Purpose of the Bill

The bill is about enhancing transportation in Minnesota through the development of passenger rail services. It aims to expand rail corridors to connect St. Paul, Minnesota, with Fargo, North Dakota, and Kansas City, Missouri. This will involve working with federal programs for planning and developing these routes.

Main Provisions

• The Minnesota Commissioner of Transportation is tasked with applying for the Federal Railroad Administration's Corridor Identification and Development Program. This is part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
• The program focuses on two main routes:
  • Extension of passenger rail service from St. Paul to Fargo, North Dakota.
  • Establishment of new rail service from St. Paul to Kansas City, Missouri, with stops in Northfield, Albert Lea, and Des Moines, Iowa.
• Once the state secures federal development funds, the Commissioner must complete preliminary planning steps as specified in federal requirements.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• A new initiative for comprehensive rail service development is introduced, focusing on intercity connectivity between Minnesota and surrounding regions.
• The bill appropriates a one-time fund of $1,000,000 from the Minnesota general fund for fiscal year 2026 to support these projects. This money is designated for state matching funds necessary to obtain federal grants, planning, development, and related staffing costs.
• Funding includes grants to local governments for specific project planning activities, such as cost estimation, alternatives analysis, preliminary engineering, and economic impact evaluation.
• The appropriation will be available until June 30, 2028, and must be used exclusively for Minnesota's portion of project costs.

Relevant Terms

• Passenger Rail
• Federal Railroad Administration
• Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
• Corridor Identification and Development Program
• St. Paul, Fargo, Kansas City, Northfield, Albert Lea, Des Moines
• Intercity Rail Service
• State Rail Plan
• Economic Impact Analysis
• Environmental Analysis