Department of Transportation required to modify evaluation and planning process for certain transportation projects.

This bill requires Minnesota's Department of Transportation to update how it evaluates and plans certain transportation projects, specifically those involving construction, reconstruction, or capacity changes that need environmental reviews. It mandates that officials create a "purpose and need" statement that considers all possible approaches rather than assuming a specific improvement is necessary, while also incorporating safety, community input, and cost efficiency alongside traditional traffic metrics. The legislation also calls for a detailed scoping document that identifies stakeholders, analyzes different transportation modes like roads and transit, and includes field visits to understand local conditions before projects are approved for state funding. These changes apply to major highway projects but exclude routine maintenance activities like resurfacing or bridge repairs.