1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to transportation; requiring the department 
  1.3             of transportation and the metropolitan council to 
  1.4             conduct a study of bus rapid transit on I-35W between 
  1.5             Minneapolis and Lakeville; requiring creation of a 
  1.6             study advisory committee; specifying membership; 
  1.7             requiring a report of recommendations. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  [BUS RAPID TRANSIT STUDY.] 
  1.10     Subdivision 1.  [STUDY REQUIRED.] The department of 
  1.11  transportation and the metropolitan council shall jointly 
  1.12  conduct a study on the feasibility of implementing a bus rapid 
  1.13  transit (BRT) system in the I-35W corridor from downtown 
  1.14  Minneapolis through south Minneapolis and the cities of 
  1.15  Richfield, Bloomington, Burnsville, and Lakeville.  Bus rapid 
  1.16  transit systems are those systems that provide for significantly 
  1.17  faster operating bus speeds, integrated service, greater service 
  1.18  reliability, and increased convenience through investments in 
  1.19  bus infrastructure, equipment, technology, and operational 
  1.20  improvements.  
  1.21     Subd. 2.  [BRT STUDY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.] The commissioner 
  1.22  of transportation shall create a BRT study advisory committee to 
  1.23  provide advice on the study design, methodology, and 
  1.24  recommendations.  The advisory committee must consist of 
  1.25  representatives of neighborhoods along the I-35W corridor, 
  1.26  current transit riders in the corridor, employers in downtown 
  2.1   Minneapolis and along the corridor, and representatives of other 
  2.2   transit service providers, including the Minnesota valley 
  2.3   transit authority.  
  2.4      Subd. 3.  [STUDY REQUIREMENTS.] The study must, at a 
  2.5   minimum, include an analysis of the benefits and costs of 
  2.6   implementing a bus rapid transit system that includes the 
  2.7   following: 
  2.8      (1) frequent operation of buses on exclusive or 
  2.9   near-exclusive right-of-way on marked interstate highway 35W; 
  2.10     (2) changes in bus or platform design and fare collection 
  2.11  that provide for faster convenient boarding; 
  2.12     (3) station locations that are adjacent to, or easily 
  2.13  accessible from, the exclusive right-of-way; 
  2.14     (4) traffic management improvements and traffic signal 
  2.15  preemption on local streets within the I-35W corridor; and 
  2.16     (5) changes to existing transit services to provide for 
  2.17  timely connections and transfers.  
  2.18     Subd. 4.  [STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS.] The study must recommend:
  2.19     (1) options for implementing bus rapid transit in the I-35W 
  2.20  corridor; 
  2.21     (2) the associated cost of each option; and 
  2.22     (3) the anticipated benefits in terms of reduced travel 
  2.23  times, increased ridership, and impacts on congestion levels 
  2.24  within the corridor.  
  2.25     The study must be submitted by December 10, 2004, to the 
  2.26  house of representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction 
  2.27  over transportation policy and finance.  
  2.28     <b>[EFFECTIVE DATE.]</b> This section is effective July 1, 2003.