Purpose

• The bill would require Minnesota’s Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Council to seek federal permission to discontinue the Northstar Commuter Rail service, which runs between downtown Minneapolis and Big Lake and stops in Fridley, Coon Rapids, Anoka, Ramsey, and Elk River.
• It sets up a process to obtain approval from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) before Northstar operations can end.

Key Definitions

• Commissioner: the commissioner of transportation.
• Council: the Metropolitan Council.
• FTA: the Federal Transit Administration.
• Northstar: the Northstar Commuter Rail line described above.

Main Provisions

• Within 30 days after this section becomes law, the Council and the Commissioner must submit a request to the FTA to discontinue Northstar operations.
• As part of the request, they must state that Minnesota will not reimburse the FTA or any other federal agency for federal funds spent on Northstar.
• Within seven days of receiving an FTA response, the Council and Commissioner must report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over transportation policy and finance. The report must include:
  • the copy of the submitted request to the FTA, and
  • the copy of the FTA’s response.
• If the FTA grants the request to discontinue, the Council and Commissioner must submit a proposed plan to terminate Northstar operations to the same legislative chairs and ranking minority members. This plan must be submitted within 90 days after the FTA grants the request.

Timelines and Reporting Requirements

• 30 days: Submit the initial request to the FTA to discontinue Northstar.
• 7 days: Report the FTA response and request details to legislative chairs and ranking minority members.
• 90 days after FTA approval: Deliver a proposed plan to terminate Northstar operations.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Establishes a formal, federally driven process to terminate a specific transit service (Northstar) rather than a purely internal decision.
• Requires explicit acknowledgment that federal funds used on Northstar will not be reimbursed by Minnesota.
• Adds mandatory reporting to state legislative committees with copies of the request and FTA response.
• Creates a concrete deadline-driven path to develop and submit a termination plan if the FTA approves discontinuation.

Practical Impact

• The bill effectively ties Northstar’s fate to federal approval. If the FTA approves discontinuation, Minnesota must provide a termination plan within 90 days and publicly share the request, the FTA’s response, and the plan with key lawmakers.

Relevant Terms

• Northstar Commuter Rail
• Minneapolis
• Big Lake
• Fridley
• Coon Rapids
• Anoka
• Ramsey
• Elk River
• Commissioner of Transportation
• Metropolitan Council
• Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
• discontinue / terminate
• request for approval
• federal funds reimbursement
• transportation policy and finance
• 30 days
• 7 days
• 90 days
• report to chairs and ranking minority members