In This Issue:
- Policy Adoption Meeting is November 20 - Mark Your Calendar!
- U.S. DOT Makes Changes to DBE Program
- 2025 Transportation Summit: Exploring AI in Shared Mobility
Policy Adoption Meeting is November 20 - Mark Your Calendar!
Metro Cities’ policy adoption meeting will be on Thursday, November 20th at 4:00 pm. This is a virtual meeting to give final adoption to the association’s legislative policies for the coming year. The Minnesota Historical Society will join us as our guest speaker. This is generally an hour-long meeting, and a quorum is required. More information to come soon. Please plan to attend! RSVP to Jennifer at [email protected].
U.S. DOT Makes Changes to DBE Program
An Interim Final Rule (IFR) made effective on October 3 by the U.S. Department of Transportation has ended the use of race- and gender-based participation and goals as part of the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. The DOT has posted a series of FAQs in an attempt to provide better clarity on the impact of this IFR. The DOT has suspended compliance with DBE requirements for federal-aid highway and transit projects, and DBE firms must now reapply for certification.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) released a statement acknowledging the change at the federal level and said that more than 1,300 businesses in the state will need to be recertified by the Minnesota Unified Certification Program (MnUCP).
For contracts already approved and executed, and for contracts awarded before October 3 but not yet executed, MnDOT will not remove DBE goals but will not count participation until the recertification process is complete. For new contracts MnDOT will not set numeric DBE goals and will remove goals from contracts that have been posted.
Contact Mike Lund at [email protected] or 651-215-4003 with any questions.
2025 Transportation Summit: Exploring AI in Shared Mobility
Join the Minnesota Shared Mobility Collaborative and Move Minneapolis for the 2025 Transportation Summit! This in-person event (900 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis) will bring together transportation professionals, business owners, employers, community members, and advocates to discuss the challenges and opportunities of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into shared mobility. It will also explore the potential implications for our travel and commute patterns. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.
The keynote speaker is Tara Olds, Director of the Connected and Automated Vehicles Office at the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Following the keynote presentation on how AI currently interfaces with Minnesota's transportation system, a panel of local transportation leaders will discuss use cases of the emerging technology. The summit will also include time for networking and interactive discussion. A light breakfast and snacks will be provided.
Contact Mike Lund at [email protected] or 651-215-4003 with any questions.