The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 174.185, to enhance the requirements for pavement life-cycle cost analyses in transportation projects. Key changes include the introduction of new definitions such as "minimum requirements," "pavement," and "substantial plan development," which clarify the criteria for evaluating pavement materials and strategies. The bill mandates that any project involving 60,000 or more square yards of paving must document the chosen pavement strategy and perform a life-cycle cost analysis prior to substantial plan development. Additionally, the commissioner is required to derive costs from historical data, consider greenhouse gas emissions, and include a detailed explanation of the methodology used in the analysis.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a review and collaboration process, requiring the commissioner to post a draft of the life-cycle cost analysis for public comment before finalizing the pavement selection. A document of justification must be prepared, explaining the rationale behind the selected strategy, especially if it deviates from the lowest life-cycle cost option. The bill also stipulates that all life-cycle cost analyses and justifications for projects starting construction on or after January 1, 2024, must be made publicly accessible on the department's website. A report summarizing the life-cycle cost analyses must be submitted to legislative committees by January 31, with the new provisions taking effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 174.185