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UMVRDC

Transportation

MnDOT to postpone all public meetings, open houses

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has announced – in accordance with guidance from state health officials – that the agency will indefinitely postpone all public meetings and project open houses statewide to prevent further spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and well-being of all Minnesotans. This includes all MnDOT-hosted events for at least the next 30 days.

Public engagement on transportation and construction projects remains a top priority for the agency. MnDOT is exploring alternatives, such as virtual and remote options for participation and/or relocating events, and will provide additional updates as they become available.

MnDOT WebsiteMnDOT Media RoomMAP 2020 MnDOT Projects

Area Transportation Partnerships (ATP)

Public comment period now open for Draft 2021-2024 Transportation Improvement Program

The Area Transportation Improvement Program (ATIP) is a document listing programmed projects over the next four years at the MnDOT district level. MnDOT District 4 and District 8 have their own ATIP. District projects are combined to make up the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), which is a federally required document that includes all state and local transportation projects using federal funding. The STIP is developed on an annual basis and updated throughout the year to reflect significant changes in the program.

The program will include highway, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian projects proposed for federal funding in the portions of the two Greater MN MnDOT districts included in the 5-county UMVRDC region.

These projects will:

  • Build better roads that improve safety and include all forms of transportation
  • Improve highways, bridges and interchanges that enhance traffic flow and improve local access
  • Invest in transit to create a stronger system that supports our growing region and better serves everyone
  • Create community connections by developing and improving bikeways and walkways

This is an opportunity to review and comment on the projects identified in the program. If you have comments or questions on the program or specific projects within the program, reach out to Chad Kingstrom at the UMVRDC or MnDOT District staff:

Chad Kingstrom, UMVRDC Transportation Planner
Chad@umvrdc.org  || 320-400-9063

Lindsey Bruer, AICP, MnDOT District 8 Planning Director
Lindsey.bruer@state.mn.us  ||  320-979-5534

Mary Safgren, District 4 Planning Director
Mary.Safgren@state.mn.us   ||  218-846-7987

UMVRDC Region 6W 2021-2024 ATIP Project List

The UMVRDC hosts an annual transportation public meeting to share and collect comments on the draft lists of projects from both ATPs.

To review the complete list of projects planned for construction this summer see the following maps:

To review the complete list of projects proposed for the entire ATP 12 county area between 2021-2024  see the following maps:

2020 Transportation Comment Form

The UMVRDC is part of the West Central ATP 4 and the Southwest ATP 8. The ATP is a committee of elected officials, city and county engineers, MnDOT staff, tribal leaders, public transit leaders that represent the areas contiguous with MnDOT District boundaries. Their role is to develop policy and program projects utilizing federal transportation funding from the Federal Highway Administration ( FHWA). The UMVRDC appoints members to both ATPs.  UMVRDC Staff serve as technical advisers to the ATP, sub-committee members and ATP alternate members for the elected officials appointed. Current representatives are:

Southwest MN ATP – 8
(Lac qui Parle, Chippewa and Yellow Medicine Counties)
  • Gary Johnson – Yellow Medicine County Commissioner
  • Jim Dahlvang – Chippewa County Commissioner
  • Sam Muntean – Lac qui Parle County Engineer
West Central MN ATP – 4
(Big Stone and Swift Counties)
  • Lucas Olson – Benson City Council

Resources

Safe Routes to SchoolTA Grant Outline

Current Projects in the Region

Demonstration Project Guide:  A Resource for the Development of Short Term, Low Cost, Temporary Roadway Projects to Promote and Advance Walking and Bicycling
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/saferoutes/documents/mndot-demonstration-project-implementation-guide-final.pdf

MnDOT District 8 Freight Plan:  The goal of the District 8 Freight Plan is to provide a clear understanding of the multimodal freight system, how local industries use the system and their needs and issues, so MnDOT can make more informed policy and programming decisions in the District.
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/ofrw/freight/districtfreightplan/d8.html

Department of Natural Resources (DNR):  Grant funding for park and trail projects across Minnesota.
Outdoor Recreation Grant Program
Natural and Scenic Area Program 
Federal Recreational Trail Program 
Regional Trail Grant Program 
Local Trail Connections Grant Program

Landscape Partnership Program – MnDOT
MnDOT is actively involved in roadside landscaping partnerships with communities and their volunteers, to help make the communities more aesthetically pleasing by designing the landscaping to match the context of the community and surrounding areas.

Application Deadline:  Ongoing
https://www.dot.state.mn.us/roadsides/partners/index.html