SF4494

Purpose

This bill provides funding for a local safety and road project near railroad crossings. It appropriates $390,000 from the bond proceeds fund to the Minnesota Department of Transportation to give one or more grants to Hennepin County and the cities of Medina, Independence, and Loretto (or any combination) to design, engineer, and construct railroad crossing safety improvements and related street reconstruction at Town Line Road in Medina, Independence, and Loretto.

Main Provisions

• Subd.1 Appropriation: The $390,000 is designated for grants to the local entities (Hennepin County and/or the three cities) to design, engineer, and construct railroad crossing safety improvements and street reconstruction at Town Line Road in Medina, Independence, and Loretto.
• Subd.2 Bond Sale: To fund the appropriation, the state shall sell and issue bonds up to $390,000. The bond sale must follow the terms and conditions set out in Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 and the Minnesota Constitution article XI sections 4 to 7.

Significance / What It Would Change

• Creates a new appropriation and debt authority specifically for local railroad crossing safety improvements and street reconstruction at a defined location.
• Transfers funding responsibility to the bond proceeds fund and requires the usual state bonding process and approvals.
• The project is limited to design, engineering, and construction related to the Town Line Road improvements in the specified jurisdictions; it does not establish broader program changes.

How It Fits with Existing Law

• Uses the standard bond issuance framework (Minnesota Statutes 16A.631–16A.675) and constitutional debt rules (Article XI) to finance the project.
• Funds are allocated as a targeted capital investment rather than a general appropriation.

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Relevant Terms - appropriation - bond proceeds fund - grants - design - engineer - construct - railroad crossing safety improvements - street reconstruction - Town Line Road - Medina - Independence - Loretto - Hennepin County - bond sale - Commissioner of Transportation - Commissioner of Management and Budget - Minnesota Statutes 16A.631 to 16A.675 - Minnesota Constitution article XI sections 4 to 7 - capital investment - state bonds