The ATPs is a regional committee that oversees the expenditure of federal transportaion funding. MnDOT created Area Transportation Partnerships (ATPs) to emphasize greater public involvement, enhance regional planning and increase the development of our four-year State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The UMVRDC has staff and board members that particpate in the ATP:
Southwest MN ATP – 8
(Lac qui Parle, Chippewa and Yellow Medicine Counties)
- John Berends – Yellow Medicine County Commissioner
- Bill Pauling – Chippewa County Commissioner
- Sam Muntean – Lac qui Parle County Engineer
West Central MN ATP – 4
(Big Stone and Swift Counties)
- Harold “Rusty” Dimberg – Ortonville Township
Resources
Area Transportation Partnerships (ATP):
ATP 4: Swift and Big Stone Counties
ATP 8: Lac qui Parle, Chippewa, and Yellow Medicine Counties
The ATPs is a regional committee that oversees the expenditure of federal Transportation funding. MnDOT created Area Transportation Partnerships (ATPs) to emphasize greater public involvement, enhance regional planning and increase the development of our four-year State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The UMVRDC has staff and board members that participate in the ATP.
Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)
The Transportation Alternatives Solicitation is a competitive grant opportunity available to local communities and regional agencies to fund projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities, trails, and Safe Routes to School. Each ATP solicits Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) projects through this process. The program includes Safe Routes to School as an eligible activity, allows work on trunk highways, and requires a 20% local match. Grant requests should be between $200,000 and $1 million.
Carbon Reduction Program (CRP)
The Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) aims to advance projects that reduce carbon emissions from the surface transportation sector while also supporting equity, safety, transportation access, and public health. Examples of eligible projects include electric county vehicles, charging stations, and trail projects. Each ATP solicits CRP projects annually.
Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative Efficient and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT)
The PROTECT Program funds projects that address weather-driven climate vulnerabilities to make surface transportation assets more resilient to current and future weather events and natural disasters, such as severe storms, flooding, drought, levee and dam failures, wildfire, rockslides, mudslides, sea level rise, extreme temperatures, and earthquakes. Eligible projects include highways and public transportation facilities or services. Each ATP solicits PROTECT projects annually.
Local Partnership Program (LPP)
The Local Partnership Program creates statewide transportation partnership opportunities with local agencies to deliver highway improvements at locations not currently programmed, emphasizing long-term collaboration, leveraging agency investments, and minimizing project time and cost. The program falls under the Healthy Communities Investment Category in the 20-Year Minnesota State Highway Investment Plan (MnSHIP). It typically solicits projects every other year, with proposals submitted to the District State Aid Engineer (DSAE), who manages and oversees the program at the district level. Selection criteria include Healthy Communities, System Stewardship and Asset Management, Mobility and Critical Connections, Safety, and Project Readiness. Districts receive funding allocations to support local projects, and DSAEs generally coordinate with city and county engineers during the winter to identify and develop candidate projects.
Local Road Improvement Program
This program uses GO bonds to provide funding assistance to local entities for construction, reconstruction, or reconditioning projects. The funding provides capital construction costs only – LRIP funds cannot be used for engineering, right of way, or other non-construction related costs.
Local Bridge Replacement Program
This website shows resources available for local bridges including a section on township bridge replacement.
Federal Land Access Program (FLAP)
The Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) provides safe and adequate transportation access to and through Federal Lands for visitors, recreationists, and resource users. The program supplements state and local resources for public roads, transit systems, and other transportation facilities, with an emphasis on high-use recreation sites and economic generators.
State Park Road Account Program (SPRA)
This program exists to help local governments improve access to public recreation facilities. It provides financial assistance to county state-aid, county, township, and city roads which provide access to state parks, outdoor recreation units such as public lakes, rivers, and state campgrounds.
Active Transportation (AT)
The Active Transportation Program provides grants and technical assistance to improve walking, biking, and rolling, aiming to increase the number of people traveling to destinations by active modes. The program offers Infrastructure Grants, which fund projects that build or improve walking, biking, and rolling facilities to create safe and accessible routes for all users, and Planning Grants, which support the creation of active transportation plans. For planning grants, an outside consultant hired by MnDOT works with a committee assembled by the community to develop the plan.
Safe Routes to School (SRTS)
The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program funds infrastructure that improves access and safety on prioritized routes to and at schools. Past grants have included sidewalks to schools, trails along state highways, and improved crossings on school walking routes. Solicitation occurs annually.
Infrastructure Grant: Projects typically go into construction one or two years after solicitation. Work within a trunk highway is not eligible. Letters of Interest (LOIs) typically open in October. Project requests typically range from $50,000 to $500,000. Projects must have at least a 10-year useful life, schools cannot plan to relocate within 10 years, and the applicant agency must have adopted subdivision regulations requiring ADA-compliant pedestrian and/or bicycle infrastructure in new developments and residential subdivisions.
