Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to eliminate the authority to collect tolls on highways in Minnesota. It aims to redirect certain user fee revenues and outline how these funds should be appropriated.

Main Provisions

• Prohibition on New Toll Facilities: The bill prohibits road authorities, including city governments and private operators, from converting any part of a highway into a toll road or enforcing tolls on existing highways.
• Restrictions on Commercial Vehicle Operations: The bill prevents the requirement for commercial vehicles to use toll facilities exclusively, ensuring they have the option to utilize non-tolled portions of highways.
• Exceptions: Current toll facilities or high-occupancy vehicle lanes established before September 1, 2007, and any additional lanes added after this date that increase highway capacity, are exempt from this prohibition. This means these existing and expanding facilities can continue to operate as they have been.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Repeal of Statutory Sections: Several sections of Minnesota Statutes, specifically section 160.93 subdivisions 2 and 2a, related to toll collection authority, are repealed under this bill.
• Reallocation of User Fee Revenue: The bill outlines a reallocation approach for revenues collected from user fees previously intended for toll roads, suggesting a redirection towards other transportation-related expenditures.

Relevant Terms

toll collection, highway tolls, road authority, commercial motor vehicle, high-occupancy vehicle lane, user fee revenue, statute repeal, transportation finance, Minnesota law.