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Metro Cities News 1/23/26

by: Jennifer Dorn
Category: Newsletter
Jan
23

 

In This Issue:

 

TAB Votes to Release Regional Solicitation for Public Comment

At their January meeting, the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) took action on a series of business items related to the 2026 Regional Solicitation as the application package continues to be reworked ahead of the next call for projects. The TAB took up additional items related to the solicitation for the 5 percent of regional sales tax revenue earmarked for active transportation. All the items on the TAB’s agenda were approved, including the items that would release the draft 2026 Regional Solicitation application package for public comment.

The first pair of items set the qualifying requirements for regional solicitation and active transportation projects. Most of the discussion dealt with year-round maintenance of any infrastructure funded by either pot of money. The item, as approved by the TAB, requires project sponsors to include information on how maintenance for year-round use will be met. As was the case during the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting, concerns were raised about requiring smaller local governments to provide this level of maintenance with a particular focus on the burdens of providing snow removal service.

Next, the TAB considered what, if any, local match should be required for projects funded out of the active transportation solicitation. The legislature did not require any match when the regional transportation sales tax was established in law. Last week, the TAC forwarded a recommendation calling for a 5% match for local bike and pedestrian facilities, but no match for the active transportation planning grants. The TAB decided to approve no match requirement for any of the active transportation funding categories.

At their meeting earlier this month, the TAC moved forward two proposals regarding the degree to which “community considerations” scores would be weighted among the other scoring criteria in each of the regional solicitation funding categories. The first option, recommended by TAC’s Funding & Programming committee, sets community considerations at 10% in the safety application categories and down from 15% in all other application categories. The second, which was recommended by the Policy Work Group, sets community considerations criterion at 15% in the safety application categories but bumps up “Improvements for People Outside of Vehicles” to 25%. The Policy Work Group allocates 20% of the scoring points for community considerations for all the other non-safety funding categories.

The TAB ultimately voted to move forward the Policy Work Group recommendation. Proponents of this option highlighted the fact that all of the other goals outlined in Imagine 2050 have dedicated funding categories except for equity and inclusion, and that the understanding was that without that dedicated funding category some sort of equity scoring criteria should be baked into each of the other categories. Click HERE for a slide show presentation that walks through each of the TAB’s business items from their January meeting.

The public comment period for both the Regional Solicitation and Active Transportation application packages will be open January 23rd until February 17th. Following the public comment period, staff will compile a report along with any suggested changes for TAB’s review and approval.

A call for projects is anticipated to be announced in Spring 2026 with project selection concluding by the end of the calendar year. The Metropolitan Council is planning to do a full evaluation of the criteria, measures, process, and results of this next solicitation sometime in 2027.

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

 

Housing Tax Credit Round 2 Now Open

Minnesota Housing is now accepting 2026 Housing Tax Credit round 2 applications. The second round provides any HTCs remaining or returned since Round 1. All remaining or returned HTCs, will be combined into one unified pool for allocation by Minnesota Housing on a statewide basis, without regard for geographic distribution. Minnesota Housing expects about $2.9 million in 9% HTCs to be available. There will be about $74,334 remaining in the small cities/rural development set-aside. Minnesota Housing will also be accepting pre-applications for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 811 Project-Based Rental Assistance Program and the Innovative Construction Techniques Selection Criterion. You can find more information and links for applications HERE.

Upcoming Application Dates:

Thursday, January 29, 2026: Pre-applications for the HUD Section 811 PRA Program and ICT Selection Criterion due by noon via the multifamily customer portal.

Thursday, February 12, 2026: 2026 HTC Round 2 applications due by noon via the multifamily customer portal.

Thursday, May 28, 2026: HTC Round 2 projects anticipated to be recommended for selection at the Minnesota Housing board meeting.

 

Home American Rescue Plan RFP is Open

Minnesota Housing received a one-time allocation of HOME ARP Program funds of $31 million to support increasing housing stability by addressing the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. These funds are intended to benefit specific qualifying populations and low-income households. The funds can be used to finance any of the following activities: new construction, acquisition with rehabilitation, rehabilitation, and operating cost assistance with one of the other activity types. Minnesota Housing staff will be hosting an information session on Thursday, January 29th at 10:00 am. You can register for the information session HERE, and get more information on the HOME ARP funds, program guide and application HERE.


Public Comment Period Open for MN Housing Preservation Framework

During the 2025 legislative session, Minnesota Housing was directed to develop a preservation framework for the Targeted Stabilization of Regulated Affordable Rental Housing. The framework is intended to identify strategies, tools and funding mechanisms to support targeted stabilization of affordable rental housing and the recapitalization of distressed properties, among other efforts. Minesota Housing has created a draft framework which is now open for public comment that will run from January 20, 2026 to February 3, 2026. To submit a public comment, email [email protected] by 5:00 p.m., February 3, 2026.

 

Minnesota Brownfields Webinar on Protecting Public Utilities from Contamination During Development

Minnesota Brownfields is hosting a webinar on Protecting Public Utilities from Contamination During Development. The event will host two engineers from Braun Intertec Corporation on protecting utility infrastructure, and the required evaluation of the risk that should be incorporated into the project design process. Speakers will discuss and provide strategies to identify, minimize and manage the impacts from design through construction. The event will be held virtually on Monday, February 9th at 12 pm. You can register HERE.

 

Cannabis Industry Dashboard

The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has developed a new “Cannabis Market Monitor” where anyone who is interested can explore data related to the adult-use cannabis industry. This interactive dashboard includes information about licenses, medical and adult-use cannabis sales over time, breakdowns of sales by product type and price per gram of flower, as well as the number of plants started and harvested by month. The OCM plans to update their Market Monitor monthly. Another useful resource produced by the StarTribune tracks the locations of cannabis retail stores that are operating throughout the state. Finally, visit Metro Cities’ Adult-Use Cannabis Resources web page for more information on the law and other helpful resources for cities.

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

 

MnDOT Accepting Comments on I-94 Project

MnDOT has opened the public comment period for the Rethinking I-94 project, which will run from January 6 to March 9, 2026. During this time, MnDOT will take comments on the Scoping Document/Draft Scoping Decision Document (SD/DSDD) and the state Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW).

Those interested in providing a comment can:

  • Fill out the online comment form on the project website: https://talk.dot.state.mn.us/rethinking-i94/news_feed/public-comment-period
  • Attend the in-person public meeting on Thursday, Jan. 29, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Wilder Foundation in St. Paul to fill out a form or speak with the court reporter.
  • Attend the virtual public meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 4, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. and submit an official comment (Register for this meeting via Zoom).
  • Pick up a printed comment form at one of the locations listed HERE. Printed copies of the SD/DSDD and EAW will also be available for review. The completed form can be mailed to MnDOT.

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

 

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