new text begin [161.1611] COMMUNITY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Alternative study required. new text end

new text begin (a) The requirements in this section apply
to all federally funded transportation projects involving the construction, reconstruction,
rehabilitation, or resurfacing of a highway. The requirements of this section do not apply
to a maintenance resurfacing project.
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new text begin (b) The commissioner must study, in accordance with National Environmental Policy
Act requirements for studying design alternatives, an alternative design that has been
approved by the policy advisory committee as provided in subdivision 2, paragraph (b),
before developing transportation projects involving the construction, reconstruction,
rehabilitation, or resurfacing of a highway.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Policy advisory committee; members. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner must form a
policy advisory committee composed of elected and appointed local officials from impacted
project areas to approve or disapprove alternative designs that involve construction,
reconstruction, rehabilitation, or resurfacing of a highway. The policy advisory committee
convened under this subdivision must have an odd number of members. The policy advisory
committee convened by the commissioner must contain:
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new text begin (1) the county commissioner of the county where the impacted project area is located;
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new text begin (2) the two members of the legislature representing the impacted project area;
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new text begin (3) the mayor of the city or town of the impacted project area; and
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new text begin (4) at least three but no more than five members of a city council of the impacted project
area.
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new text begin (b) The commissioner must develop, in accordance with National Environmental Policy
Act requirements, design alternatives for highway projects and submit the design alternatives
for approval to the policy advisory committee established in paragraph (a). The policy
advisory committee must approve by a two-thirds vote a preferred alternative design before
the commissioner:
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new text begin (1) selects a preferred alternative design;
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new text begin (2) initiates the final layout approval process as described in sections 161.162 to 161.167;
or
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new text begin (3) begins project construction.
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