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SF2182 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Performance requirements and conditional termination of the Northstar Commuter Rail Line establishment

Related bill: HF749

AI Generated Summary

This bill, S.F. No. 2182, relates to transportation and establishes performance requirements for the Northstar Commuter Rail line, with provisions for its conditional termination if those requirements are not met.

Key Provisions:

  1. Performance Requirements (Subdivision 2):
    The Northstar rail service must meet the following thresholds:

    • Total ridership must be at least 450,000 in any six-month period (starting June 1, 2025).
    • Annual ridership must be at least 900,000 (measured from June 1 to May 31, starting in 2025).
    • Farebox recovery ratio (the percentage of operating costs covered by fares) must be at least 40% (starting in 2026).

  2. Federal Waiver (Subdivision 3):

    • If Northstar fails to meet any of the performance requirements, the Metropolitan Council is required to seek a federal waiver to release the state from financial obligations to the U.S. Department of Transportation for the rail line's termination.

  3. Contingent Termination (Subdivision 4):

    • If performance requirements are not met, Northstar must be permanently shut down.
    • The Metropolitan Council must end all services, close stations, stop Metro Transit Police enforcement, and terminate all agreements related to the rail line.
    • The Commissioner of Transportation must revoke any property access or operational agreements.
    • The Metropolitan Council must return ownership of any Northstar-related property (that was previously transferred) back to the Department of Transportation.
    • All Northstar assets, including trains, stations, and other properties, must be sold or disposed of as per state law.

  4. Funds Deposit Requirement (Subdivision 5):

    • Any revenue from selling or disposing of Northstar assets must be deposited in the state general fund.

Purpose of the Bill:

This bill sets strict ridership and financial performance benchmarks for the Northstar Commuter Rail. If Northstar does not meet these goals, the service must be shut down, and its assets sold, ensuring that state funds are not spent on an underperforming transit system.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 05, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
March 05, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
March 05, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
March 05, 2025HouseFloorActionReferred toTransportation
March 05, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toTransportation
March 05, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toTransportation

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill involves agreements for planning and development of transportation services as referenced in section 174.82.",
      "modified": [
        "Requires termination of specific agreements related to Northstar Commuter Rail line if performance requirements are not met."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "174.82",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill mandates actions under section 473.4057 subdivision 5 concerning the termination of operations of the Northstar Commuter Rail line.",
      "modified": [
        "Instructs the termination and transfer of property and lease agreements related to Northstar Commuter Rail line."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "473.4057",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 5"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Direction is given under section 16B.2975 for the disposal of state assets related to the Northstar Commuter Rail line.",
      "modified": [
        "Outlines the procedures for disposition of state-owned assets related to Northstar."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "16B.2975",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

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