AASHTO Journal, 3 January 2014
Minnesota Department of Transportation officials recently released the State Highway Investment Plan (MnSHIP), which highlights priorities for the state’s highway system while also outlining actions MnDOT may pursue to stretch available revenue as much as possible.
“This plan is the result of extensive collaboration among MnDOT, residents, stakeholders and partners throughout Minnesota,” said MnDOT Commissioner Charlie Zelle in a statement. “The success of Minnesota’s transportation system depends on the coordinated efforts of many public and private providers. The investment priorities outlined in MnSHIP provide a framework for MnDOT’s contribution to those efforts.”
MnSHIP details planned projects through the next seven years while speaking more broadly about investment priorities through 2033. In setting priorities, MnDOT considers factors such as federal and state law, public input, and current system conditions. Through the next 10 years, MnDOT will focus on the preservation of existing roads and bridges while also making new investments in safety, connections for multiple transportation modes, and projects that will improve the quality of life for state citizens.
The plan, according to MnDOT, is “fiscally constrained,” as its planned expenditures need to correlate with expected revenues (currently standing at about $18 billion). However, MnDOT says the projected transportation needs on the state highway system during the next two decades stands closer to $30 billion.
“The investment priorities in MnSHIP illustrate the increasing constraints on highway planning in Minnesota,” Zelle said. “Growth in construction costs continues to outpace growth in revenue and, as the highway system ages, needs are increasing. In particular, investments in the second 10 years do not address many system needs.”
According to MnDOT, MnSHIP connects the Minnesota GO 50-year vision and the policies established in the Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan to capital improvements on Minnesota’s highway system. MnSHIP is available online here.