MnDOT District 8 begins freight planning process

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) seeks to provide a transportation system that supports the freight needs of new businesses and enables existing businesses to maintain and grow their presence in Minnesota.

As part of this work, MnDOT is creating a freight transportation plan for District 8, which includes 12 counties in southwest and west-central Minnesota (Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville and Yellow Medicine counties).

To support freight transportation in the District, it is essential that MnDOT and its local partners have recent and relevant freight data and analysis tools at their disposal.

The District 8 Freight Plan is being developed to provide a clear understanding of the multimodal freight system, how local industries use the system, and the system’s needs, issues, and opportunities so MnDOT can make better-informed policy and investment decisions in District 8.

Specifically, the District 8 Freight Plan will include economic and freight profiles (including descriptions of freight infrastructure and how local industries use it), identification of multimodal freight system needs, issues, and opportunities, and a list of specific projects that should be considered for future freight-related investment.

As elements of the plan are completed, they will be posted on MnDOT’s website at www.dot.state.mn.us/ofrw/freight/districtfreightplan/d8.html.

To develop the District 8 Freight Plan, MnDOT has contracted with CPCS Transcom Inc. and SEH Inc.

This team is gathering information about the freight system in District 8 through various methods, including data research and analysis, stakeholder meetings, and industry consultations.

For more information about the District 8 Freight Plan, visit the project website at www.dot.state.mn.us/ofrw/freight/districtfreightplan/d8.html or contact Lindsey Bruer, MnDOT District 8 Planning Director at lindsey.bruer@state.mn.us.