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Committee approves referral for bill allowing limited ATV travel on short city stretches of trunk highways
Summary
The Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee voted 7–5 to re-refer House File 566, which would give cities under 25,000 the option to allow ATVs on short, posted trunk‑highway segments under specific conditions. Testimony ranged from local economic benefits to MnDOT safety concerns citing a rise in ATV fatal crashes.
A House committee on Wednesday voted 7–5 to re‑refer House File 566 to the Transportation Finance and Policy Committee after testimony that the bill would give small cities discretionary authority to permit all‑terrain vehicles (ATVs) on short segments of trunk highways.
Representative Roger Skraba, the bill author, told the Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee that HF566 would give local officials “the authority, not a mandate,” to allow ATVs on short, designated routes on the shoulders of trunk highways where the posted speed limit is 45 miles per hour or less and “there must be no visible viable alternative public routes.” He said the change is aimed at connecting residents and visitors to local businesses and services when state highways run through small towns.
Supporters including Nick Wagnum, secretary of ATV Minnesota, and Ron…
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