INFORMATION #3 10-18-2010INFORMATION
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Justin Femrite, P.E., City Engineer
DATE: October 18, 2010
SUBJECT: Interchange Grant Solicitation Update
On Monday October 11, 2010 two separate funding programs were issued to solicit
candidate interchange projects throughout Minnesota for funding. The solicitations axe
similar to the Greater Minnesota Interchange solicitation from 2009. The 2009 program has
now been split into two separate categories so that economic development initiated
interchanges compete against like projects and similarly safety and mobility proposed
interchanges compete with like projects. The two programs are summarized as follows:
1. Transportation Economic Development (TED) Pilot Program
This program is designed to address both the state's transportation system needs and
economic development objectives; to create and preserve well-paying jobs across the
state; and to leverage private and local investment in transportation infrastructure
improvements. This $39 million program is funded with $30 million in trunk highway
bonds legislatively designated for the construction of interchanges; $5 million in
uncommitted state road construction trunk highway bonds; and $4 million in general
obligation bonds designated for business development public infrastructure. Any public
entity is eligible to submit an application for TED funding.
2. Safety and Mobility (SAM) Program
This program is designed to address the state trunk highway system's critical safety and
mobility needs through new or improved interchange projects. The program is funded
with $40 million in trunk highway bonds legislatively designated for the construction of
interchanges. Since all eligible projects will be for the improvement of interchanges on
the state trunk highway system, all applications must be submitted by the host Mn/DOT
district.
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We have started to review the criteria for each funding opportunity. Of potential
interchange locations within the City of Elk River, the following locations score the highest
based on the criteria that will be used to review the respective applications.
1. Transportation Economic Development (TED) Program -Interchange on TH 10 at
168`'' Avenue
A heavy portion of the scoring for projects considered for funding through this program
is the economic impact a project will have. This interchange would begin the
development and redevelopment in the 1715` Avenue area. This is the same interchange
that was submitted for the 2009 Greater Minnesota Interchange funding. As staff we
will start to review last year's application and adjusting it according to this year's
solicitation requirements.
2. Safety and Mobility (SAM) Program -Interchange on TH 169 at Main Street
While this interchange is directly connected to required improvements both to the north
and south, it is the City of Elk River's highest scoring intersection. Projects eligible fox
the SAM Program must be brought forward by the respective MNDOT district. We will
be in contact with District 3 staff to evaluate including this intersection as a candidate.
Understanding that MNDOt District 3 has 6 other intersections that score higher than
the TH 169 and Main Street intersection, it is possible this project will not make it
beyond initial review of projects at the District level.
We are beginning to study the applications and will be bringing them forward for approval at
future meetings if these projects continue to look like they would score well for funding.
The deadline for submittal is in early December.
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