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Committee hears bipartisan ATV trail funding bills; projects in northeastern Minnesota laid over
Summary
Senate Files 593 and 594 seek dedicated-account funding for ATV trail construction, right-of-way acquisition and connectivity projects across St. Louis and adjoining counties. County commissioners and ATV club leaders described economic benefits; conservation groups urged planning changes. Both bills were laid over as amended.
Two bills proposing dedicated-account funding for all-terrain-vehicle (ATV) trails in northeastern Minnesota drew mixed but largely supportive testimony from county officials, ATV clubs and outdoor-conservation groups.
What the bills would do - SF 593 directs ATV-dedicated account dollars to multiple projects in St. Louis County and the Duluth area to support trail development, engineering, permitting and construction, including the 7 Beavers Trail, Lumberjack and Quad Cities trailhead work. An A2 (author) amendment adding $100,000 from the ATV account for grant-in-aid was adopted.
- SF 594 would fund trail expansions and connectivity for the Voyagers Country ATV system and the Prospector Loop trail system to link communities and boost tourism.
Supporters and opponents - Paul McDonald, St. Louis County commissioner and chair of the Northeastern Regional ATV Joint Powers Board, and local clubs described economic benefits from ATV tourism and cited a University of Minnesota Extension estimate of 219,000 rides producing a direct $35 million regional economic impact in 2023.
- Prospector Loop and Voyagers Country club leaders detailed connections between communities, planned bridges and cost-saving measures such as reusing a replaced bridge elsewhere on the trail network.
- Conservation and public-lands representatives urged consistent early planning input, adherence to best-management practices, and protections for high-biodiversity areas and wetlands. Testimony noted DNR's master plan emphasizes maintenance funding is limited and highlighted a large backlog in trail and road maintenance needs.
Committee action - The committee adopted the A2 author amendment to SF 593 and laid SF 593 as amended and SF 594 over for possible inclusion in the environment omnibus. Members requested additional planning and environmental review information for specific segments identified by conservation witnesses.
Ending: Sponsors said dedicated-account funds come from ATV users and support local economic development; the committee left both bills for further review and technical follow-up.
