Subdivision 1.Light rail transit; operator.

The council must operate all light rail transit facilities and services located in the metropolitan area upon completion of construction of the facilities and the commencement of revenue service using the facilities. The council may not allow the commencement of revenue service until after an appropriate period of acceptance testing to ensure safe and satisfactory performance. In assuming the operation of the system, the council must comply with section 473.415. The council must coordinate operation of the light rail transit system with bus service to avoid duplication of service on a route served by light rail transit and to ensure the widest possible access to light rail transit lines in both suburban and urban areas by means of a feeder bus system.

Subd. 2.Guideway and busway; operating costs.

(a) After operating revenue, federal funds, and state funds are used for operations of a guideway or busway, as the terms are defined in section 473.4485, subdivision 1, the council must pay all remaining operating costs from sales tax revenue, as defined in section 473.4465, subdivision 1.

Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 473.4051

  • area: means the area over which the Metropolitan Council has jurisdiction, including only the counties of Anoka; Carver; Dakota excluding the cities of Northfield and Cannon Falls; Hennepin excluding the cities of Hanover and Rockford; Ramsey; Scott excluding the city of New Prague; and Washington. See Minnesota Statutes 473.121
  • council: means the Metropolitan Council established by section 473. See Minnesota Statutes 473.121
  • Metropolitan county: means any one of the following counties: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott or Washington. See Minnesota Statutes 473.121
  • Operator: means any person engaged or seeking to engage in the business of providing regular route public transit. See Minnesota Statutes 473.121
  • state: extends to and includes the District of Columbia and the several territories. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
  • Tax: means any fee, charge, exaction, or assessment imposed by a governmental entity on an individual, person, entity, transaction, good, service, or other thing. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
  • transit: has the meaning given in section 174. See Minnesota Statutes 473.121
  • transit system: means , without limitation, a combination of property, structures, improvements, equipment, plants, parking or other facilities, and rights, or any thereof, used or useful for the purposes of public transit. See Minnesota Statutes 473.121

(b) The requirements under paragraph (a) do not apply to the costs of Northstar Commuter Rail attributed to operations outside of a metropolitan county.

Subd. 2a.Guideway and busway; capital maintenance.

(a) The council must pay all ongoing capital maintenance costs from one or more of: available federal funds; sales tax revenue, as defined in section 473.4465, subdivision 1; and proceeds from certificates of indebtedness, bonds, or other obligations under section 473.39.

(b) For purposes of this subdivision, “capital maintenance” includes routine maintenance, capital maintenance, and maintenance in a state of good repair.

Subd. 3.Light rail transit; capital costs.

State money may not be used to pay more than ten percent of the total capital cost of a light rail transit project.