MN SF3244

Establishes a 29-member advisory working group to examine planning, design, engineering, construction, and environmental processes for a potential privately financed passenger high-speed rail line between Rochester and the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area.

Working group membership includes 2 senators, 2 house members, state transportation and public safety commissioners, county representatives from Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, and Olmsted counties, one representative from each of 11 specified cities, rail transportation expert, labor representative, high-speed rail developer representative, and University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies representative.

Requires the commissioner of transportation to notify the University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies within 15 days of receiving a permit request, and the center must set a 45-60 day deadline for initial appointments.

Working group must submit annual reports by February 1 to legislative committees with jurisdiction over transportation addressing public engagement processes, land acquisition activities, and contracts/agreements that protect the public from project-related risks.

Working group may solicit private funding through gifts, grants, and donations (excluding unnamed sources), with all contributions published publicly and deposited in a special revenue fund; expires June 30, 2020, or when the project commences revenue operation or is abandoned, whichever occurs first.