HF3740

Purpose

• The bill changes how trunk highway projects are planned and studied. It requires a more thorough, multimodal approach to scoping and evaluating major highway projects, sets up a dedicated working group to improve the process, and provides funding to support these changes.

Key changes to project scoping and development

• Expanded scope for major highway projects:
  • Applies to projects on the trunk highway system that involve construction, reconstruction, bridge replacement, or permanent right-of-way acquisitions, or that add highway capacity or include grade separations at intersections (with some exceptions).
  • Excludes routine maintenance, resurfacing, or minor rehabilitation.
  • Projects with a plan entering a state or metropolitan transportation improvement program in fiscal year 2031 or later are subject to these requirements (with exceptions for certain projects already in the works before July 1, 2030 or already submitted for approval).
• Purpose and need statements:
  • Must allow for evaluating a range of alternatives and consider safety, accessibility, and mobility for all principal transportation system users.
  • Must not presuppose a specific improvement as the answer.

• Project alternatives:

  • Must identify and analyze a comprehensive set of design options to address the project’s purpose and need.
  • Must include multimodal alternatives (not just car-focused options).
  • Must include at least one alternative that reduces traffic lanes, reduces the right-of-way area, or lowers the road’s functional classification.
  • Must consider traffic models, safety analyses, air quality analyses, and other relevant data.
  • Must coordinate transportation investments in the corridor (including transit and active transportation) to improve delivery efficiency and minimize negative impacts on users, local governments, and property owners.
  • Must align with state transportation system goals and not conflict with NEPA or state environmental review requirements under chapter 116D.

• Compatibility with existing law:

  • Requirements are designed to fit alongside NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) andMinnesota environmental review processes (116D), without creating conflicts.

Project Scoping and Development Working Group

• Establishment and leadership:
  • The commissioner of transportation must convene a working group to develop a comprehensive framework for implementing the new scoping and development requirements.
  • The Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota is to be involved, potentially leading the group.
• Membership:
  • Includes DOT district planning and engineering staff, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), county engineers, city engineers, and individuals with expertise in transportation planning, multimodal project development, and cost-benefit analysis.
  • Areas of expertise may include multimodal planning, transit operations, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, land use planning, traffic modeling, safety analysis, and roadway rightsizing or reconfiguration.
• Duties:
  • Evaluate and propose improvements to how trunk highway projects are scoped and developed.
  • Develop and propose an updated cost-benefit analysis method for evaluating major trunk highway investments.
• Administration and reporting:
  • The DOT must provide administrative and technical support to the group on request.
  • The group must submit a report by February 1, 2027 to the chairs and ranking minority members of the relevant transportation committees, detailing results and activities.
  • The group expires on June 30, 2027.

Appropriation and implementation

• Fiscal year 2027 funding:
  • Money from the trunk highway fund is appropriated to support the Project Scoping and Development Working Group and to implement the new scoping and development requirements.

Timing and sunset

• The new scoping requirements apply to projects meeting the criteria after entering the appropriate program for FY 2031 or later (with certain early-project exceptions).
• The working group has a defined lifespan, ending June 30, 2027, after producing its report.

Administrative impact

• More formal involvement and coordination among state, regional, and local partners.
• A stronger emphasis on multimodal solutions and on evaluating a wide range of design options before deciding on a project.
• Requires updated cost-benefit analysis methods to better reflect multi-use transportation goals.

Significance

• This bill shifts planning toward broader, multimodal transportation solutions and more thorough analysis before committing to specific highway expansions.
• It aims to improve safety, accessibility, and mobility for all users while coordinating with local governments and transit options.

Relevant Terms - trunk highway project - major highway project - principal transportation system users - environmental impact statement (EIS) - NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) - 116D (Minnesota environmental review) - cost-benefit analysis (CBA) - multimodal planning/planning - transit operations/planning - pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure - land use planning - highway rightsizing - roadway reconfiguration - traffic modeling - safety analysis - right-of-way - grade separation - permanent right-of-way - purpose and need statement - alternatives analysis - Center for Transportation Studies (University of Minnesota) - Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) - project scoping and development - working group - capital program / transportation improvement program (TIP/STIP) - appropriation from trunk highway fund - state transportation system goals (section 174.01)