Bill > HF3176

This bill requires the Minnesota Commissioner of Transportation to apply for federal funding through the Corridor Identification and Development Program to explore and develop two specific intercity passenger rail routes: one extending passenger rail service from St. Paul to Fargo, North Dakota, and another establishing new passenger rail service from St. Paul to Kansas City, Missouri, with planned stops in Northfield, Albert Lea, and Des Moines, Iowa. If the federal application is successful, the commissioner must complete the initial scoping requirements for both routes. To support these efforts, the bill appropriates $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 from the general fund, which can be used for various purposes including obtaining federal grants, planning and development costs, and providing grants to local political subdivisions for rail project activities such as cost estimates, alternatives analysis, preliminary engineering, environmental analysis, and economic impact studies. The appropriation is a one-time allocation available until June 30, 2028, and is limited to covering Minnesota's share of project costs. The bill aims to advance passenger rail infrastructure and connectivity in Minnesota by leveraging federal funding opportunities established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF3176&ssn=0&y=2025