Bill > HF749

This bill establishes specific performance requirements and a potential termination process for the Northstar Commuter Rail line, a passenger rail service connecting downtown Minneapolis to Big Lake. The bill defines key terms and sets three primary performance metrics: if annual ridership falls below 450,000 in any six-month period or 900,000 in a full year (starting June 1, 2025), or if the farebox recovery ratio (the percentage of operating costs covered by passenger fares) drops below 40% in any calendar year (beginning 2026), the Metropolitan Council must take specific actions. These actions include immediately seeking a federal waiver for any existing transportation department obligations, then comprehensively decommissioning the rail service. This would involve stopping all passenger service, closing stations, terminating related agreements, returning previously state-owned property to the commissioner of transportation, and selling all Northstar-related assets. Any revenues from asset sales would be deposited into the state's general fund. The bill applies to counties in the Twin Cities metropolitan area (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington) and becomes effective immediately after enactment.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF0749&ssn=0&y=2025