Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to halt any further financial investment and development efforts related to the Northern Lights Express, which is a proposed high-speed passenger rail service connecting Minneapolis and Duluth in Minnesota.

Main Provisions

• Prohibition on Expenditure: The bill explicitly prohibits the Minnesota Commissioner of Transportation from spending any state funds on various activities associated with the Northern Lights Express project. This includes:
  • Studying, planning, engineering, or designing the project.
  • Acquiring land for the project.
  • Actual construction efforts for the rail line.
  • Distributing grants to other entities for these purposes.
  • Using federal funds for any of these activities.
• Metropolitan Council Restrictions: The Metropolitan Council is also barred from spending money on similar activities regarding the Northern Lights Express project, paralleling the restrictions placed on the Commissioner of Transportation.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This legislative move effectively cancels any prior financial appropriations for the Northern Lights Express project, directing that no further funds be allocated or utilized for its development or planning. This change marks a substantial reevaluation and cessation in state-backed support for this specific passenger rail initiative.

Relevant Terms

Northern Lights Express, high-speed rail, passenger rail, Minneapolis, Duluth, funding prohibition, Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Council, project cancellation, state funding cessation.