Bill > HF269

This bill requires the Minnesota Commissioner of Transportation and the Metropolitan Council to request approval from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to discontinue the Northstar Commuter Rail line, which currently provides passenger rail service between downtown Minneapolis and Big Lake, with stops in Fridley, Coon Rapids, Anoka, Ramsey, and Elk River. Within 30 days of the bill's enactment, the council and commissioner must submit a request to the FTA to end Northstar operations, explicitly stating that the state will not reimburse the FTA or other federal agencies for funds previously spent on the rail line. The bill mandates that within seven days of receiving an FTA response, the council and commissioner must report the outcome to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative transportation committees, including copies of the request and the FTA's response. If the FTA grants the request to discontinue operations, the commissioner and council must submit a detailed plan to terminate Northstar operations within 90 days. The bill is effective immediately and applies to seven metropolitan counties: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF0269&ssn=0&y=2025