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.

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

MnDOT District 8 releases draft freight plan and invites public to attend virtual open house

WILLMAR, Minn. – MnDOT District 8 started the freight planning process in October of 2019 with the purpose of providing a clear understanding of the freight system, how local industries use the system and to better understand needs, issues and opportunities.

MnDOT desires to provide a freight transportation system that attracts new businesses and enables others to maintain and grow their presence in southwest and west central Minnesota. The freight plan is intended to help guide MnDOT District 8 policy and programming decisions.

The District 8 draft freight plan includes economic and freight profiles (including descriptions of freight infrastructure and how local industries use it), identification of multimodal freight system needs, issues, and opportunities, and a list of specific projects that should be considered for future freight-related investment.

MnDOT has contracted with CPCS Transcom Inc. and SEH Inc. on the freight plan. This team gathered information about the freight system in District 8 through various methods, including data research and analysis, stakeholder meetings, and industry consultations.

A virtual open house is open and available for the public to attend at their convenience.  The virtual open house walks community members through the freight planning process including next steps and recommendations.  To attend the virtual open house click here.

For more information on the District 8 draft freight plan please visit the freight plan website or contact Lindsey Bruer, Planning Director, at 320-979-5534.

Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) invites and encourages participation by all. We believe everyone should have an equal opportunity to enjoy the programs, services and activities we provide.   If you need an ASL, a foreign language interpreter, or other reasonable accommodation, or need documents in an alternative format (such as braille or large print), please email your request to Janet Miller at ADArequest.dot@state.mn.us or call 651-366-4720.

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