The state’s transportation needs and priorities are determined through a comprehensive, performance and risk-based planning process.
Long-term goals
This process begins with our 50-year Minnesota GO Vision for Transportation. The vision and guiding principles are intended to inform the investment and service decisions of all agencies responsible for transportation planning, construction and delivery in Minnesota.
We update the 20-year Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan every five years to articulate policy objectives and strategies necessary to support the vision over the next two decades.
Modal plans
Our family of plans is developed to further guide how we invest in highways, freight, rail, ports and waterways, aviation, transit, bikes, and pedestrians.
System Investment Plans offer mode-specific strategies and guidance, establish performance measures and performance-based needs, conduct risk-based assessments and investment tradeoffs, and identify system priorities.
Capital Highway Investment Plan (CHIP)
The 10-year Capital Highway Investment Plan (CHIP) communicates the next 10 years of planned projects on the state highway network. The CHIP is updated yearly to remove projects that are currently being constructed, adjust timing of existing planned projects and add new planned projects. The projects planned align with the goals and objectives set in the Minnesota 20-Year State Highway Investment Plan (MnSHIP).
Over the next 10 years, we are projected to invest roughly $16.3 billion in state highway projects. These projects will address pavement and bridge condition, roadside infrastructure (signage, culverts, and lighting), safety improvements, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and more.
State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP)
The State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) is a federally required public document which lists our investment program for the next four years. The STIP includes all state and local transportation projects that use federal highway and/or federal transit funding. It also agency or includes any regionally significant transportation projects that require an action by the Federal Highway Administration (FWHA) or the Federal Transit Authority (FTA), whether funding is anticipated from either not. The STIP is developed on an annual basis and is updated throughout the year to reflect significant changes in the program.
Project selection
Learn more about how we select highway construction projects.
State Aid for Local Transportation
State Aid for Local Transportation (SALT) actively partners with Minnesota’s local governments to plan, build, and maintain a safe, accessible, and dependable transportation system that supports communities across the state – from small towns to urban centers. SALT administers both state and federal transportation funds, including those supporting the County State Aid Highway (CSAH) and Municipal State Aid Street (MSAS) systems. SALT has delegated authority from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to oversee key aspects of federally funded projects, including the environmental review process, plan and specification development, contract letting, construction oversight, and project finalization.
In addition to funding, SALT provides technical expertise, resources, and strong advocacy to support local agencies. These efforts help maintain the vital connections that link Minnesota's communities to markets, schools, and homes.
Area transportation partnerships
We created area transportation partnerships (ATPs) more than three decades ago to enhance regional planning and increase community involvement in the development of our four-year State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). ATPs include representation from cities, counties, tribal governments, other organizations and industry in the region, and through them, these organizations are responsible for reviewing our proposed construction program and recommending local transportation priorities for state and federal funding.
Congressional District 8 is served by Northeast Minnesota ATP, Northwest Minnesota ATP, Central Minnesota ATP, and West Central Minnesota ATP, as well as the Metropolitan Council’s Transportation Advisory Board.
Tribal governments
There are 11 Tribal Nations in Minnesota. Each tribe has an independent relationship with the federal government and the State of Minnesota. We are committed to working with the tribes through consultation, coordination and cooperation. For more information on our commitment to developing, improving and maintaining collaborative relationships with the Tribal Nations of Minnesota, see our Tribal Nations Government-to-Government policy.
Congressional District 8 is home to the Red Lake Nation, White Earth Nation, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, and Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. A member from all six of these nations sits on at least one ATP, and our Tribal Affairs staff consults with tribes annually to discuss transportation issues and projects.
Metropolitan planning organizations
There are eight metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) in Minnesota. They lead the development of metropolitan area transportation plans and as coordinate the transportation planning process. All urban areas with populations greater than 50,000 are required to have an MPO if the agencies spend federal funds on transportation improvements.
There are two MPOs in Congressional District 8:
- The Duluth/Superior Metropolitan Interstate Council (MIC) is the MPO for the Duluth/Superior area. The MIC planning area encompasses Duluth and Superior, as well as the Minnesota cities of Hermantown and Proctor and the townships of Canosia, Duluth, Grand Lake, Lakewood, Midway, Rice Lake, and Solway, and the Wisconsin townships and villages of Lakeside, Parkland, Superior, and Oliver.
- The Metropolitan Council is the MPO for the Twin Cities and surrounding metropolitan area, including Washington County in Congressional District 8.
Regional development organizations
Minnesota’s 12 regional development organizations (RDOs) are key partners in statewide planning and programming. RDOs were established by Minnesota Statutes, sections 462.381 through 462.398 to facilitate intergovernmental cooperation and ensure the coordination of state, federal, and local planning efforts in their respective geographic areas.
RDOs provide technical assistance to local units of government in their region. They perform a variety of unique services based on the needs of their region and partner with numerous state and federal agencies, including MnDOT.
There are five RDOs serving different counties across Congressional District 8:
- Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC): Koochiching, Itasca, St. Louis, Lake, Cook, Carlton
- Headwaters Regional Development Commission: Lake of the Woods, Beltrami, Clearwater, Mahnomen, Hubbard
- Northwest Regional Development Commission: Mahnomen
- Region 5 Regional Transportation Coordinating Council (R5RTCC): Cass, Crow Wing
- East Central Regional Development Commission: Mille Lacs, Kanabec, Pine, Isanti, Chisago
Toward Zero Deaths
Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) is Minnesota’s cornerstone traffic safety program, employing an interdisciplinary approach to reducing traffic crashes, injuries and deaths on our roads. It is a multi-agency partnership led by the Minnesota Departments of Transportation, Public Safety and Health in cooperation with the FHWA, Minnesota county engineers, the UMN Center for Transportation Studies and other traffic safety organizations.
Within the statewide effort, there are eight TZD regions that align with the eight MnDOT districts. Congressional District 8 is covered by the Northeast TZD Region, the Northwest TZD Region, the West Central TZD Region, the East Central TZD Region, and the Metro TZD Region. Our goal is to use regional crash data to identify factors leading to fatal and serious injury crashes and work with constituents to implement proven countermeasures.
