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Statewide Transportation Planning

Let’s go! What’s happening this month in Statewide Transportation Planning?

If you need an ASL, a foreign language interpreter, or documents in an alternative format please contact Janet Miller at 651-366-4720 (711 or 1-800-627-3529 for MN Relay). If you need any other reasonable accommodation to participate, please email your request to ADArequest.dot@state.mn.us.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) plans for all the ways people and goods move throughout Minnesota — individually for each mode and as a multimodal system. Find the following updates and ways to participate below.

• Help Shape the Greater Minnesota Transit Plan.
• Celebrate Minnesota’s Bicycle-Friendly Ratings.
• Meet the 2025 Name a Snowplow Contest Winners.
• Apply for a MnDOT planning position.

The Office of Transit and Active Transportation (OTAT) is developing the Greater Minnesota Transit Plan. This plan will serve as a comprehensive guide for the future of public transit outside the Twin Cities metro area. It will establish a long-term vision for transit services. The goal is to ensure that residents across Minnesota have access to reliable, efficient, and affordable transit.

The plan will help shape transit policies and investments by addressing challenges such as:

• Rural services
• Transit provider coordination
• Funding limitations
• Workforce shortages

Additionally, the plan will explore opportunities for innovation, including:

• Shared mobility options
• Better fare and scheduling technology
• Integration with urban and rural services

Engagement with Greater Minnesota residents is an important part of this process. MnDOT is prioritizing outreach to individuals who rely on transit or face barriers to access. MnDOT staff are working with our partners to make sure the plan reflects the needs of riders and communities.

Over the next year, MnDOT will collaborate with stakeholders to develop policy recommendations, ensuring transit meets the needs of Minnesota’s communities—both now and in the future.

Visit the project website to get involved: https://talk.dot.state.mn.us/greater-minnesota-transit-plan

When it comes to being welcoming to bicyclists, Minnesota is near the front of the pack.

The Land of 10,000 Lakes (and three U.S. Bicycle Routes) was recently named the most bicycle-friendly state in the Midwest and the fifth-most most bicycle-friendly state in the nation, according to a new report published by the League of American Bicyclists.

The league rates U.S. states on their actions taken in seven scoring categories: infrastructure, safety, funding, planning, laws, #EveryRideCounts and capacity and support.

Highlights noted by the League of American Bicyclists included investments in bicycling, bicycle education (including the Walk! Bike! Fun! Training program developed through MnDOT’s Safe Routes to School program) and state e-bike rebate program. Of particular note, MnDOT received the second-highest score in both the funding and infrastructure categories nationally and sixth and eighth in policies and safety, respectively.

“We are so grateful to our partners inside and outside of MnDOT who work to improve safety and access for people biking in communities large and small throughout our great state,” said Sarah Ghandour, Office of Transit and Active Transportation Director. “We are excited about what lies ahead as we look to improve our national standing, including the development of MnDOT’s Statewide Bicycle+ System Plan.”

Minnesota is home to 34 Bicycle Friendly Communities, 104 Bicycle Friendly Businesses and seven Bicycle Friendly Universities.

Learn more about the national rankings on the League of American Bicyclists webpage and review a copy of Minnesota’s scorecard.

The winners of MnDOT’s 2024-25 Name a Snowplow contest have been chosen! These newly named plows will be clearing Minnesota roads later this year. Look for them in the following locations:

• We’re Off to See the Blizzard – District 8 (Southwest Minnesota)
• Snowtorious B.I.G. – District 4 (West Central Minnesota)
• Plowabunga! – District 6 (Southeast Minnesota)
• Anthony Sledwards – Metro District (Twin Cities)
• You’re Welcome – District 2 (Northwest Minnesota)
• Don’tcha Snow – District 3 (Central Minnesota)
• Skol Plow – District 1 (Northeast Minnesota)
• I Came, I Thaw, I Conquered – District 7 (South Central Minnesota)
  
  

Thank you to the more than 23,400 people who participated in the voting process! Your creativity and enthusiasm continue to make this contest a Minnesota winter tradition.

For more details, visit MnDOT’s Name a Snowplow website.

MnDOT is hiring for transportation planning roles. Apply today!

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