HF5083

Purpose

• To provide funding for arterial bus rapid transit (BRT) projects and set up the financing to support land and project work for these developments.

Main Provisions

• Appropriation of 75,000,000 from the bond proceeds fund to the Metropolitan Council.
  • Use: real property acquisition, predesign, design engineering, construction, utility relocation, demolition, and furnishing and equipping facilities for arterial BRT projects.
• The Metropolitan Council must divide the funds among arterial BRT projects based on criteria in the transitway capital improvement plan.
  • Criteria include: consistency with the Transportation Policy Plan, project readiness, current and forecasted ridership, expansion of the BRT system, availability of federal or other matching funding, coordination with other major projects, and other priorities defined in state law or rule.
• Bond financing
  • The Commissioner of Management and Budget must sell and issue bonds up to 75,000,000 to fund these activities.
  • Bond provisions follow Minnesota law (statutes 16A.631 to 16A.675) and the Minnesota Constitution (Article XI, sections 4-7).

Allocation and Implementation Details

• Funds are to be allocated in line with established planning documents (transitway capital improvement plan and related policy plans).
• Activities cover a broad range of project work, from land acquisitions to construction-related tasks and equipment for facilities.

Significance / Changes to Existing Law

• Establishes a dedicated 75 million bond-funded appropriation specifically for arterial BRT capital improvements.
• Formalizes the process for allocating these funds based on stated planning criteria and coordination with broader transportation goals.
• Expands the use of bond proceeds to support arterial BRT projects through the Metropolitan Council, aligning with state bond financing rules and constitutional authority.

Related Legal Framework

• Uses bond proceeds under Minnesota law (statutes 16A.631 to 16A.675) and state constitutional provisions governing bond issuance.

Relevant Terms - arterial bus rapid transit, BRT - Metropolitan Council - real property acquisition - predesign - design engineering - construction - utility relocation - demolition - furnishing and equipping facilities - transitway capital improvement plan - Transportation Policy Plan - project readiness - ridership - federal funding - matching funding - coordination with other major projects - bond proceeds fund - bond sale - Minnesota Statutes 16A.631 to 16A.675 - Minnesota Constitution Article XI, sections 4 to 7