Bill > SF72

This bill modifies several aspects of Minnesota's transportation policy and project assessment criteria, with a key emphasis on balancing transportation safety with greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. The bill requires transportation projects to undergo an impact assessment to ensure conformance with greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, allowing entities to modify project designs, add mitigation actions, or halt project development if targets are not met. The bill expands the types of offset actions that can be used to mitigate emissions, including new categories like freight rail infrastructure improvements and natural systems restoration. Significantly, the bill clarifies that transportation safety remains the primary goal, with greenhouse gas emissions reduction and environmental considerations being secondary priorities. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Transportation to establish five-year greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets that account for regional differences and various transportation modes. Additionally, the bill modifies the statewide multimodal transportation plan revision process, requiring public hearings and performance targets, while explicitly stating that vehicle miles traveled reduction targets are subordinate to transportation system safety. The changes aim to create a more comprehensive and flexible approach to transportation planning that prioritizes safety while still addressing environmental concerns.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF0072&ssn=0&y=2025