MnDOT Innovation Focus
 A Note from MnDOT’s Innovation Director
Welcome back! This is the second issue in our three-part series exploring the three "E"s of the E3 mindset: experimentation, empathy, and empowerment. Our last issue focused on experimentation—trying new things and taking smart risks. If you missed it, it’s archived on the MnDOT innovation webpage. In this issue we will explore empathy—understanding the needs and desires of those we serve internally and externally.
Here are a few nuggets of wisdom I’ve learned about empathy over the years:
🔧 Empathy is an asset and a skill to be mastered.
➡️ Empathy is one of the most important leadership skills in the world.
🧾 Four ways to increase your empathy in the workplace:
- Watch for signs of burnout in others.
- Show sincere interest in the needs, hopes, and dreams of other people.
- Demonstrate a willingness to help an employee with personal problems.
- Show compassion when other people disclose a personal loss.
🧠 Research shows that empathy has been linked to greater performance, better communication, and enhanced engagement of employees.
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MnDOT Self-Driving Shuttle Offers Transportation Options in Grand Rapids
 Launched in October 2022, the goMARTI (Minnesota’s Autonomous Rural Transit Initiative) self-driving vehicle pilot is the result of a unique partnership of multiple groups with a shared goal of increasing accessibility and transportation options for residents and visitors in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The 18-month deployment covers nearly 17 square miles and includes approximately 70 pickup and drop off points with a fleet of five May Mobility autonomous vehicles, including three wheelchair-accessible vehicles. The free, on-demand rides can be requested through the May Mobility app or the local First Call 211 service which both helps individuals download and navigate the app, as well as place ride requests by phone. The vehicles are considered self-driving, but there is an autonomous vehicle operator onboard at all times who verifies the safe operation of the vehicle and aids passengers as needed.
This pilot project marks several firsts for the automated vehicle industry being the largest rural deployment of autonomous vehicles in the country to date. It also prioritizes accessibility and equity as the first rural AV route and with the inclusion of three first-ever ADA-compliant Toyota Sienna Autono-MaaS vehicles to better serve the Grand Rapids community.
During the 18-month project, MnDOT and its partners City of Grand Rapids, Department of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation, Itasca County, The PLUM Catalyst, and The University of Minnesota hope to:
- Advance and inform the operation of automated vehicle technology in rural, winter conditions
- Engage and educate the local community by providing real-world automated vehicle experiences
- Provide safe, accessible mobility for residents, especially those with transportation challenges
- Understand what economic development this innovative pilot brings while attracting future talent and technology to the Iron Range
Through the first six months of operations, goMARTI has had over 1,700 riders, with over 270 of those rides for passengers with mobility challenges. For more information on the goMARTI project, contact Thomas Johnson-Kaiser.
On-Demand Ridesharing in North Minneapolis Wins WTS Innovative Transportation Solution Award
Metro Transit micro launched in September 2022, piloting public, on-demand ridesharing in North Minneapolis. Operationalizing equity principles, micro provides app-enabled, curb-to-curb service via ADA-accessible mini-buses to residents of a historically diverse and vibrant urban community with different transportation needs from traditional suburban ride-sharing models. Offsetting gaps in existing transit, charging local bus fares, and connecting passengers seamlessly to Metro C and D arterial BRT for regional travel, micro provided 11,600 rides in its first six months of operation. With a recent expansion that doubled the service area, micro offers critical connections to retail, specifically to groceries, to public and charter schools, and to important community resources, including food shelves, parks, and worship communities, often serving multiple supportive housing communities designed for older adults, persons with disabilities, and low-income families.
Explicitly removing traditional silos, micro has leveraged the strengths of its primary partners: Metro Transit, with project initiation and management through launch led by Shared Mobility Program Manager Meredith Klekotka and ongoing service planning and project management of Senior Planner Victoria Dan; Metropolitan Transportation Services (MTS) and ongoing operational and project management by Program Manager Sheila Holbrook-White; and vendors VIA, and Transit Team.
