Transportation
Program Description 2007 Enhancement Application ATP's Transportation Advisory Committee Links
The NWRDC transportation program is designed to coordinate the transportation planning and construction methods Mn/DOT, local units of government.
BACKGROUND/STRUCTURE
The NWRDC addresses the need for region wide transportation planning through the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC). The TAC provides a channel of communication between the general public, local officials, industry representatives, and representatives of Mn/DOT.
The TAC is comprised of two members from each county in Region 1 (a county representative and someone from a specific mode of transportation). The committee meets bi-monthly to review issues concerning transportation and makes recommendations to the NWRDC Board and Commission.
FUNDING SOURCES
Minnesota Department of Transportation, and NWRDC tax levy.
The TAC monitors current developments in the road, transit, air, and rail systems of the region to efficiently assess the transportation needs of the region. The committee is a fact finding group to the NWRDC Board of Directors and Commission on matters of transportation. Included in their activities are: examining the existing transportation system, evaluation of federal, state and local transportation plans, identifying the transportation needs and requirements of the region, providing an arena for local input on transportation matters, developing public awareness of transportation planning, and working closely with Mn/DOT District 2 engineers and planning staff, as well as County Engineers and other transportation officials.
SERVICES/PROJECTS
The type of service/project involvement depends upon requests by local communities and agencies, this includes:
- Transit Grant Assistance and Coordination
- Obtaining Data or Statistical Information
- Providing Information on Transportation
- Review Grant Proposals
- Defensive Driver Courses
- Mapping
2007 Enhancement Application: Click to view and print this Word document. You will need Word on your computer to view.
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING
- Highway Corridor Studies
- Rail Planning
- Port of Entry Issues
- Aeronautics Planning
- Transit Planning
- Scenic Byways
- Regional Road Prioritizations
- Trails
- Enhancements
AREAWIDE TRANSPORTATION PARTNERSHIPS (ATP's)
An Areawide Transportation Partnership concept has been created statewide in order to make transportation funding decisions at the local level. This is part of the implementation of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA). ISTEA emphasizes cooperation between all modes and all state and local transportation interests. The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) builds on its predecessor ISTEA. Both acts emphasize a seamless intermodal transportation system for the movement of people and goods.
TEA-21 requires the development of a Statewide Transportation Improvement Program or (STIP) for all areas of the state. TEA-21 is based on the premise that a mature transportation system exists and the emphasis should be on preservation and operational improvements.
The Northwest District ATP has been organized according to MnDOT District 2 State Aid Boundaries to include the counties of Kittson, Marshall, Roseau, Pennington, Red Lake, Polk, Norman, Hubbard, Beltrami, Lake of the Woods and Clearwater. Representatives from a variety of entities including cities, counties, MnDOT district 2, transit, industry, tribal, and RDC and MPO are included in the ATP.
The District 2 ATP meets each year to develop a three-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The TIP includes federally funded transportation projects such as local roads and bridges, trunk highways, enhancements, rail projects and transit vehicles. This year the ATP developed plans for the 2002-04 TIP. The TIP lays out the three-year plan for federally funded transportation projects, with emphasis being placed on the 2004 projects. TIP's will be combined into a State TIP which will be submitted to the Federal Highway Administration for approval and funding distribution.
Mn/DOT District 2 receives 18 million Federal dollars annually from the TEA-21 act. This combined with the states district 2 annual allocation of 14 million dollars still leaves needed projects without funding.
If you have any questions concerning this process, please contact the NWRDC Offices.
NW District ATP Membership
Luane Tasa, State Aid Engineer-Mn/DOT
(Chair)
Craig Collinson, Assistant District Engineer -Mn/DOT
Rep
Kent Ehrenstrom, Mn/DOT
Transit-Regional Transit Rep
Earl Haugen, GF-EGF MPO Rep
Ron Lindberg, City of Thief River
Falls, Cities > 5000 Rep
Mick Alm, Norman County Engineer,
Counties Rep
Warren Strandell, Polk County
Commissioner, NWRDC Rep
Don Jensen, Pennington County
Commissioner, NWRDC Rep
Dennis Parker, Chippewa National
Forest, HRDC Rep
Dave Olsonawski, Hubbard Co. Engineer, HRDC Rep
Jim Walker, Red Lake Tribe,
Tribal Rep
Staff Members
Troy Schroeder, NWRDC
Matthew Dyrdahl, HRDC
James Bittmann, Mn/DOT Planning
Engineer
TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
Mick Alm, Norman County Engineer
John Anderson, Kittson County Commissioner
Kelly Bengtson, Kittson County Engineer
Sharon Bring, Marshall County Commissioner
Marvin Gunderson, Norman County Commissioner
Donald Jensen, Pennington County Commissioner
Courtney Kleven, Red Lake County Engineer
Lon Aune, Marshall County Engineer
Alan Johnston, Roseau County Commissioner
Brian Ketring, Roseau County Engineer
Rich Sanders, Polk County Engineer
Warren Strandell, Polk County Commissioner
Ron Weise, Red Lake County Commissioner
MNDOT Representatives:
James Bittmann, District Two-Bemidji
STAFF:
Troy Schroeder, Transportation Planner tschroeder@nwrdc.org
Minnesota Department of Transportation
United States Department of Transportation
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