Senate committee advances transit and planning bills to Finance after broad testimony

Senator Dibble asked the committee to move several related bills that would change how Minnesota plans and prioritizes transportation investments. The committee approved voice‑vote motions to refer Senate File 46‑58 (transit performance and investment framework for the Twin Cities), Senate File 46‑57 (project purpose and need and process reforms) and Senate File 39‑90 (multi‑modal scoping and alternatives on trunk highways) to the Senate Finance Committee.

MJ Carpio, executive director of Move Minnesota, urged lawmakers to expand commuter benefits, pursue bonding for bus‑rapid transit and change the motor vehicle sales tax split to reach parity between highways and transit. Carpio described a proposal to set performance measures for the Met Council and an investment framework that would put one million metro residents within a half‑mile of high‑frequency transit by 2040.

Giancarlo Valdatero of the National Campaign for Transit Justice and advocates from Our Streets and Sierra Club argued the bills would improve multimodal decision‑making and reduce the state’s maintenance backlog by aligning projects with outcomes such as safety, access and climate impact. Sierra Club legislative director Peter Wiganis highlighted the fiscal and land‑use benefits of right‑sizing highways and investing in transit and bus rapid transit on highway corridors.

Action: Senate Files 46‑58, 46‑57 and 39‑90 were moved to the Finance Committee by voice vote; the committee recorded no roll‑call tallies. Senators said referral will enable fuller fiscal consideration and cross‑committee review.

What happens next: The bills will be considered by the Senate Finance Committee, where budget impacts and funding pathways will be examined.