In This Issue:
- Regional Solicitation Package is Open for Public Comment
- DEED Awards Contamination Cleanup and Investigation Grant Funds
- Metro Cities Internship
Regional Solicitation Package is Open for Public Comment
The Metropolitan Council and the Transportation Advisory Board are accepting comments on the draft application processes for the Regional Solicitation, Active Transportation Solicitation, and Highway Safety Improvement Program Solicitation, which the board released for public comment until Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
The three solicitations are competitive grant processes used to prioritize and invest federal transportation funds and regional sales tax funds in infrastructure and services like roads, bridges, transit routes, bike paths, sidewalks, and electric vehicle charging, and programs like travel demand management and active transportation planning. Whether for existing infrastructure or new improvements, projects focus on outcomes from Imagine 2050 and 2050 Transportation Policy Plan.
The 2026 Regional Solicitation, Active Transportation Solicitation, and Highway Safety Improvement Program Solicitation draft packages reflect nearly two years of collaborative work to redesign the solicitation applications and processes to align with Imagine 2050, the 2050 Transportation Policy Plan, and feedback from regional partners and stakeholders.
Visit the Regional Solicitation web page to learn more about the competitive grant process and view the applications and instructions for the solicitations. Visit the Regional Solicitation Evaluation web page to learn about the process that led to the 2026 solicitation packages. Visit the Active Transportation Funding web page for more information on how the new Regional Transportation Sales and Use Tax will contribute to active transportation across the region.
To offer your city’s feedback you can:
- Submit your comments on the application materials.
- Check out the budgeting tool to share your funding preferences and priorities.
- Provide comment at the virtual public meeting on February 10 from 4PM to 6PM (Register for the meeting HERE).
Other options to submit a comment:
- Email [email protected]
- Record a message at 651-602-1500 (TTY 651-221-9886)
- Mail comments to 390 Robert Street North, St. Paul, MN 55101-1805
Contact Mike Lund at [email protected] or 651-215-4003 with any questions.
DEED Awards Contamination Cleanup and Investigation Grant Funds
This week, the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced $6 million in funding to 13 communities statewide to support the assessment and clean-up of contaminated sites for redevelopment. This program provides grants which pay up to 75% of the costs to investigate and clean up polluted sites with known or suspected soil or groundwater contamination. Six of the communities who received funding are located in the metropolitan area, including the cities of Minneapolis, Rogers, Roseville EDA, St. Louis Park, St. Paul, and West St. Paul. You can find more information about the awarded communities HERE, and more information about the Contamination Cleanup and Investigation grants program HERE. Applications are due for this program on May 1 and November 1 of each year.
Contact Ania McDonnell at [email protected] with any questions.
Metro Cities Internship
Metro Cities is pleased to announce that Will Sarkinen will join our team as a government relations intern, for the 2026 legislative session. Will recently graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College with a B.A. in Political Science and Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies. Will has also served as a member and junior swim captain of the Gustavus Swim and Dive NCAA DIII team. He will assist Metro Cities staff with its 2026 legislative work, taking on roles such as monitoring bills, writing newsletter articles, and researching legislative and policy issues. We are happy to have him as part of our team this session!