1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; modifying various provisions regulating the 
1.3 	establishment and use of bikeways;amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 
1.4 	85.016; 160.02, subdivision 27, by adding subdivisions; 160.262, subdivisions 
1.5 	1, 3, 4; 160.266, subdivisions 2, 3, 4, 5, by adding subdivisions; 161.21, 
1.6 	subdivision 1; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 160.262, subdivision 
1.7 	2; 160.265, subdivisions 1, 2; 160.266, subdivision 1; Minnesota Rules, 
1.8 	parts 8810.6000; 8810.6100; 8810.6300; 8810.6400; 8810.6500; 8810.6600; 
1.9 	8810.6700; 8810.6800; 8810.6900; 8810.7000; 8810.9910; 8810.9911; 
1.10 	8810.9912; 8810.9913.
1.11 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.12 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 85.016, is amended to read:
1.13 	85.016 BICYCLE TRAIL PROGRAM.
1.14 	The commissioner of natural resources shall establish a program for the development 
1.15 	of bicycle trails utilizing the state trails authorized by section 85.015, other state parks 
1.16 	and recreation land, and state forests. "Bicycle trail," as used in this section, has the 
1.17 	meaning given in section 169.011. The program shall be coordinated with the local park 
1.18 	trail grant program established by the commissioner pursuant to section 85.019, with the 
1.19 	bikeway program state bicycle routes established by the commissioner of transportation 
1.20 	pursuant to section 160.265 160.266, and with existing and proposed local bikeways. 
1.21 	In the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, the program shall be developed 
1.22 	in accordance with plans and priorities established by the Metropolitan Council. The 
1.23 	commissioner shall provide technical assistance to local units of government in planning 
1.24 	and developing bicycle trails in local parks. The bicycle trail program shall, as a 
1.25 	minimum, describe the location, design, construction, maintenance, and land acquisition 
1.26 	needs of each component trail and shall give due consideration to the model standards 
2.1 	for the establishment of recreational vehicle lanes promulgated by the commissioner 
2.2 	of transportation pursuant to section 160.262. The program shall be developed after 
2.3 	consultation with the state trail council and regional and local units of government and 
2.4 	bicyclist organizations.

2.5 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 160.02, is amended by adding a subdivision 
2.6 	to read:
2.7 		Subd. 1a.Bikeway. "Bikeway" means a bicycle lane, bicycle path, shared use path, 
2.8 	bicycle route, or similar bicycle facility, regardless of whether designed for the exclusive 
2.9 	use of bicycles or for shared use with other transportation modes.

2.10 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 160.02, subdivision 27, is amended to read:
2.11 		Subd. 27.Roadway; bicycle lane; bicycle route; bicycle path; bikeway. The 
2.12 	terms "roadway," "bicycle lane," "bicycle route," and "bicycle path," and "bikeway" have 
2.13 	the meanings given in section 169.011.

2.14 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 160.02, is amended by adding a subdivision 
2.15 	to read:
2.16 		Subd. 27a.Shared use path. "Shared use path" means a bicycle facility that is (1) 
2.17 	physically separated from motorized vehicular traffic by an open space or barrier, (2) 
2.18 	located within either the highway right-of-way or an independent right-of-way, and (3) 
2.19 	available for use by other nonmotorized users.

2.20 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 160.262, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.21 		Subdivision 1.Model standards Powers. (a) The legislature determines that it is 
2.22 	in the interests of the public health, safety and welfare, to provide for the addition of 
2.23 	bicycle and recreational vehicle lanes bikeways to proposed and existing public highways. 
2.24 	The commissioner of transportation shall adopt, in the manner provided in chapter 14, 
2.25 	model standards for the establishment of recreational vehicle lanes on and along proposed 
2.26 	and existing public highways. The model standards shall include but not be limited to 
2.27 	the following: (a) criteria for desirability of a lane in any given location, (b) provision 
2.28 	for maintenance of the lanes, and (c) the placement of the lanes in relation to roads. The 
2.29 	model standards shall govern state trunk highways. The commissioner of transportation 
2.30 	is authorized to plan, design, establish, and maintain bikeways on the right-of-way of 
2.31 	any trunk highway. The commissioner is responsible for the design and construction of 
2.32 	all bikeway projects within the right-of-way of any trunk highway. The commissioner 
3.1 	must consider the development of bikeways during the planning, design, construction, 
3.2 	reconstruction, or improvement of any trunk highway, or allow the establishment of such 
3.3 	bikeways within trunk highway right-of-way.
3.4 	(b) The commissioner must maintain bikeway design guidelines consistent with the 
3.5 	state transportation goals in section 174.01.
3.6 	(c) The commissioner must compile and maintain a map of bikeways in the state and 
3.7 	must publish and distribute the map's information at least once every two years in a form 
3.8 	and manner suitable to assist persons wishing to use the bikeways.
3.9 	(d) The commissioner must maintain bikeways within the limits of trunk highway 
3.10 	right-of-way unless a written agreement or limited use permit provides otherwise.

3.11 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 160.262, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
3.12 		Subd. 3.Cooperation among agencies and governments. The following 
3.13 	departments and agencies on the nonmotorized transportation advisory committee 
3.14 	identified in section 174.37 shall cooperate in providing provide information and advice 
3.15 	for amendments to the model standards the bikeway design guidelines maintained by 
3.16 	the commissioner of transportation: the Departments of Agriculture, Transportation, 
3.17 	Natural Resources, Commerce, and Employment and Economic Development, and the 
3.18 	Board of Water and Soil Resources. The commissioner may cooperate with and enter into 
3.19 	agreements with the United States government, any department of the state of Minnesota, 
3.20 	any unit of local government and, any tribal government, or any public or private 
3.21 	corporation in order to effect the purposes of this section.

