HF3441

Purpose

This bill adds a new rule for how the costs of operating and maintaining the Blue Line extension of the light rail transit are paid for. After using operating revenue and federal funds for operations and ongoing capital maintenance, any remaining costs must be paid by county sources.

Main Provisions

• Defines the Blue Line extension as the portion of the Blue Line light rail from Target Field Station in Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park.
• After operating revenue and federal funds are used for the Blue Line extension’s operations or ongoing capital maintenance costs, the council must pay all remaining costs from county sources.
• Hennepin County must provide funding for these remaining costs from one or more of:
  • sales tax revenue as defined in Minnesota Statutes section 473.4465 subdivision 1, or
  • the county transportation sales tax under section 297A.993.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Adds a new subdivision (Subd. 3a) to Minnesota Statutes 473.4051 to specify how the Blue Line extension’s remaining operating and ongoing capital maintenance costs are funded, shifting responsibility to county sources funded by specified sales taxes.

Relevant Terms

• Blue Line extension
• light rail transit
• Target Field Station
• Brooklyn Park
• operating revenue
• federal funds
• ongoing capital maintenance costs
• council
• Hennepin County
• county sources
• sales tax revenue
• county transportation sales tax
• Minnesota Statutes 473.4051
• subdivision 3a