HF4044

Purpose

Provide funding to Dakota County to improve safety and capacity on County StateAid Highway 46 (160th Street/Brandel Avenue) from Trunk Highway 3 east through the Trunk Highway 52 interchange to County Road 48, in the cities of Coates and Rosemount and Empire Township. The project aims to convert the roadway from a two-lane highway to a divided four-lane highway and to support related safety and mobility improvements.

Main Provisions

• Subdivision 1 – Appropriation

  • An amount of 18,650,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds fund to the commissioner of transportation.
  • The funds are for a grant to Dakota County to improve safety and capacity on County StateAid Highway 46 (160th Street/Brandel Avenue) along the specified route.
  • Eligible uses include: preliminary and final design; acquiring right of way and temporary and permanent easements; inspection; construction and reconstruction; traffic control; environmental cleanup and mitigation; multi-purpose pedestrian and bicycle facilities; public utility relocation; and storm water management.
  • The project scope covers reconstructing County StateAid Highway 46 from a two-lane highway to a divided four-lane highway, from Trunk Highway 3 to the Trunk Highway 52 interchange and on to County Road 48, within Coates, Rosemount, and Empire Township.

• Subdivision 2 – Bond Sale

  • To fund the appropriation, the Commissioner of Management and Budget must issue and sell state bonds up to 18,650,000.
  • Bond issuance is to be conducted under the terms and effects described in Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 and in Minnesota Constitution article XI sections 4 to 7.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Establishes a new state-funded appropriation specifically for this Dakota County project.
• Authorizes a new debt issuance (bond sale) at an amount up to 18,650,000 to finance the appropriation.
• Directs the allocation of funds to a county for a defined highway safety and modernization project, with a broad set of eligible activities tied to design, land acquisition, construction, and related infrastructure needs.

Implementation Context and Impact

• Targets improved safety and traffic capacity on a key county corridor, potentially reducing congestion and crash risk.
• Supports multi-modal improvements, including pedestrian and bicycle facilities, which can affect nearby communities and travel patterns.
• Involves environmental cleanup/mitigation and utility coordination, reflecting broader project impacts beyond pure road construction.

Terminology Emphasis (from bill language)

• County StateAid Highway 46 (160th Street/Brandel Avenue)
• Trunk Highway 3
• Trunk Highway 52 interchange
• County Road 48
• Coates, Rosemount, Empire Township
• two-lane to divided four-lane highway
• grant to Dakota County
• bond proceeds fund
• bond sale / bonds
• preliminary and final design
• right of way; temporary and permanent easements
• traffic control
• environmental cleanup and mitigation
• multipurpose pedestrian and bicycle facilities
• public utility relocation
• storm water management
• Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675
• Minnesota Constitution article XI sections 4 to 7

Relevant Terms County StateAid Highway 46; 160th Street; Brandel Avenue; Trunk Highway 3; Trunk Highway 52; County Road 48; Dakota County; Coates; Rosemount; Empire Township; two-lane; divided four-lane; safety improvements; grant; bond proceeds fund; bond sale; preliminary design; final design; right of way; easements; traffic control; environmental cleanup; mitigation; multi-use facilities; pedestrian facilities; bicycle facilities; utility relocation; storm water management; Minnesota Statutes 16A.631-16A.675; Minnesota Constitution Article XI.