MnDOT Seeks Input on 20-Year Highway Investment Plan

Webinars begin this month; statewide meetings begin in October.
(Published Aug 22, 2012)

The Minnesota Department of Transportation invites the public and transportation stakeholders to participate in developing the 20-year Minnesota State Highway Investment Plan (MnSHIP), beginning with a webinar Aug. 27.

MnSHIP connects the 50-year transportation vision and policies established in the Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan to capital improvements on the state highway system. A primary outcome of the plan is the establishment of priorities for spending projected capital revenue.

Other opportunities to participate include stakeholder engagement meetings in October, an interactive web tool, social media updates, and draft plan reviews in early 2013. Tentative district meeting dates are:

  • Oct. 4—Willmar
  • Oct. 9—Detroit Lakes
  • Oct. 10—Mankato
  • Oct. 11—Duluth
  • Oct. 15—St. Cloud
  • Oct. 16—Twin Cities
  • Oct. 17—Rochester
  • Oct. 22—Bemidji
  • Oct. 23—Twin Cities

The highway plan will use a risk-based, performance planning process to guide and prioritize future capital improvements on Minnesota’s state highway system. The investments made on the highway network are multimodal. They include:

  • Providing for the safe and expedited movement of freight.
  • Connecting customers and businesses to airports and ports.
  • Providing safe and efficient passage for transit users, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
  • Facilitating personal vehicular travel throughout the state.

MnSHIP must consider a variety of factors, including state highway system needs that exceed projected revenue, recent federal legislation that requires MnDOT to prioritize improvements on major routes, state legislative requirements, technical expertise and public input, and feedback from the governor.

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