1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to transportation; providing for high-speed 
  1.3             rail transportation under authority of commissioner of 
  1.4             transportation; proposing coding for new law in 
  1.5             Minnesota Statutes, chapter 174. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [174.92] [HIGH-SPEED RAIL.] 
  1.8      (a) For purposes of sections 174.92 to 174.96 and 218.75, 
  1.9   "high-speed rail" means all forms of passenger rail service 
  1.10  where the speed exceeds 79 miles per hour, including service 
  1.11  provided by magnetic levitation. 
  1.12     (b) The commissioner of transportation may exercise the 
  1.13  powers granted in this chapter and chapters 161 and 473 to plan, 
  1.14  design, acquire, construct, equip, own, operate, and maintain 
  1.15  high-speed rail facilities. 
  1.16     Sec. 2.  [174.93] [HIGH-SPEED RAIL TRANSPORTATION.] 
  1.17     Subdivision 1.  [COMMISSIONER'S DUTIES.] The commissioner 
  1.18  is responsible for all aspects of planning, developing, 
  1.19  constructing, operating, and maintaining high-speed rail, 
  1.20  including planning, engineering, designing, and constructing the 
  1.21  system; acquiring land and property; negotiating with railroads; 
  1.22  and developing financial and operating plans.  The commissioner 
  1.23  may enter into a memorandum of understanding or cost-sharing 
  1.24  agreement with a public or private entity, or with other states 
  1.25  to carry out these activities.  The commissioner may carry out 
  2.1   the provisions of the high-speed rail compact set forth in 
  2.2   section 218.75. 
  2.3      Subd. 2.  [BEST VALUE PROCUREMENTS.] The commissioner may 
  2.4   use the best value method of procurement, as defined in section 
  2.5   16C.02, to obtain the equipment, materials, and services 
  2.6   necessary for high-speed rail facilities. 
  2.7      Sec. 3.  [174.94] [HIGH-SPEED RAIL SYSTEM INTEGRATION.] 
  2.8      The commissioner shall ensure that high-speed rail 
  2.9   facilities are planned, designed, and implemented in Minnesota, 
  2.10  in such a way as to move passengers to, from, and within the 
  2.11  state and to provide a unified, integrated, and efficient 
  2.12  multimodal transportation system with commuter rail, light rail, 
  2.13  and bus lines that interface with each other and with other 
  2.14  transportation facilities. 
  2.15     Sec. 4.  [174.95] [HIGH-SPEED RAIL OPERATION.] 
  2.16     The commissioner may contract for operation of high-speed 
  2.17  rail facilities with any public or private entities and shall 
  2.18  begin revenue service after an appropriate period of start-up to 
  2.19  ensure satisfactory performance.  The commissioner shall 
  2.20  coordinate with transit providers to ensure integration of the 
  2.21  high-speed rail system with bus and light rail transit and 
  2.22  commuter rail service to avoid duplication of service and to 
  2.23  ensure the greatest access.  Revenue from the high-speed rail 
  2.24  operation must be dedicated to the maintenance and improvement 
  2.25  of high-speed rail passenger service. 
  2.26     Sec. 5.  [174.96] [HIGH-SPEED RAIL FUNDING.] 
  2.27     The commissioner may apply for funding from federal, state, 
  2.28  regional, local, and private sources for high-speed rail 
  2.29  facility construction, operation, implementation, maintenance, 
  2.30  and improvement.