On April 20, WTS Minnesota awarded Metro Transit micro the “Innovative Transportation Solutions” award. Visit WTS Minnesota for a complete list of 2023 recognition winners.
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Workplace Safety Planner Provides MnDOT Staff Easy Access to Workplace Safety Resources
 Have you spotted the safety vest icon on your MnDOT desktop? That’s MnDOT’s Workplace Safety Planner—designed as a one stop shop to help keep employees safe and healthy. By double-clicking the icon, MnDOT employees can access MnDOT’s Safety Recognition Program, incident reporting (eSAFE), written safety programs, web-based safety training, safety directives, safety dashboards, wellness resources, ergonomics and more.
MnDOT created this planner in response to 2017 and 2019 safety perception surveys showing that employees wanted clearer communication, transparency and accessibility to workplace safety resources.
“People explicitly asked us to create a centralized source of all things safety-related,” said Keith Juliar, Safety Manager, Office of Administration. “We received many requests to set up a safety website, requests for easier access to safety forms, and many people wanted tools to help evaluate their workspaces and routines for safer ways to work, including ergonomic tips.”
eSAFE is MnDOT’s comprehensive system to report and analyze workplace incidents. The easy-to-use system allows staff to identify workplace hazards and implement solutions to prevent reoccurrence of injuries.
“We’re excited to share this site and provide the resources MnDOT employees are asking for,” said Rod Starkey, Safety Culture Coordinator. “Thank you to everyone for taking the time to complete the safety surveys and helping identify these resources. That information is invaluable to improving how we all work together safely every day, and build MnDOT’s safety culture.”
Getting Off-Road Vehicles Unstuck, Synthetic Recovery Ropes Offer Safety Advantage
 Whether it’s a snowplow, tractor, or mower—our MnDOT maintenance crews are familiar with pulling off-road vehicles out of mud, sand, or snow. Traditionally, metal chains have been used to recover these vehicles, which can break and strike both staff and equipment, causing a significant safety concern.
That’s where Bubba Rope, a brand of kinetic rope, comes in. Synthetic recovery ropes offer two advantages: First, they eliminate the hazard of broken chains becoming high speed projectiles when they break. Second, recovery ropes are designs to aid in pulling by stretching and then contracting.
Thus far, MnDOT has been an early adopter of this innovative technology, among state DOTS. To see Bubba Rope in action, check out Indiana DOT’s Recovery Rope Demonstration Video.
What’s next? The agency has invested in this innovative technology and Rod Starkey, safety culture coordinator, and Keith Juliar, emergency management and safety manager, are coordinating with MnDOT districts and offices to implement this safety solution statewide.
For more information, visit MnDOT’s Safety Directive for Extracting Stuck Vehicles and Equipment (eDOC).
Digital As-Builts: Deriving Value from Data
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States continue to advance the implementation of digital as-builts to improve planning, design, construction, and maintenance of their facilities.
FHWA’s latest issue of Innovator includes:
Access past issues in the Innovator Archive and have the next issue sent to your mobile device by texting “FHWA Innovation” to 468311.
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Innovation Reading List
April 21, 2023: How a Growth Mindset Fuels Innovation, Forbes
May 11, 2023: Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset: What’s the Difference?, Entrepreneur
May 12, 2023: How to Cultivate a Growth Mindset, Forbes
Upcoming Innovation Events
June 7, 2023: Total Experience: Putting People First to Improve Mission Outcomes, Digital Government Institute
June 15, 2023: Engage Digital As-Builts Stakeholders for Better Solutions, FHWA
Join the New MnDOT Innovation Teams Channel
Want transportation innovation inspiration and examples on a more frequent basis? Join our new MnDOT Innovation Team on Microsoft Teams (DOT_Innovation) for weekly innovation posts! You can expect to see highlights from Minnesota, fellow state DOTs, and national partners.
Submit an innovation story!
Have you tried new technology, equipment, or a process that has improved the way we do things here at MnDOT? We want to hear about it and celebrate your work! Reach out to research.dot@state.mn.us to share your innovation story.
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