1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to transit; requiring municipal approval of guideway plans; allowing
1.3 municipalities to revoke approval; prohibiting requesting federal funds until
1.4 municipal approval is received; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
1.5 Statutes, chapter 473.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. [473.4486] MUNICIPAL APPROVAL OF GUIDEWAY PLANS.
1.8 Subdivision 1.Definition; application.(a) For purposes of this section, "guideway"
1.9has the meaning given in section 473.4485, subdivision 1, paragraph (d).
1.10 (b) This section does not apply to light rail transit.
1.11 Subd. 2.Preliminary design plans; public hearing.Before final design plans are
1.12prepared for a guideway in the metropolitan area, the council must hold a public hearing
1.13on the physical design component of the preliminary design plans. The council must provide
1.14appropriate public notice of the hearing and publicity to ensure that affected parties have
1.15an opportunity to present their views at the hearing. The council must summarize the
1.16proceedings and testimony and maintain the record of a hearing held under this section,
1.17including any written statements submitted.
1.18 Subd. 3.Preliminary design plans; local approval.At least 30 days before the hearing
1.19under subdivision 2, the council must submit the physical design component of the
1.20preliminary design plans to the governing body of each statutory and home rule charter city,
1.21county, and town in which the route is proposed to be located. Each city, county, or town
1.22must hold a public hearing. Within 45 days after the hearing under subdivision 2, each city,
1.23county, or town must review and approve or disapprove the plans for the route to be located
1Section 1.
REVISOR KRB/DG 25-0212301/15/25
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 1873
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Engen and Allen03/05/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Elections Finance and Government Operations 2.1in the city, county, or town. A local unit of government that disapproves the plans must
2.2describe specific amendments to the plans that, if adopted, would cause the local unit of
2.3government to withdraw its disapproval. Failure to approve or disapprove the plans in
2.4writing within 45 days after the hearing under subdivision 2 is deemed to be an approval
2.5unless an extension of time is agreed to by the council and the city, county, or town.
2.6 Subd. 4.Preliminary design plans; second council hearing.If the governing body of
2.7one or more cities, counties, or towns disapproves the preliminary design plans within the
2.8period allowed under subdivision 3, the council must hold a second public hearing on the
2.9plans, giving any disapproving local governmental units and other persons an opportunity
2.10to present their views on the plans. The council may conduct an independent study as it
2.11deems desirable and may mediate and attempt to resolve disagreements about the plans.
2.12Within 60 days after the second public hearing, the council must review the plans and must
2.13decide what amendments to the plans, if any, must be made to accommodate the objections
2.14presented by the disapproving local governmental units. Amendments to the plans as decided
2.15by the council must be made before continuing the planning and designing process.
2.16 Subd. 5.Final design plans.(a) If the final design plans incorporate a substantial change
2.17from the preliminary design plans with respect to location, length, or termini of routes;
2.18general dimension, elevation, or alignment of routes and crossings; or shelters or stops,
2.19before beginning construction, the council must submit the changed component of the final
2.20design plans to the governing body of each statutory and home rule charter city, county,
2.21and town in which the changed component is proposed to be located. Within 60 days after
2.22the submission of the plans, the city, county, or town must review and approve or disapprove
2.23the changed component located in the city, county, or town. A local unit of government that
2.24disapproves the change must describe specific amendments to the plans that, if adopted,
2.25would cause the local unit of government to withdraw its disapproval. Failure to approve
2.26or disapprove the changed plans in writing within the time period is deemed to be an approval
2.27unless an extension is agreed to by the city, county, or town.
2.28 (b) If the governing body of one or more cities, counties, or towns disapproves the
2.29changed plans within the period allowed under paragraph (a), the council must review the
2.30final design plans under the same procedure and with the same effect as provided in
2.31subdivision 4 for preliminary design plans.
2.32 Subd. 6.Revocation.A city, county, or town that has approved the plans as provided
2.33by this section may revoke its approval of the plans at any point prior to the council securing
2.34federal funding for the project. The city, county, or town must notify the council of the
2.35revocation. Upon receipt of the notification, the council must review the final design plans
2Section 1.
REVISOR KRB/DG 25-0212301/15/25 3.1under the same procedure and with the same effect as provided in subdivision 4 for
3.2preliminary design plans.
3.3 Subd. 7.Prohibition.The council must not apply for or request any federal funds for a
3.4guideway project until each city, county, or town in which the route is proposed to be located
3.5has approved of the plans as provided by this section.
3.6 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment and
3.7applies to all current and future guideways.
3Section 1.
REVISOR KRB/DG 25-0212301/15/25