Subdivision 1. Corridor development. The commissioner of transportation shall develop a corridor improvement plan for grade crossings intersecting or crossing the railway right-of-way in the railway corridor that runs east to west across southern Minnesota within all of the counties of Winona, Olmsted, Dodge, Steele, Waseca, Blue Earth, Brown, Redwood, Lyon, and Lincoln.
Subd. 2. Grade crossing recommendations. (a) The corridor improvement plan must include crossing-by-crossing assessments based on ten-year and 20-year projections of train and vehicle volumes that will identify minimum improvements necessary at crossings with moderate levels of exposure, consistent with rules adopted by the commissioner. The plan must include identification of all crossings that are candidates for grade separations where levels of exposure exceed 300,000, or crossings that meet the criteria identified in the rules adopted by the commissioner. For purposes of this section, "levels of exposure" means average daily vehicle traffic multiplied by the number of trains per day at a crossing.
(b) In cities where the department has identified multiple grade separation candidates, the plan must include a strategy that identifies the appropriate mix of safety improvements at all crossings in the city and that considers optimal locations for grade separations, crossing consolidations, and other grade crossing safety improvements and traffic routing options.
(c) The department shall consider crossings that are candidates for closure, consistent with rules adopted by the commissioner governing the vacating of a grade crossing.
(d) When community plans have been developed by the affected railroad company and local governing bodies, the department shall review the community plans for compliance with the department's minimum criteria for necessary crossing improvements at all public crossings as identified in the commissioner's rules. The agreed-to community plans take precedence over the elements of the corridor improvement plan.
Subd. 3. Local government and railroad participation; federal review. (a) The commissioner shall provide an opportunity for an affected railroad company or local governing body to participate in developing the corridor improvement plan. The commissioner shall allow an affected local governing body the opportunity to review the corridor improvement plan before executing an agreement for grade crossing improvements in the corridor improvement plan between the department and the railroad company and before forwarding the plan to the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB).
(b) Paragraph (a) does not preclude the department from providing comments or information related to the railway corridor improvement project to the STB or any other governing body related to construction activities or environmental impact statement preparation.
Subd. 4. Final plan; hold harmless. (a) The final plan must be submitted to any affected area transportation partnership, local unit of government, and railroad company within the corridor area in order to provide future grade crossing safety improvement planning guidance.
(b) Unless otherwise specifically agreed to as part of the plan, the development of a corridor improvement plan does not bind the state or any local government unit to a specific implementation timetable or to funding the cost of proposed recommended safety upgrades.
1999 c 238 art 2 s 34
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment
Section 219.01 — Track Safety Standards; Safety Technology Grants.
Section 219.015 — State Rail Safety Inspector.
Section 219.016 — Hazardous Materials Rail Safety.
Section 219.06 — Signs At Crossings.
Section 219.071 — Maintenance Of Grade-crossing Surfaces.
Section 219.072 — Establishment Of New Grade Crossings.
Section 219.073 — Commissioner's Rules On Grade Crossings.
Section 219.074 — Grade Crossing Change, Vacation.
Section 219.08 — Crossings; Changing Grade Of Approaches.
Section 219.09 — Multiple Tracks Across Road; Railroad Duty.
Section 219.10 — Penalty For Violation.
Section 219.13 — Farm Crossing.
Section 219.14 — Railroad Crossing Protected.
Section 219.16 — Grade Crossing Defined.
Section 219.165 — Safety Rules For Private Railroad Grade Crossing.
Section 219.1651 — Grade Crossing Safety Account.
Section 219.166 — Establishment Of Quiet Zones.
Section 219.17 — Uniform Warning Signs.
Section 219.18 — Railroad To Erect Sign.
Section 219.19 — Additional Warning Sign.
Section 219.20 — Stop Sign; Yield Sign.
Section 219.22 — Stop, Look, And Listen.
Section 219.23 — Crossing Guard.
Section 219.24 — Additional Safeguard.
Section 219.26 — Protective Crossing Device; Uniformity.
Section 219.29 — Prohibited Sign.
Section 219.30 — Injuring, Destroying Sign.
Section 219.31 — Building Fence And Cattle Guard.
Section 219.32 — Failure To Fence; Liability And Damages.
Section 219.33 — Fence, Crossing, Cattle Guard; Landowner Recourse.
Section 219.34 — Fence Between Railroad And Public Road.
Section 219.35 — Crossing And Drain.
Section 219.36 — Gate At Farm Crossing.
Section 219.37 — Ditch And Culvert.
Section 219.375 — Railroad Yard Lighting.
Section 219.383 — Safe Operation Of Train Over Road; Penalty.
Section 219.384 — Removal Of Dangerous Obstruction.
Section 219.39 — Dangerous Crossing; Complaint, Hearing.
Section 219.40 — Dangerous Crossing Determination Procedures And Remedies.
Section 219.402 — Adequate Crossing Protection.
Section 219.403 — Applicability To Local Laws.
Section 219.41 — Appeal; Order Enforcement.
Section 219.42 — Failure To Comply; Penalty.
Section 219.44 — Charter Powers Not Abridged.
Section 219.445 — Southern Rail Corridor Improvement Plan.
Section 219.45 — Applicability.
Section 219.46 — Unlawful Structure; Clearance.
Section 219.47 — Clearance Exceptions.
Section 219.50 — Obstructing Space Between Tracks.
Section 219.501 — Rail Carrier Walkways.
Section 219.51 — Violations And Penalties.
Section 219.52 — Warning Sign; Reporting Clearance Violations.
Section 219.53 — Contributory Negligence.
Section 219.54 — Freight Platform.
Section 219.551 — Locomotive; Water And Toilet Facility.
Section 219.561 — Track Motor Car; Equipment.
Section 219.567 — Failure To Ring Bell.
Section 219.568 — Other Violations Of Duty.
Section 219.57 — Prevention Of Fire.
Section 219.64 — Assumption Of Risk; Contributory Negligence.
Section 219.661 — Speedometer; Legislative Findings.
Section 219.662 — Speedometer Required; Reports.
Section 219.753 — Crane On Tracks; Detector; Misdemeanor.
Section 219.76 — Damage Caused By Train Or Contents; Insurable Interest.
Section 219.761 — Response To Train-related Fire Or Other Emergency; Reimbursement.
Section 219.77 — Railroad Employer Liability.
Section 219.79 — Contributory Negligence Does Not Bar Recovery.
Section 219.80 — Assumption Of Risk No Defense.
Section 219.81 — Contrary Contract Declared Void.
Section 219.815 — Employer Includes Receiver.
Section 219.82 — Survival Of Right Of Action.
Section 219.83 — Limitation Of Action.
Section 219.93 — Stopping Train At Crossing.
Section 219.97 — Violations; Penalties.
Section 219.98 — Fees For Applying For Order.
Section 219.99 — Railroad Prairie Right-of-way; Best Management Practices.