Planning Assistance Grant: Provides free planning assistance from the RDO, MPO, or statewide planning consultant.
Boost Grant: Designed to boost local walking and bicycling efforts, this grant funds non-infrastructure strategies that support current SRTS plans or programs. Project requests range from $5,000 to $50,000. This funding also includes engineering studies, which bridge the gap between potential safety strategies documented in an SRTS plan and implementation, and demonstration projects, which support communities with existing Safe Routes to School plans (or other comprehensive SRTS approaches) in planning, designing, and implementing a project aimed at testing a strategy identified in the SRTS plan.
BUILD Grant
The BUILD Grant Program (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development), administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), provides funding for surface transportation projects with significant local or regional impact. It supports multi-modal and multi-jurisdictional projects that may be more difficult to fund through other grants, allowing project sponsors—including state and local governments, counties, Tribal governments, transit agencies, and port authorities—to pursue important infrastructure investments.
Corridors of Commerce (COC)
The Corridors of Commerce (COC) Program, established by the Minnesota Legislature in 2013, focuses on state highway projects that promote economic growth by creating construction jobs, enhancing goods transportation through a commerce-friendly network of corridors, and improving mobility for citizens. The program operates separately from MnDOT’s regular State Road Construction program and has specific eligibility, scoring, and prioritization criteria defined in state statute.
Transportation Economic Development Infrastructure (TEDI)
The Transportation Economic Development Infrastructure (TEDI) Program is a competitive grant available to communities for road and public infrastructure projects that create jobs and support economic development. Funds may be used for predesign, design, land acquisition, construction, reconstruction, and other infrastructure improvements.
Recreation Grants
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) Parks and Trails Grant Programs provide funding to improve public access to recreational areas, preserve natural and scenic lands, and promote trail development and maintenance. These grants support local governments, school districts, and other entities with projects such as park development, trail creation, and acquisition of natural areas. Included programs:
Outdoor Recreation Grant Program: The purpose of the Outdoor Recreation Grant Program is to increase and enhance outdoor recreation facilities in local and community parks throughout the state. It provides matching grants to local units of government for up to 50% of the cost of acquisition, development, or redevelopment of local parks and recreation areas. Minimum total project cost is $100,000 and maximum is $1,000,000, with a maximum grant award of $500,000. More info: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/recreation/outdoor_rec.html
Natural and Scenic Area Program: The purpose of the Natural and Scenic Area Program is to increase, protect, and enhance natural and scenic areas. It provides matching grants to local units of government and school districts for up to 50% of the cost of acquisition of natural and scenic areas. Minimum total project cost is $50,000 and maximum is $1,000,000, with a maximum grant award of $500,000. More info: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/land/natural-scenic-app-cycle.html
Federal Recreational Trail Program: The Federal Recreational Trail Program encourages the maintenance and development of motorized, non-motorized, and diversified trails. Eligible projects include maintenance or restoration of existing recreational trails; development or rehabilitation of recreational trail linkages, including trail-side and trailhead facilities; environmental awareness and safety education programs relating to recreational trails; and redesign or relocation of trails to minimize impacts to the natural environment. A 25% cash or in-kind match is required. Minimum grant request is $2,500; maximum trail grant award is $200,000, and maximum equipment grant is $75,000 (equipment grants also require a 25% secured match). More info: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/recreation/trails_federal.html
Regional Trail Grant Program: The Regional Trail Grant Program provides grants to local units of government to promote development of regionally significant trails outside the seven-county metropolitan area. Eligible projects include acquisition and development of trail facilities outside the metro area considered of regional or statewide significance. Grants reimburse up to 75% of eligible project costs; recipients must provide at least a 25% non-state cash match. Minimum grant request is $5,000; maximum grant award is $300,000. Priority is given to projects that develop trails of significant length. More info: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/recreation/trails_regional.html
Local Trail Connections Grant Program: The Local Trail Connections Grant Program provides funding to local governments to develop trails that connect communities, schools, parks, and other destinations. The program emphasizes improving active transportation options and enhancing regional trail networks. Eligible projects include acquisition, development, and rehabilitation of trails that provide safe and accessible connections for walking, biking, and rolling. Grants are reimbursement-based, and recipients must provide a non-state match. Minimum grant request is $5,000, and maximum grant award is $250,000. More info: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/recreation/trails_local.html
Minnesota Rail Service Improvement Program (MRSI)
The Minnesota Rail Service Improvement Program (MRSI) provides grants and loans for constructing railroads, rehabilitating deteriorating rail lines, improving rail-shipping opportunities, and preserving abandoned rail corridors for future use.
