HF678

Purpose

• Establishes a traffic calming program within Minnesota’s transportation framework to fund improvements that slow or manage traffic in cities of the first class, aiming to improve safety in the street right-of-way.

Funding and Administration

• Funding: Onetime appropriations of 10,000,000 dollars in fiscal year 2026 and 10,000,000 dollars in fiscal year 2027 from the general fund.
• Administration: The commissioner of transportation must distribute the grant aid to cities of the first class.
• Allocation method: The funds are split evenly (50% and 50%) between two proportional methods:
  • 50% based on each city’s share of population (per the last federal decennial census) relative to the total population of all first-class cities.
  • 50% based on each city’s share of money needs (per Minnesota Statutes section 162.13 subdivision 2) relative to the total money needs of all first-class cities.
• Onetime status: This is a one-time appropriation and not ongoing funding.

Eligible Improvements

• Eligible improvements include but are not limited to:
  • Horizontal and vertical deflection elements
  • Intersection improvements
  • Paint
  • Curb work
  • Bumpouts
  • Bollards
  • Raised crosswalks
  • Other improvements to enhance traffic safety in the right-of-way
• Standards note: Improvements made on nonmunicipal state-aid streets do not need to meet municipal state-aid streets standards.

Significance and Impact

• Creates a dedicated, time-limited funding stream specifically for traffic calming infrastructure in larger cities.
• Encourages safety-focused street design changes that can slow or manage vehicle speeds and improve pedestrian and cyclist safety.

Significant Changes to Law

• Adds a new, targeted funding program and distribution formula for traffic calming in cities of the first class.
• Establishes a clear list of eligible treatments and removes the need for certain standards on nonmunicipal state-aid streets for these projects.
• Introduces a two-part, population- and needs-based funding distribution method for these grants.

Relevant Terms - traffic calming - traffic calming infrastructure improvements - cities of the first class - grants - general fund - commissioner of transportation - population share (last federal decennial census) - money needs (Minnesota Statutes §162.13, subd. 2) - horizontal deflection - vertical deflection - intersection improvements - paint - curb - bumpouts - bollards - raised crosswalks - right-of-way - nonmunicipal state-aid streets - municipal state-aid streets standards - onetime appropriation - fiscal year 2026 - fiscal year 2027