1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to transportation; establishing performance requirements and conditional
1.3 termination of the Northstar Commuter Rail line.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. NORTHSTAR COMMUTER RAIL; PERFORMANCE AND
1.6TERMINATION.
1.7 Subdivision 1.Definitions.(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
1.8the meanings given.
1.9 (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of transportation.
1.10 (c) "Council" means the Metropolitan Council.
1.11 (d) "Northstar" means the Northstar Commuter Rail line that is operated by the council
1.12to provide rail passenger service between downtown Minneapolis and Big Lake, and includes
1.13any subsequent rail project or service that operates wholly or primarily in the same corridor.
1.14 Subd. 2.Performance requirements.Northstar is subject to termination as provided
1.15under this section if:
1.16 (1) total ridership is less than 450,000 in any six-month period, beginning with the period
1.17that starts on June 1, 2025;
1.18 (2) total annual ridership is less than 900,000, as measured for each period that starts on
1.19June 1 and ends on May 31 in the following year, beginning with the period that starts on
1.20June 1, 2025; or
1Section 1.
REVISOR KRB/RC 25-0328002/06/25
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 749
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Koznick02/13/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Transportation Finance and Policy 2.1 (3) the farebox recovery ratio is less than 40 percent in any calendar year, beginning
2.2with calendar year 2026.
2.3 Subd. 3.Federal waiver.If any of the performance requirements specified in subdivision
2.42 are not met, the council must immediately seek a federal waiver or similar release of all
2.5obligations for payment to the United States Department of Transportation related to the
2.6termination of Northstar.
2.7 Subd. 4.Contingent termination.If any of the performance requirements specified in
2.8subdivision 2 are not met:
2.9 (1) the council must decommission and permanently terminate all services related to
2.10Northstar, including stopping all passenger service, closing all stations, and ending law
2.11enforcement services provided by the Metro Transit Police Department along the route;
2.12 (2) the commissioner and the council must terminate all memorandums of understanding,
2.13joint powers agreements, contracts, or any other agreement entered into with any public or
2.14private entity pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, sections 174.82 and 473.4057, for the planning,
2.15development, construction, operation, or maintenance of Northstar to the fullest extent
2.16permissible without a breach under the agreements;
2.17 (3) pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 473.4057, subdivision 5, the commissioner
2.18must immediately terminate any lease, license, assignment, right of access, or other agreement
2.19provided to the council to develop, operate, and maintain Northstar;
2.20 (4) the council must convey ownership in any real or personal property related to
2.21Northstar that was previously owned and conveyed by the commissioner or Department of
2.22Transportation under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.4057, subdivision 5, back to the
2.23commissioner; and
2.24 (5) the council and the commissioner must sell or otherwise dispose of all assets related
2.25to Northstar, including but not limited to equipment, supplies, materials, rolling stock,
2.26facilities, improvements, personal property, and real property, which must be conducted
2.27pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.2975.
2.28 Subd. 5.Deposit of funds.The commissioner and the council must deposit any revenue
2.29received under subdivision 4 in the general fund.
2.30 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment and
2.31applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington.
2Section 1.
REVISOR KRB/RC 25-0328002/06/25