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	SF No. 2340
	Floor Session Date: Friday, April 27, 2001
	Video Coverage: Senate passes the Omnibus Transportation and Public Safety bill

	About the Session:
	The Senate passes the Omnibus Transportation and Public Safety bill that appropriates $2.2 billion for road and bridge construction over the next two years. The bill also will put a constitutional amendment before the voters to dedicate 50% of the revenue from the 6.5% sales tax on cars and trucks to fund highways and mass transit. Several amendments were added to the bill including: making the failure to wear a seatbelt a primary offense; approval of a study on the effects of shutting down the "sane lane" on Highway 394; allowing cities to install cameras at intersections to catch drivers who run red lights; delaying the Crosstown Highway project for one year; granting St. Paul $3 million to purchase the Union Depot and turning it into a hub for Amtrak trains, new high-speed trains and commuter rail service; and a referendum to be put before seven county metro voters that would increase the sales tax by half a cent to fund metro area transportation and mass transit. Senate File 2340 was authored by Senator Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar. It passed 40-23.