On November 9, 2017, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) began taking public comments on the state’s Freight Investment Plan.
The investment plan identifies $99 million in freight capital improvement projects, using funds from the FAST Act.
FAST Act
In short, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act was signed into law on December 4, 2015. The Act provides, for the first time, federal funds intended to be used for freight-specific projects. After being signed into law, the funds were made immediately available to Minnesota for fiscal years 2016 through 2020.
Due to the time needed to develop an investment plan and strategy, funds for fiscal years 2016 through 2018 were applied to freight-specific projects that were already in position. However, it was deemed that future year’s funds were to go toward new projects.
Future Freight Investment Plan Projects
MnDOT decided that the federal money would be best programmed in the form of solicitation. This allowed all entities, including MnDOT districts, counties, cities, and others to submit projects and compete for funding.
The agency received 36 total applications for evaluation under the project selection process. Scoring committees then scored and decided on 19 projects for 2019 through 2022.
Fiscal Year | Project | Amount (in millions) |
2019 | Freight Planning – District Plans & Other | $0.2 |
2019 | Sherburne County CR 45 at 125th Street/9th Avenue Circle Intersection Improvement | $0.8 |
2019 | Detroit Lakes Randolph Road Improvements | $1.5 |
2019 | Duluth Port Intermodal Container Terminal Expansion | $1.9 |
2019 | Winona Riverview Drive Reconstruction | $2.8 |
2019 | Sherburne County CSAH 8 Reconstruction | $3 |
2019 | District 6 Rest Area Improvements | $3.6 |
2019 | District 1 Twin Ports Interchange Reconstruction | $6 |
2020 | Freight Planning – District Plans & Other | $0.2 |
2020 | Chaska MN41 Downtown Improvements | $4 |
2020 | Dakota County CSAH 70 Expansion | $7 |
2020 | Brooklyn Center MN 252/66th Avenue North Interchange Improvements | $10 |
2021 | Freight Planning – District Plans & Other | $0.2 |
2021 | Scott County CSAH 83 Reconstruction | $0.59 |
2021 | South St. Paul Concord Street Improvements | $7.56 |
2021 | Anoka US 10/US 169 Safety and Mobility Improvements | $20 |
2022 | Freight Planning – District Plans & Other | $0.2 |
2022 | Scott County MN 13 Port Access and Mobility | $15 |
2022 | Carver County US 212 Freight Bottleneck Improvements | $15 |
According to William Gardner, director of the Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations, “The Freight Investment Plan addresses some of the freight transportation needs that exist across Minnesota. These investments will help the state’s businesses shop and receive their goods more efficiently, reliably, and safely.”
Comments on the plan will be accepted from the public until December 18.