Bill > HF1156

This bill modifies a previous appropriation for passenger rail and other transportation projects, appropriating a total of $379,950,000 from the General Fund and State Airports Fund for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. * **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. It also covers improvements for a joint Amtrak station in Coon Rapids and the acquisition of rolling stock for the Midwest fleet pool. An additional $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, St. Paul, and Chicago. The appropriation for the Northern Lights Express is available until June 30, 2028, with remaining funds potentially redirected to the corridors of commerce program if federal funds are not secured. * **Airport Development and Assistance:** $69,598,000 is appropriated, with $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. The State Airports Fund appropriation is available for five years. * **Transit and Active Transportation:** $58,478,000 from the General Fund is appropriated for transit and active transportation projects. This includes $40,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 for matching federal aid and state investments, and $200,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $50,000 in fiscal year 2025 for a grant to Rochester for demand response transit service using electric vehicles. * **Safe Routes to School:** $15,297,000 from the General Fund is appropriated for the safe routes to school program, available until June 30, 2027. * **Freight:** $14,650,000 is appropriated, with $8,283,000 from the General Fund and $6,367,000 from the Trunk Highway Fund. This includes $5,000,000 from the General Fund in fiscal year 2024 for improvements to the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis. * **Aviation Support Services:** $15,397,000 is appropriated, with $8,707,000 from the General Fund and $6,690,000 from the State Airports Fund. This includes $7,000,000 from the General Fund in fiscal year 2024 to purchase two utility aircraft for the Department of Transportation. * **Civil Air Patrol:** $80,000 from the State Airports Fund is appropriated for the Civil Air Patrol.