SF5280

Purpose

Create a temporary, focused group to study and recommend how to develop and improve mobility hubs in the Twin Cities metro—places where people can access multiple transportation modes and transfer between them—along with related transit improvements on high-frequency and high-ridership bus routes. The goal is to identify how to plan, coordinate, and fund these facilities and services.

What the bill would do

• Establish a Metropolitan Area Mobility Hub Working Group convened by the Metropolitan Council.
• Define a mobility hub as a location where people can access multiple transportation modes and connect between them.
• Have the group evaluate current status, barriers, and potential use of mobility hubs on key bus routes and propose measures to enable their creation.
• Consider ongoing coordination among road authorities and estimate costs for potential improvements.
• Develop proposals and a prioritized list of locations, including necessary policy changes and potential funding sources.

Membership and appointments

• The working group includes eight members:
  • One appointed by the Metropolitan Council
  • One appointed by the state Commissioner of Transportation
  • One appointed by the Minneapolis City Council
  • One appointed by the St. Paul City Council
  • One appointed by the Hennepin County Board
  • One appointed by the Ramsey County Board
  • One appointed by the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota
  • One appointed by Move Minnesota
• Appointments must be made by July 31, 2026, and may include designees who are employees of the appointing organization.
• Appointments follow Minnesota statute 15.0597.

Duties of the group

• Assess the current status and potential use of mobility hubs among relevant road authorities in the metropolitan area.
• Identify key barriers to creating and using mobility hubs and recommend measures to address them.
• Explore methods for ongoing coordination among the relevant road authorities.
• Estimate costs of potential mobility hub improvements.
• Develop proposals for mobility hubs and related transit “advantage” improvements, including a prioritized list of locations and required policy changes and funding sources.

Meetings and administration

• The first meeting must occur by September 15, 2026.
• The group will set a meeting schedule and meet as needed to complete its duties.
• The Metropolitan Council will provide administrative and technical support, including assistance in creating the required report.

Report requirements

• By February 13, 2027, the Metropolitan Council must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative transportation policy and finance committees.
• The report must summarize the group’s activities and present its findings and recommendations.

Expiration

• The working group is set to expire on June 30, 2027.

Significant changes to existing law

• Creates a temporary, formal working group to study and propose mobility hub development and related transit improvements. It does not immediately alter transportation policy or funding but establishes a process, membership, deadlines, and a formal reporting requirement to the Legislature. Any concrete policy changes and funding decisions would come from the group’s recommendations and subsequent legislative action.

Terminology notes

• Mobility hub: a multimodal transportation access and connection point.
• Mobility hubs and related transit advantage improvements: enhancements intended to improve access, connections, and efficiency on targeted bus routes.
• High-frequency and high-ridership bus routes: the metro-area bus lines with frequent service and large passenger volumes.
• Metropolitan area: the Twin Cities metro region as defined for transportation planning.
• Road authorities: the agencies and governments responsible for road management and related transportation infrastructure.

Relevant Terms - mobility hub - multimodal - high-frequency bus routes - highridership bus routes - transit advantage improvements - Metropolitan Council - Center for Transportation Studies (University of Minnesota) - Move Minnesota - metropolitan area - road authorities - barriers - policy changes - funding sources - report - expiration date (June 30, 2027)