The U.S. Department of Transportation's TIGER grants have just been announced. These are the last bit of federal stimulus funding for transportation--$1.5 billion for which there were over 1,400 applications, totaling nearly $60 billion. What's truly great about Department of Transportation Secretary LaHood's decisions is that most of the funding is being directed toward truly innovative, multi-modal projects that typically aren't prioritized highly. There are few traditional highway projects in the mix. Each state received funding for one project. Many are for rail (both freight and passenger) or transit projects, port improvements, bike/pedestrian accommodations, and even a wind power project were selected. Minnesota's award is $35 million to help renovations for St. Paul's Union Depot which will be the transportation hub for the east end of the Central Corridor light rail project, a relocated destination for local Amtrak passenger rail service, and a station for intercity and local bus connections.
Back in late 2009, Mn/DOT released a draft rail plan that calls for major investment in the state's freight and passenger rail systems. A final plan will be adopted in early February. It's a major step forward that allows Minnesota to apply for federal funding to make these improvements a reality. Read Fresh Energy's comments on Mn/DOT's draft rail plan.
Over the past year, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) has worked with state and regional stakeholders to create a vision for rail services for Minnesota for the next 20 years--both freight system improvements as well as significant increases in passenger rail options for intrastate and regional travel. A draft Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan has been released for public review.
Today, the Federal Railroad Administration released its "High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program Guidance," which will be used to determine the projects that are funded through nearly $8.1 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA or stimulus) and this year's appropriations.
On Transit: Fresh Energy submitted comments to the Minnesota Department of Transportation last week about the agency's draft Greater Minnesota Transit Plan. We called for a clear policy to ensure basic transit access for all, and also suggested that the plan likely underestimates future needs for transit services.
On Rail: The Federal Rail Administration (FRA) is working out the process, criteria, and priorities it will use to award $8 billion in grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for high-speed rail projects. Minnesota has been collaborating with Wisconsin and, at a meeting with FRA in Chicago on June 1, the two states stressed the following key messages.
Posted by: Ethan Fawley in walking, transportation, transit, rail, policy, planning, land use, global warming, electric cars, driving, commuting, biking on
May 27, 2009
Transportation generated a lot of discussion at the Minnesota Capitol this year. Topics included discussions around transportation-related economic stimulus spending, the need to solve the Twin Cities transit shortfall, the excitement of high-speed rail and new transitways, and some innovative transportation policy ideas. While there were a number of important steps taken to support cleaner transportation choices, there were several pieces left undone.
Representatives from the Minnesota House and Senate have ironed out an agreement on the details of the state's transportation financing for the next two years. The bill, which has since received bi-partisan support in the full House and Senate and is now awaiting the signature of the governor, offers several good compromise positions that will help buffer cuts to transit, support new rail planning, and begin to rethink land-use planning.
President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Department of Transportation Administrator Ray LaHood announced the release of a Strategic Plan for high speed rail today.
In late April and early May, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) will be holding open house meetings at seven locations across the state to share information about two planning efforts--an update to the Greater Minnesota Transit Plan and development of a Comprehensive Statewide Passenger and Freight Rail Plan.
Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development took a huge step forward by announcing the joint Sustainable Communities Initiative.
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