Metro Cities News 7/19/24

Jul

In This Issue:

2024 Metro Cities Policy Committees

Metro Cities policy committee process begins Monday, July 29th. If you have not signed up and would like to participate, committee descriptions and dates are on the website. Please be sure to sign up for the committee(s) you wish to attend. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) Votes on Regional Solicitation Funding

At their July meeting the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) voted to approve the slate of projects funded via the 2024 Regional Solicitation. Following the scoring of submitted project applications, staff at the Council developed three funding options for consideration by the TAB and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The TAC, based on feedback from the TAB, developed a fourth option to build consensus and incorporate pieces from each of the original three scenarios. This “hybrid” option funds all projects included in both the safety-focused and bike/ped heavy scenarios. It funds an additional transit modernization project and adds two additional Safe Routes to School projects.

The hybrid option was unanimously passed by the TAB. The total funding from all sources in is $282 million. Part of that total includes $18.7 million for 17 active transportation projects funded with a portion of the regional sales tax revenue allocated for that purpose. This item will be before the Metropolitan Council’s Transportation Committee on August 12 and, if adopted, to the full Council on August 28. Click HERE for a recording of Wednesday’s TAB meeting and HERE to view a detailed document that includes the list of funded projects for each modal category.

Contact Mike Lund at [email protected] or 651-215-4003 with any questions.

Shared Mobility Collaborative Quarterly Convening and Webinar

The Minnesota Shared Mobility Collaborative is holding its quarterly convening on Tuesday, August 13, and will be virtually via Zoom from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM. This convening will focus on mobility hubs. Panel presentations and conversation will explore how cities are using mobility hubs in urban and rural settings, community engagement, and how to create destination spaces where transit needs intersect. Attendees will also hear an overview of the 2024 legislative session and opportunities for shared mobility.

Speakers include:

Russ Brooks, Mobility Transportation Planner, City of Minneapolis
Thomas Fisher, Director, Minnesota Design Center, University of Minnesota
Michael Lund, Government Relations Specialist, Metro Cities
Karen Onan, Senior Planner, East Central Regional Development Commission

The webinar is free, but registration is required. Once you have registered, you will receive an email confirmation with a Zoom link. The link should not be shared with others; it is unique to you. Contact Mike Lund at [email protected] or 651-215-4003 with any questions.

State Competitiveness Fund Match Program

Minnesota Department of Commerce is seeking applications for the Minnesota State Competitiveness Fund. The Minnesota Legislature allocated $100 million for Commerce to award grant funding to eligible Minnesota entities and projects to enhance the likelihood of these entities receiving federal funding awards under the IIJA and IRA programs. Commerce is soliciting proposals from eligible entities applying for federal funding opportunities requiring matching funds, or applying for federal funding opportunities not requiring a match but for which a match would enhance the likelihood of the federal grant being funded.

Projects selected for matching funds must demonstrate that the project will help meet the state's clean energy and energy-related climate goals through renewable energy development, energy conservation, efficiency, or energy-related greenhouse gas reduction benefits.

No single entity may receive grants totaling more than $15 million and at least $75 million of the fund must be allocated for grant awards of less than $1 million. Proposals are due Friday, September 6, 2024, 5:00PM. See the RFP for more details: Request for Proposals (RFP).