Purpose

• Establish a community-based pedestrian safety program to increase pedestrian and traffic safety in corridors identified by local residents.
• Update advisory and funding processes to support targeted traffic-safety projects and to develop safety design resources.

Main provisions

• Advisory Council on Traffic Safety duties (amendment to Minnesota Statutes 4.076, subd. 4):

  • Advise the governor and heads of state departments and agencies on traffic safety policies, programs, and services.
  • Involve state departments in Toward Zero Deaths initiatives (education and public awareness).
  • Encourage research in traffic safety.
  • Review recommendations from subcommittees/working groups.
  • Review and comment on state and local traffic safety developments.
  • Advise on grant agreements for projects and on safe road zone safety measures (section 169.065).
  • Develop and recommend requirements for the community-based pedestrian safety program (section 174.43).
  • Develop a collection of safety design solutions providing engineering standards or guidance for pedestrian-related safety scenarios.

• Creation of the Community-Based Pedestrian Safety Program (section 174.43):

  • Subd. 2 Establishment: The state’s transportation commissioner must establish the program to fund roadway improvements that boost pedestrian and traffic safety in corridors identified by local community members.
  • Subd. 3 Eligibility: Eligible recipients include political subdivisions, the commissioner, or federally recognized Indian Tribes with jurisdiction over the project. Projects must have local community support and substantially use a safety design solution developed by the Advisory Council on Traffic Safety (per 4.076, clause 9).
  • Local community support: Demonstrated by a petition signed by a specified percent of residents within the appropriate road authority’s jurisdiction (the exact percent is defined in the statute).
  • Subd. 4 Administration:
  • The commissioner, in consultation with the Advisory Council, must set program rules (solicitation, application requirements, eligibility, funding process).
  • The commissioner must publicize applications to eligible recipients.
  • Grants or other financial assistance may be provided for eligible projects.
  • The program cannot spend more than 1% of available money in a fiscal year on administration.
  • Subd. 5 Use of money: Funding is for capital improvements on highway segments designed to increase pedestrian and traffic safety, including pedestrian and nonmotorized facilities and crossings.
  • Subd. 6 Public information: The department must publish program information on its website, including implementation requirements, reviewed/selected projects, and project descriptions with expenditure details.

Significant changes to existing law

• Expands the duties and role of the Advisory Council on Traffic Safety (4.076, subd. 4) to explicitly include advising on the community-based pedestrian safety program and on requirements for its implementation.
• Creates a new standalone program (section 174.43) and outlines eligibility, administration, and funding processes specifically for community-based pedestrian safety projects.
• Introduces targeted funding for this program, including a onetime appropriation in FY 2027 for the transportation department and a parallel onetime appropriation to the Public Safety Department for safety-design solutions development (Advisory Council) with a clear administrative cap.

Administration and funding details

• Fiscal year 2027 appropriations (one-time):
  • General Fund to the Commissioner of Transportation for the Community-Based Pedestrian Safety Program (section 174.43).
  • General Fund to the Commissioner of Public Safety for development of safety design solutions by the Advisory Council on Traffic Safety (under 4.076, clause 9).
  • Availability: Funds for the transportation program are available until June 30, 2028.

How the program works in practice

• Local communities identify corridors where pedestrian safety improvements are desired.
• A project must receive local support (via petition) and use a safety design solution developed by the Advisory Council.
• Eligible applicants include local governments, the state transportation agency, or federally recognized tribes with jurisdiction over the corridor.
• The program emphasizes transparency (public information on the department’s website) and limits administrative costs to 1% of available funds per year.

Relevant changes to law and implementation will be guided by the Advisory Council and require coordination among the Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, and local communities.

Relevant Terms - community-based pedestrian safety program - Advisory Council on Traffic Safety - Toward Zero Deaths - safe road zone safety measures - Minnesota Statutes section 4.076 - Minnesota Statutes section 174.43 - eligible applicant - political subdivision - local community support - petition - safety design solution - pedestrian and nonmotorized facilities - corridors - capital improvements - appropriation - general fund - one-time appropriation - availability date (June 30, 2028) - administration cap (1%) - 169.065 - 174.43 - solicitation procedures - public information web publication - Authority: commissioner of transportation, commissioner of public safety - Indian Tribe (federally recognized)