1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to transit; requiring the commissioner of transportation and the Metropolitan
1.3 Council to request approval to discontinue Northstar passenger rail operations;
1.4 requiring a report.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. REQUEST TO TERMINATE NORTHSTAR COMMUTER RAIL
1.7OPERATIONS.
1.8 Subdivision 1.Definitions.(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
1.9the meanings given.
1.10 (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of transportation.
1.11 (c) "Council" means the Metropolitan Council.
1.12 (d) "FTA" means the Federal Transit Administration.
1.13 (e) "Northstar" means the Northstar Commuter Rail line that provides passenger rail
1.14service between downtown Minneapolis and Big Lake, including stops in Fridley, Coon
1.15Rapids, Anoka, Ramsey, and Elk River.
1.16 Subd. 2.Federal approval.Within 30 days of the enactment of this section, the council
1.17and the commissioner must request approval from the FTA to discontinue Northstar
1.18operations. As part of the request, the council and commissioner must specify that the state
1.19will not reimburse the FTA or any other federal agency for federal funds spent on Northstar.
1.20Within seven days of receiving a response to the request, the council and commissioner
1.21must report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with
1.22jurisdiction over transportation policy and finance on the outcome of the request. The report
1Section 1.
REVISOR KRB/HL 25-0059111/20/24
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 84
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Koznick01/22/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Transportation Finance and Policy 2.1must include a copy of the request submitted to the FTA and a copy of the FTA's response.
2.2If the FTA grants the request, the commissioner and council must submit to the chairs and
2.3ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over transportation
2.4policy and finance a proposed plan to terminate Northstar operations. The plan must be
2.5submitted within 90 days after the FTA grants the request.
2.6 EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.This section is effective the day following
2.7final enactment and applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey,
2.8Scott, and Washington.
2Section 1.
REVISOR KRB/HL 25-0059111/20/24