Section 160.265 Bikeway Program
160.265 BIKEWAY PROGRAM.
Subdivision 1.State bikeways.
The commissioner of transportation shall establish a program for the development of bikeways primarily on existing road rights-of-way. The program shall include a system of bikeways to be established, developed, maintained, and operated by the commissioner of transportation and a system of state grants for the development of local bikeways primarily on existing road rights-of-way. The program shall be coordinated with the local park trail grant program pursuant to section 85.019, with the bicycle trail program established by the commissioner of natural resources pursuant to section 85.016, with the development of the statewide transportation plan pursuant to section 174.03, and with existing and proposed local bikeways. In the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, the program shall be developed in accordance with plans and priorities established by the Metropolitan Council. The program shall be developed after consultation with the State Trail Council, local units of government, and bicyclist organizations. The program shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of sections 160.262 to 160.264 and standards promulgated pursuant thereto. The commissioner shall compile and maintain a current registry of bikeways in the state and shall publish and distribute the information contained in the registry in a form and manner suitable to assist persons wishing to use the bikeways. The Metropolitan Council, the commissioner of natural resources, the commissioner of employment and economic development, the Minnesota Historical Society, and local units of government shall cooperate with and assist the commissioner of transportation in preparing the registry. The commissioner shall have all powers necessary and convenient to establish the program pursuant to this section including but not limited to the authority to adopt rules pursuant to chapter 14.
Subd. 2.Local bikeway grants.
The commissioner shall provide technical assistance to local units of government in planning and developing bikeways. The commissioner shall make grants to units of government as defined in section 85.019, subdivision 1, for the betterment of public land and improvements needed for local bikeways. In making grants the commissioner shall consider, among other factors, the number of bicycles in the localities. A grant shall not exceed 75 percent of the costs of the betterment of the bikeway. To be eligible for a grant, a unit of government must provide at least 25 percent of the costs of the betterment of the bikeway.
History:
1977 c 421 s 5; 1981 c 356 s 179,248; 1982 c 424 s 130; 1983 c 289 s 115 subds 1,2; 1984 c 558 art 4 s 10; 1987 c 255 s 6; 1987 c 312 art 1 s 26 subd 2; 1994 c 465 art 2 s 14; 1996 c 305 art 2 s 33; 1Sp2003 c 4 s 1