Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota Senate Bill SF3269 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1.1 A bill for an act
2	2	1.2 relating to transportation; eliminating highway toll collection authority; providing
3	3	1.3 for reallocation of certain user fee revenue; appropriating money; amending
4	4	1.4 Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 160.845; 160.93, subdivisions 1, 5; 473.4485,
5	5	1.5 subdivision 1; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 160.93, subdivisions 2,
6	6	1.6 2a.
7	7	1.7BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
8	8	1.8 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 160.845, is amended to read:
9	9	1.9 160.845 RESTRICTIONS ON TOLL FACILITY.
10	10	1.10 (a) A road authority, including the governing body of a city, or a private operator may
11	11	1.11not convert, transfer, or utilize any portion of a highway to impose tolls or for use as a toll
12	12	1.12facility. A road authority, including the governing body of a city, or a private operator may
13	13	1.13not limit operation of a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in section 169.011, subdivision
14	14	1.1416, to a toll facility or otherwise require that a commercial motor vehicle use the tolled
15	15	1.15portion of a highway.
16	16	1.16 (b) This section does not apply to (1) any toll facility or high-occupancy vehicle lane
17	17	1.17constructed, converted, or established before September 1, 2007, (2) any additional lane,
18	18	1.18including a priced dynamic shoulder lane, high-occupancy vehicle lane, or high-occupancy
19	19	1.19toll lane, added to a highway after September 1, 2007, and (3) any other general purpose
20	20	1.20lane that adds capacity.
21	21	1.21 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
22	22	1Section 1.
23	23	25-05166 as introduced03/24/25 REVISOR KRB/LJ
24	24	SENATE
25	25	STATE OF MINNESOTA
26	26	S.F. No. 3269NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
27	27	(SENATE AUTHORS: KORAN and Howe)
28	28	OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
29	29	Introduction and first reading04/03/2025
30	30	Referred to Transportation 2.1 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 160.93, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
31	31	2.2 Subdivision 1.Fees authorized prohibited.To improve efficiency and provide more
32	32	2.3options to individuals traveling in a trunk highway corridor, The commissioner of
33	33	2.4transportation may must not charge user fees to owners or operators of single-occupant
34	34	2.5vehicles using for the operation of vehicles in dynamic shoulder lanes as designated by the
35	35	2.6commissioner and any designated high-occupancy vehicle lanes. The fees may be collected
36	36	2.7using electronic or other toll-collection methods and may vary in amount with the time of
37	37	2.8day and level of traffic congestion within the corridor. The commissioner shall consult with
38	38	2.9the Metropolitan Council and obtain necessary federal authorizations before implementing
39	39	2.10user fees on a high-occupancy vehicle lane or dynamic shoulder lane. Fees under this section
40	40	2.11are not subject to section 16A.1283.
41	41	2.12 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
42	42	2.13 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 160.93, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
43	43	2.14 Subd. 5.Dynamic shoulder lanes.(a) The commissioner may designate dynamic
44	44	2.15shoulder lanes on freeways. The commissioner may operate dynamic shoulder lanes as
45	45	2.16priced lanes, general purpose lanes, high-occupancy vehicle lanes, or as shoulders as defined
46	46	2.17in section 169.011, subdivision 74. The commissioner may prescribe the conditions under
47	47	2.18which the lanes may be used.
48	48	2.19 (b) The commissioner may not operate a dynamic shoulder lane on marked Trunk
49	49	2.20Interstate Highway 35W from its intersection with marked Trunk Interstate Highway 94 to
50	50	2.21its intersection with marked Trunk Highway 62 as a general purpose lane. A dynamic
51	51	2.22shoulder lane along this portion of marked Trunk Interstate Highway 35W may only be
52	52	2.23used by:
53	53	2.24 (1) a vehicle with more than one occupant;
54	54	2.25 (2) a single-occupant vehicle if the fee under subdivision 1 is paid;
55	55	2.26 (3) (2) a transit bus providing public transportation, as defined in section 174.22,
56	56	2.27subdivision 7; and
57	57	2.28 (4) (3) an authorized emergency vehicle, as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 3.
58	58	2.29 (c) The commissioner shall must erect signs to indicate when the lanes may be used.
59	59	2.30 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
60	60	2Sec. 3.
61	61	25-05166 as introduced03/24/25 REVISOR KRB/LJ 3.1 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 473.4485, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
62	62	3.2 Subdivision 1.Definitions.(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
63	63	3.3the meanings given.
64	64	3.4 (b) "Busway" means a form of bus service provided to the public on a regular and ongoing
65	65	3.5basis, including arterial or highway bus rapid transit, that (1) compared to other regular
66	66	3.6route bus service, provides reduced travel time and uses distinct bus stop or station amenities,
67	67	3.7and (2) does not primarily or substantially operate within separated rights-of-way.
68	68	3.8 (c) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of transportation.
69	69	3.9 (d) "Guideway" means a form of transportation service provided to the public on a
70	70	3.10regular and ongoing basis that primarily or substantially operates within separated
71	71	3.11rights-of-way or operates on rails, and includes:
72	72	3.12 (1) each line for intercity passenger rail, commuter rail, light rail transit, and streetcars;
73	73	3.13 (2) as applicable, each line for dedicated bus service, which may include arterial or
74	74	3.14highway bus rapid transit, limited stop bus service, and express bus service; and
75	75	3.15 (3) any intermodal facility serving two or more lines identified in clauses (1) and (2).
76	76	3.16Guideway does not include a busway.
