It\u2019s a rare occurrence when a House committee gathers to debate a bill, then is told during testimony that the bill\u2019s wish has been granted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Such was the case at Monday\u2019s meeting of the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee. The committee\u2019s chair, Rep. Jon Koznick<\/a> (R-Lakeville), was presenting a pair of bills taking separate approaches to ending operations of the Northstar Commuter Rail line between downtown Minneapolis and Big Lake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, hours before the meeting convened, the Department of Transportation released a study<\/a> that concluded: \u201cThere are opportunities for improved, more cost-effective transit service in this corridor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both Transportation Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger and Metropolitan Council Chair Charlie Zelle said that other means of bus or rail transportation would be more efficient and effective, which rendered the bills largely moot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n HF269<\/a> calls for MnDOT and the Metropolitan Council to request approval from the Federal Transit Administration to discontinue Northstar Commuter Rail service without any federal reimbursement, also requiring legislative reporting on the request and federal response, as well as a termination plan if the approval is granted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That bill was approved by the committee and is on its way to the House Floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n