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HF 1420

St. Paul; public realm over Shepard Road funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Shelley Buck and 9 co-sponsors

The bill would authorize $20 million in state bonds to grant Ramsey County funding to plan and build a public realm project over Shepard Road and nearby rail lines in St. Paul.

Author added Moller
#bonds #citiesandtowns-specific #highways #roads #andbridges
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HF 1420

Summary of HF 1420 (2025-2026) — St. Paul Public Realm over Shepard Road

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill proposes to fund and implement the creation of a public realm project in St. Paul, specifically over a portion of Shepard Road and adjacent railroad lines.
  • The project aims to improve public space and related infrastructure by integrating transportation corridors with new public realm features.

Key Provisions

Section: RiverEdge Public Realm; St. Paul

  • Subd. 1. Appropriation
    • The state would appropriate $20,000,000 from the bond proceeds fund.
    • Purpose: provide a grant to Ramsey County to plan and implement a public realm project in St. Paul that covers a portion of Shepard Road and adjacent rail lines, including associated infrastructure (design, engineering, construction, furnishing, and equipment).
  • Subd. 2. Bond Sale
    • To fund the appropriation, the Commissioner of Management and Budget would issue state bonds in an amount up to $20,000,000.
    • Bond issuance would follow standard state procedures and constitutional requirements (Minnesota Statutes 16A.631 to 16A.675 and Article XI, sections 4–7).

Financial Details

  • Total appropriation: $20 million (bond proceeds fund).
  • Funding mechanism: State bonds to be sold by the Commissioner of Management and Budget.
  • Grant recipient: Ramsey County (state-to-county grant arrangement for the project).

Who Would Be Affected

Primary Beneficiaries

  • Ramsey County (as the grant recipient and project manager in collaboration with the City of St. Paul).
  • City of St. Paul (project area includes Shepard Road and nearby rail lines, affecting local public realm, infrastructure, and potentially land use.)

Public and Local Stakeholders

  • General public in St. Paul and surrounding areas who would access and utilize the enhanced public realm.
  • Local businesses and transportation users who may benefit from integrated public space with transportation infrastructure.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction and Referral: February 24, 2025; referred to the Committee on Capital Investment.
  • Effective Date: The appropriation section becomes effective the day after final enactment.
  • Financing Timeline: Bond sale would occur after enactment to raise the $20 million needed for the grant, following standard state bond issuance processes.
  • Legislative History: The bill has been amended with new authors and co-sponsors as of 2026; original action includes multiple sponsors and a backstory of revisions.

Notes for Readers

  • The bill focuses narrowly on funding a specific public realm project over Shepard Road and adjacent rail lines in St. Paul via a state bond issuance.
  • It designates Ramsey County as the grant recipient to complete the predesign, design, engineering, construction, furnishing, and equipping required for the public realm and related infrastructure.
  • The measure emphasizes traditional state bonding procedures and statutory requirements for debt issuance.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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