Minneapolis-Duluth intercity bus study appropriation; Norther Lights Express passenger rail reallocation; appropriating money

This bill appropriates $ for a study on improving intercity bus service between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Duluth, requiring the transportation commissioner to analyze demand, costs, ridership, and barriers by February 2026. It cancels $194 million in existing funding for the Minneapolis-Duluth Northern Lights Express passenger rail project and transfers that amount to the highway user tax distribution fund. The study will evaluate potential bus service improvements, including capital costs and revenue, to inform future transportation decisions. These changes directly affect transportation planning for the Minneapolis-Duluth corridor and reallocate existing state funds.