Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to give local road authorities in Minnesota more flexibility in adopting roadway design standards. It seeks to decentralize the design process, allowing local entities to implement roadway designs that might differ from state-established guidelines.

Main Provisions

• Local Design Control: Political subdivisions (like cities or counties) can adopt their own roadway design standards. These standards do not have to align with state rules if they implement an alternative standard that is officially recognized.
• Design Standard Alternatives: The bill provides a list of recognized design guides that local authorities can use, including guides by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Institute of Transportation Engineers, the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), and others.
• State Review Limitation: The state commissioner is no longer required to review geometric designs except in the case of underpass clearances for county roads in cities that have adopted alternative standards.
• Advisory Committee: The bill establishes an advisory committee to work on design variances, offering guidance and feedback.
• Legislative Reporting: If a variance is denied, the legislature must be notified, and a report on this must be prepared.

Significant Changes

• State Aid Variance Procedures: The procedures for obtaining design variances with state aid have been modified, granting more autonomy to local authorities.
• Repeal of Certain Rules: Some existing Minnesota Rules parts and subparts related to design standards are repealed.

Relevant Terms

• Local design control
• Roadway design standards
• State aid engineering and design variance
• AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials)
• NACTO (National Association of City Transportation Officials)
• Geometric design standards
• Advisory committee on design variances