Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to ensure transparency and public involvement when the Minnesota Department of Transportation and county road authorities acquire land easements for road projects. It mandates that road authorities provide justifications for such projects and opens the process for public input.

Main Provisions

• Easement Justification: Before acquiring land for road construction, reconstruction, or reconditioning in rural or suburban areas, road authorities must assess whether the project meets minimum design standards.
• Public Reporting: If an easement requires more land than the minimum standards due to safety or drainage reasons, the road authority must publish a public report detailing the necessity of the proposed easement.
• Public Hearing and Comments: Authorities must present justification for the easement at a public or county board hearing. They must make the report accessible online and allow for a 30-day public comment period before proceeding.

Significant Changes

• This bill introduces new requirements for road authorities to articulate and publish the specific reasons for acquiring additional land beyond the minimum standard sizes, particularly when it impacts land needed for safety improvements or drainage.
• A new statute in Minnesota Statutes chapter 160 is proposed, facilitating easier public access to information and enabling community involvement in decision-making processes regarding local infrastructure projects.

Relevant Terms

• Transportation, Department of Transportation, road easement, public report, minimum standards, road authority, highway, road construction, road reconstruction, public involvement, public comment, public hearing, infrastructure, drainage, safety, traffic hazards, easement acquisition, transparency, public input.