting a boulevard or land bridge design for that purpose.
• c) The prohibitions do not apply to lane reductions or closures necessary for resurfacing, reconstruction, or maintenance of marked Interstate 94, or to reconstruction of the highway for emergency purposes.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Adds a new subdivision (Subd. 13) to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 174.03, specifically restricting the commissioner from reducing lanes or pursuing boulevard/land bridge options for I-94 between Minneapolis and St. Paul.
• Also restricts spending on studies or designs for a boulevard or land bridge on that segment.
• Establishes clear exceptions for lane reductions or closures needed for maintenance, resurfacing, reconstruction, or emergencies.

Practical Implications

• Maintains existing lane capacity on the specified stretch of I-94 by prohibiting lane reductions or alternative designs like a boulevard or land bridge.
• Limits the ability of the state to study or promote nontraditional road designs for this segment, unless such changes are strictly related to maintenance, safety, or emergency needs.

Notable Considerations

• This is a targeted restriction on a specific portion of a major highway, leaving open standard maintenance and emergency-related activities but blocking boulevard/land bridge proposals for I-94 between Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Relevant Terms

• Interstate Highway 94 (I-94)
• Minneapolis
• St. Paul
• travel lanes
• lane reduction
• boulevard
• land bridge
• commissioner of transportation
• Minnesota Statutes 174.03
• Subd. 13
• resurfacing
• reconstruction
• maintenance
• emergency purposes
• funding
• study
• analyze
• promote
• review
• consult
• propose
• design