77	77	3.17 (e) "Local unit of government" means a county, statutory or home rule charter city, town,
78	78	3.18or other political subdivision including, but not limited to, a regional railroad authority or
79	79	3.19joint powers board.
80	80	3.20 (f) "Separated rights-of-way" includes exclusive, dedicated, or primary use of a
81	81	3.21right-of-way by the public transportation service. Separated rights-of-way does not include
82	82	3.22a shoulder, or dynamic shoulder lane, or priced lane under section 160.93.
83	83	3.23 (g) "Sources of funds" includes, but is not limited to, money from federal aid, state
84	84	3.24appropriations, the Metropolitan Council, special taxing districts, local units of government,
85	85	3.25farebox recovery, and nonpublic sources.
86	86	3.26 (h) "Budget activity" includes, but is not limited to, environmental analysis, land
87	87	3.27acquisition, easements, design, preliminary and final engineering, acquisition of vehicles
88	88	3.28and rolling stock, track improvement and rehabilitation, and construction.
89	89	3.29 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
90	90	3Sec. 4.
91	91	25-05166 as introduced03/24/25 REVISOR KRB/LJ 4.1 Sec. 5. TOLLING ELIMINATION; REALLOCATION OF FUNDS.
92	92	4.2 Subdivision 1.Cancellations.(a) The uncommitted balances in each high-occupancy
93	93	4.3vehicle lane user fee account established under Minnesota Statutes, section 160.93,
94	94	4.4subdivision 2, are canceled to the general fund on June 29, 2025.
95	95	4.5 (b) The uncommitted balance in the I-35W high-occupancy vehicle and dynamic shoulder
96	96	4.6lane account under Minnesota Statutes, section 160.93, subdivision 2a, is canceled to the
97	97	4.7general fund on June 29, 2025.
98	98	4.8 Subd. 2.Appropriation.The amount necessary, not to exceed the amount canceled
99	99	4.9under subdivision 1, is appropriated in fiscal year 2026 from the general fund to the
100	100	4.10commissioner of transportation for costs related to implementing the requirements of this
101	101	4.11act, including but not limited to any fee collection system payments and signage.
102	102	4.12 Subd. 3.Transfer.The commissioner of transportation must determine a transfer amount
103	103	4.13that equals the amount canceled under subdivision 1 less the amount expended under
104	104	4.14subdivision 2 and must transfer that amount in fiscal year 2026 from the general fund to
105	105	4.15the trunk highway fund.
106	106	4.16 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
107	107	4.17 Sec. 6. REPEALER.
108	108	4.18 Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 160.93, subdivisions 2 and 2a, are repealed.
109	109	4.19 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective June 30, 2025.
110	110	4Sec. 6.
111	111	25-05166 as introduced03/24/25 REVISOR KRB/LJ 160.93 USER FEES; HIGH-OCCUPANCY VEHICLE AND DYNAMIC SHOULDER
112	112	LANES.
113	113	Subd. 2.Deposit of revenues; appropriation.(a) Except as provided in subdivision 2a, money
114	114	collected from fees authorized under subdivision 1 must be deposited in a high-occupancy vehicle
115	115	lane user fee account in the special revenue fund. A separate account must be established for each
116	116	trunk highway corridor. Money in the account is appropriated to the commissioner.
117	117	(b) From this appropriation the commissioner shall first repay the trunk highway fund and any
118	118	other fund source for money spent to install, equip, or modify the corridor for the purposes of
119	119	subdivision 1, and then shall pay all the costs of implementing and administering the fee collection
120	120	system for that corridor.
121	121	(c) The commissioner shall spend remaining money in the account as follows:
122	122	(1) one-half must be spent for transportation capital improvements within the corridor; and
123	123	(2) one-half must be transferred to the Metropolitan Council for expansion and improvement
124	124	of bus transit services within the corridor beyond the level of service provided on the date of
125	125	implementation of subdivision 1.
126	126	Subd. 2a.I-35W high-occupancy vehicle and dynamic shoulder lane account.(a) An I-35W
127	127	high-occupancy vehicle and dynamic shoulder lane account is established in the special revenue
128	128	fund. Money collected from fees authorized under subdivision 1 for the marked Interstate Highway
129	129	35W (I-35W) corridor must be deposited in the account and used as described in this subdivision.
130	130	Money in the account is appropriated to the commissioner.
131	131	(b) During the first year of revenue operations, the commissioner shall use the money received
132	132	in that year to pay the costs of operating and administering the fee collection system within the
133	133	corridor, up to $1,000,000. Any remaining money must be transferred to the Metropolitan Council
134	134	for improvement of bus transit services within the I-35W corridor including transit capital expenses.
135	135	(c) During the second and subsequent years of revenue operations, the commissioner shall use
136	136	money in the account as follows:
137	137	(1) each year, allocate the lesser amount of $1,000,000 or 75 percent of the revenues for operating
138	138	and administering the fee collection system within the corridor;
139	139	(2) transfer the remaining amount up to the amount allocated under clause (1) to the Metropolitan
140	140	Council for improvement of bus transit within the corridor including capital expenses; and
141	141	(3) allocate any remaining amount as follows: (i) 25 percent to the commissioner for operating
142	142	and administering the fee collection system within the corridor and for transportation capital
143	143	improvements that are consistent with the goals of the urban partnership agreement and that are
144	144	located within the corridor and (ii) 75 percent to the Metropolitan Council for improvement of bus
145	145	transit services within the corridor including transit capital expenses.
146	146	1R
147	147	APPENDIX
148	148	Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 25-05166