1.1Senator Lucero moved to amend
H.F. No. 2438, as amended pursuant to Rule 45,
1.2adopted by the Senate April 30, 2025, as follows (...):
1.3(The text of the amended House File is identical to
S.F. No. 2082.)
1.4Page 129, after line 12, insert:
1.5 "Sec. 94.
NORTHSTAR COMMUTER RAIL; TERMINATION AND
1.6REPLACEMENT BUS SERVICE REQUIRED.
1.7 Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
1.8the meanings given.
1.9(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of transportation.
1.10(c) "Council" means the Metropolitan Council.
1.11(d) "FTA" means the Federal Transit Administration.
1.12(e) "Northstar" means the Northstar Commuter Rail line that is operated by the council
1.13to provide rail passenger service between downtown Minneapolis and Big Lake, and includes
1.14any subsequent rail project or service that operates wholly or primarily in the same
corridor.
1.15 Subd. 2. Termination; federal waiver. (a) By June 30, 2026, the council must
1.16permanently terminate and discontinue all services related to Northstar, including
stopping
1.17all passenger service, closing all stations, and ending law enforcement services provided
1.18by the Metro Transit Police Department along the route.
1.19(b) Within 30 days of enactment of this section, the council must immediately seek
a
1.20federal waiver from the FTA or similar release of all obligations for payment to the
United
1.21States Department of Transportation related to the termination of Northstar and the
1.22establishment of replacement bus service as provided in subdivision 3. As part of
the request
1.23for a waiver, the council and the commissioner must specify that the state will not
reimburse
1.24the FTA or any other federal agency for federal funds spent on Northstar.
1.25(c) Within seven days of receiving a response to the request under paragraph (b),
the
1.26council and commissioner must report to the chairs and ranking minority members of
the
1.27legislative committees with jurisdiction over transportation policy and finance on
the outcome
1.28of the request. The report must include a copy of the request submitted to the FTA
and a
1.29copy of the FTA's response. If the FTA grants the request, the commissioner and council
1.30must submit to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees
with
1.31jurisdiction over transportation policy and finance a proposed plan to terminate Northstar
1.32operations. The plan must be submitted within 90 days after the FTA grants the request.
2.1(d) The commissioner and the council must terminate all memorandums of understanding,
2.2joint powers agreements, contracts, or any other agreement entered into with any public
or
2.3private entity pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, sections 174.82 and 473.4057, for the
planning,
2.4development, construction, operation, or maintenance of Northstar to the fullest extent
2.5permissible without a breach under the agreements.
2.6(e) Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 473.4057, subdivision 5, the commissioner
2.7must immediately terminate any lease, license, assignment, right of access, or other
agreement
2.8provided to the council to develop, operate, and maintain Northstar.
2.9(f) The council must convey ownership in any real or personal property related to
2.10Northstar that was previously owned and conveyed by the commissioner or Department
of
2.11Transportation under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.4057, subdivision 5, back to
the
2.12commissioner.
2.13(g) The council and the commissioner must sell or otherwise dispose of all assets
related
2.14to Northstar, including but not limited to equipment, supplies, materials, rolling
stock,
2.15facilities, improvements, personal property, and real property, which must be conducted
2.16pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.2975.
2.17 Subd. 3. Bus service; report. (a) By February 1, 2026, the council and the commissioner
2.18must jointly establish an express bus service to provide peak-hour express service
between
2.19Big Lake, Elk River, Ramsey, Anoka, Coon Rapids, and downtown Minneapolis, utilizing
2.20existing park-and-ride facilities and transit stops from Northstar where practicable.
2.21(b) On March 1, 2026, and each year thereafter, the council must submit a report to
the
2.22chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction
over
2.23transportation policy. The report must detail implementation of the replacement bus
service
2.24required under this subdivision, provide recommendations for any expansion or service
2.25modification, identify ridership and performance totals, and detail the council's
future plans
2.26for expanded express bus service in the region.
2.27 Subd. 4. Deposit of funds. The commissioner and the council must deposit any revenue
2.28received under subdivision 2 in the general fund.
2.29EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment and
2.30applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and
2.31Washington."
2.32Renumber the sections in sequence and correct the internal references
2.33Amend the title accordingly
3.1The motion prevailed. #did not prevail. So the amendment was #not adopted.