This bill amends various sections of the Minnesota Statutes related to transportation, specifically focusing on project assessment criteria, mitigation activities for vehicle miles traveled (VMT) requirements, and greenhouse gas emission targets. Key changes include the requirement for applicable entities to perform impact assessments for projects before their inclusion in transportation improvement programs, ensuring that projects conform to updated criteria. The bill also clarifies that certain projects, particularly those related to transportation safety, are excluded from the assessment process. Additionally, it establishes new criteria for assessing projects on a portfolio basis rather than individually, with a focus on meeting greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the state's transportation policy goals to emphasize safety, environmental impact, and the promotion of high-occupancy and low-emission vehicles. It introduces new greenhouse gas emissions targets that must be established and allocated across the transportation sector, taking into account regional differences. The revisions also stipulate that any vehicle miles traveled reduction targets are secondary to the transportation system safety goal. The effective date for these changes is set for the day following final enactment, applying to plans or projects assessed on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 161.178, 174.01, 174.03