Bill > SF288

This bill modifies appropriations for various transportation projects in Minnesota for fiscal years 2024 and 2025, totaling over $300 million. * **Passenger Rail:** $197,521,000 from the General Fund is appropriated for passenger rail activities. This includes $194,700,000 in fiscal year 2024 for capital improvements to the Minneapolis-Duluth Northern Lights Express project, such as engineering, land acquisition, and construction. A portion of this is designated for Coon Rapids station improvements and acquiring equipment for the Midwest fleet pool. If federal funds for the project are not secured by June 30, 2028, remaining funds will be redirected to the corridors of commerce program. Additionally, $1,833,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $3,238,000 in fiscal year 2025 from the General Fund are for matching federal aid for expanded Amtrak service between Minneapolis and St. Paul and Chicago. * **Aeronautics:** $69,598,000 is appropriated for airport development and assistance. This includes $36,000,000 from the General Fund in fiscal year 2024 for airport infrastructure projects and $33,598,000 from the State Airports Fund for system maintenance of critical airport safety systems and equipment. Another $15,397,000 from the General Fund and State Airports Fund is for aviation support services, including $7,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 for the purchase of two utility aircraft for the Department of Transportation. * **Transit and Active Transportation:** $58,478,000 from the General Fund is appropriated for transit and active transportation projects. This includes grants for demand response transit service using electric vehicles in Rochester and $40,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 for matching federal and state investments in transit and active transportation projects. * **Safe Routes to School:** $15,297,000 from the General Fund is appropriated for the safe routes to school program. * **Freight:** $14,650,000 from the General Fund and Trunk Highway Fund is appropriated for freight-related initiatives. This includes $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 from the General Fund for improvements to the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis and funds for weight and safety enforcement systems and a statewide freight network optimization tool.