Subdivision 1.Definitions.

(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given.

lawyer at desk

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 473.412

  • area: means the area over which the Metropolitan Council has jurisdiction, including only the counties of Anoka; Carver; Dakota excluding the cities of Northfield and Cannon Falls; Hennepin excluding the cities of Hanover and Rockford; Ramsey; Scott excluding the city of New Prague; and Washington. See Minnesota Statutes 473.121
  • council: means the Metropolitan Council established by section 473. See Minnesota Statutes 473.121
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Minority: means with respect to an individual the period of time during which the individual is a minor. See Minnesota Statutes 645.451
  • Person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
  • Regular route transit: has the meaning given in section 174. See Minnesota Statutes 473.121
  • transit: has the meaning given in section 174. See Minnesota Statutes 473.121

(b) “Cleaning” means the removal of litter, refuse, food, glass, bodily fluids, offensive odors, or other debris.

(c) “Graffiti” has the meaning given in section 617.90, subdivision 1.

(d) “Transit station” means a wholly or partially enclosed structure provided for public use as a waiting area in conjunction with light rail transit, bus rapid transit, or regular route transit and includes any property, structures, fixtures, equipment, appurtenances, improvements, heating elements, lighting, fare collection, or any other property that is owned, leased, held, or used for the purpose of providing and supporting public transit.

(e) “Transit vehicle” means light rail transit trains, bus rapid transit vehicles, buses servicing regular route intervals, or any other vehicle owned or operated by a public entity for the purpose of providing public transit.

(f) “Vandalism” means a person defacing, marring, damaging, removing, injuring, displacing, destroying, or tampering with any transit facility or transit vehicle equipment, property, structures, fixtures, or appurtenances.

Subd. 2.Standards established.

(a) By October 1, 2023, the Metropolitan Council must adopt standards on cleanliness and repair of transit vehicles and stations. To the extent practicable, the standards must address:

(1) cleaning requirements for transit stations and vehicles operated by the council;

(2) a strategy for discovering and removing vandalism, graffiti, or other defacement to transit stations or vehicles operated by the council;

(3) a proposal for the timely repair of damage to transit stations and transit vehicle fixtures, structures, or other property used for the purpose of supporting public transit; and

(4) any other cleanliness standards necessary to provide a quality ridership experience for all transit users.

(b) By February 1, 2024, the Metropolitan Council must provide information on the council’s website on how the council solicits public feedback on cleanliness and rider experience at transit stations and on transit vehicles. The council must post conspicuous notice of the public feedback options at each light rail transit station and bus rapid transit station operated by the council.

Subd. 3.Report required; cleaning standards and expenditures.

(a) By October 1, 2023, and every two years thereafter, the Metropolitan Council must report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over transit policy and finance on transit cleanliness and the ridership experience.

(b) The first report due under paragraph (a) must provide the council’s adopted cleanliness standards required under subdivision 2. The first report must also provide information on how the council developed the cleanliness standards, the stakeholders it consulted in drafting the cleanliness standards, and the financial resources needed to implement the cleaning and repair standards. The first report must also identify the council’s proposal for soliciting public feedback on cleanliness and rider experience at transit stations and on transit vehicles operated by the council.

(c) For reports submitted on October 1, 2025, and every two years thereafter, the report must include:

(1) the total expenditures for cleaning and repairing transit stations and transit vehicles;

(2) a report on the frequency, type, and location of repairs;

(3) a report on whether specific transit stations needed a higher proportion of cleaning or repairs;

(4) a report on workforce challenges for maintaining the cleanliness standards adopted by the council;

(5) whether the council has adopted preventative measures against vandalism or graffiti; and

(6) any recommendations for additions to the transit rider code of conduct adopted by the council under section 473.4065.

(d) The council must collect and summarize the public comments it receives and incorporate those comments into the report required under paragraph (c).