3.22 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 160.262, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
3.23 		Subd. 4.Design-build bridges for nonmotorized vehicles. For streets and 
3.24 	highways, the commissioner shall allow for the acceptance of performance-specification 
3.25 	bids, made by the lowest responsible bidder, for constructing design-build bridges for 
3.26 	bicycle paths, bicycle trails, bikeways and pedestrian facilities that are:
3.27 	(1) designed and used primarily for nonmotorized transportation, but may allow for 
3.28 	motorized wheelchairs, golf carts, necessary maintenance vehicles and, when otherwise 
3.29 	permitted by law, rule, or ordinance, snowmobiles; and
3.30 	(2) located apart from any road or highway or protected by barriers, provided that a 
3.31 	design-built bridge may cross over and above a road or highway.

3.32 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 160.266, is amended by adding a subdivision 
3.33 	to read:
4.1 		Subd. 1a.State bicycle route; definition. For the purposes of this section, "state 
4.2 	bicycle route" means a linear series of one or more roads or bikeways that is designated 
4.3 	for bicycle travel, regardless of whether for exclusive use by bicycles or shared use with 
4.4 	other modes of transportation.

4.5 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 160.266, is amended by adding a subdivision 
4.6 	to read:
4.7 		Subd. 1b.State bicycle routes. The commissioner of transportation must identify 
4.8 	state bicycle routes primarily on existing road right-of-way and trails. State bicycle 
4.9 	routes must be identified in cooperation with road and trail authorities, including the 
4.10 	commissioner of natural resources, and with the advice of the advisory committee on 
4.11 	nonmotorized transportation under section 174.37. In a metropolitan area, state bicycle 
4.12 	routes must be identified in coordination with the plans and priorities established by 
4.13 	metropolitan planning organizations, as defined in United States Code, title 23, section 134.

4.14 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 160.266, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
4.15 		Subd. 2.Creation Mississippi River Trail. The commissioner, in cooperation with 
4.16 	road and trail authorities including the commissioner of natural resources, shall identify a 
4.17 	bikeway state bicycle route, to be known as the Mississippi River Trail, that originates 
4.18 	at Itasca State Park in Clearwater, Beltrami, and Hubbard Counties, then generally 
4.19 	parallels the Mississippi River through the cities of Bemidji in Beltrami County, Grand 
4.20 	Rapids in Itasca County, Brainerd in Crow Wing County, Little Falls in Morrison County, 
4.21 	Sauk Rapids in Benton County, St. Cloud in Stearns County, Minneapolis in Hennepin 
4.22 	County, St. Paul in Ramsey County, Hastings in Dakota County, Red Wing in Goodhue 
4.23 	County, Wabasha in Wabasha County, Winona in Winona County, and La Crescent 
4.24 	in Houston County to Minnesota's boundary with Iowa and there terminates. Where 
4.25 	opportunities exist, the bikeway Mississippi River Trail may be designated on both sides 
4.26 	of the Mississippi River.

4.27 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 160.266, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
4.28 		Subd. 3.Connections with other bikeways. (a) The commissioner, in cooperation 
4.29 	with road and trail authorities including the commissioner of natural resources, shall:
4.30 	(1) identify existing bikeways of regional significance that are in reasonable 
4.31 	proximity but not connected to the bikeway state bicycle routes established in under this 
4.32 	section, including but not limited to the Lake Wobegon Trail in the counties of Stearns 
4.33 	and Todd; and
5.1 	(2) support development of linkages between bikeways identified under clause (1) 
5.2 	and the bikeway state bicycle routes established in under this section.
5.3 	(b) The requirements of this subdivision are a secondary priority for use of funds 
5.4 	available under this section following establishment and enhancement of the bikewaystate 
5.5 	bicycle routes under subdivision 1 this section.

5.6 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 160.266, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
5.7 		Subd. 4.Cooperation with other entities. The commissioner may contract and 
5.8 	enter into agreements with federal agencies, other state agencies, local governments, and 
5.9 	tribal governments, or private entities to establish, develop, maintain, and operate the 
5.10 	bikeway state bicycle routes and to interpret associated natural and cultural resources.

5.11 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 160.266, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
5.12 		Subd. 5.Funding. Bicycle Shared use paths included within the bikeway state 
5.13 	bicycle routes and not administered by the commissioner of natural resources are eligible 
5.14 	for funding from the environment and natural resources trust fund under chapter 116P, 
5.15 	from the parks and trails grant program under section 85.535, from the local recreation 
5.16 	grants program under section 85.019, subdivision 4b, and from other sources.

5.17 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 161.21, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
5.18 		Subdivision 1.Location and design of highways. The commissioner may make or 
5.19 	cause to be made such studies and investigations as the commissioner deems necessary 
5.20 	for the purpose of determining the most advantageous location and design of trunk 
5.21 	highways from the standpoint of both present and future traffic needs, and in making 
5.22 	such determinations the commissioner may take into consideration the probable future 
5.23 	development of both urban and rural areas and the effect of such development on future 
5.24 	traffic needs as indicated by such studies and investigations and the location and design 
5.25 	with respect to recreational vehicle lane bikeway establishment.

5.26 	Sec. 15.  REPEALER.
 5.27 	(a) Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 160.262, subdivision 2; 160.265, subdivisions 
5.28 	1 and 2; and 160.266, subdivision 1, are repealed.
5.29 	(b) Minnesota Rules, parts 8810.6000; 8810.6100; 8810.6300; 8810.6400; 
5.30 	8810.6500; 8810.6600; 8810.6700; 8810.6800; 8810.6900; 8810.7000; 8810.9910; 
5.31 	8810.9911; 8810.9912; and 8810.9913, are repealed.