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3-C

Continuing, Cooperative, and Comprehensive: By Federal regulation the APO must follow a 3-C planning process.

ADT

Average Daily Traffic: The total number of vehicles that cross a specific point along a roadway over a number of days divided by the number of days. For example, a automated traffic counter might record the following daily traffic over three days: 10,000 on day 1; 12,000 on day 2; 8,000 on day 3. The ADT is calculated thus: 10,000+12,000+8,000=30,000/3 days=10,000 vehicles (on average) per day.

ALOP

Annual Listing of Obligated Projects: A status report on transportation projects for which funding was obligated in previous years.

APO

Saint Cloud Area Planning Organization: The organization designated by agreement between the Governor, local unit of government, and relevant agencies as being responsible for carrying out the terms of 23 USC Sec. 134. The APO is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Saint Cloud urban area.

ATAC

Active Transportation Advisory Committee: A sub-committee of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) which focuses on the identifying and addressing the needs of active transportation modes such as bicycling and walking.

ATP

Area Transportation Partnership: These committees of local governments, relevant agencies, and MnDOT staff were created by MnDOT to enhance regional intergovernmental planning and increase cooperative development of the four-year State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).

CPG

Consolidated Planning Grant: A combination of planning grant funds from the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration.

CSAH

County State Aid Highway: A roadway that is operated and maintained by a county but for which the county receives state aid funding. Generally, the state views these roadways as key facilities for statewide or regional mobility.

FHWA

Federal Highway Administration: The Federal administration responsible for monitoring and facilitating the construction and maintenance of the National Highway System. The APO is a recipient of an annual planning grant from FHWA.

FTA

Federal Transit Administration: The Federal administration responsible for monitoring and facilitating the operations and capital improvement of public transit providers. The APO is a recipient of an annual planning grant from FTA.

GIS

Geographic Information Systems: A framework for gathering, managing, and analyzing spatially-related data. For example, GIS can be used to map crash reports in order to determine which roadway intersections are experiencing the highest crash rates.

IIJA

The Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (public law 117-58) signed into law on Nov. 15, 2021. Part of the law establishes federal funding authorizations for surface transportation for the years 2022-2026.

MnDOT

Minnesota Department of Transportation: The State department with which the APO coordinates on transportation issues and which has oversight responsibilities for ensuring the APO complies with applicable Federal and State requirements.

MPA

Metropolitan Planning Area: The geographic area in which the APO carries out its planning activities. The MPA must include at least the US Census-defined urban area, but may also include any additional urban or urbanizing areas and/or commuter travel-sheds as deemed appropriate by the member jurisdictions of the APO.

MPCA

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency: The State agency responsible for monitoring environmental quality and enforcing environmental regulations in Minnesota.

MPO

Metropolitan Planning Organization: An organization designated by agreement between the Governor of a state, units of local governments of an urban area, and relevant agencies as being responsible for carrying out the terms of 23 USC Sec. 134. Any urban area of more than 50,000 people must have an MPO. As of 2015, there were 408 MPOs in the United States. The Saint Cloud APO is the MPO for the Saint Cloud metropolitan area.

MTP

Metropolitan Transportation Plan: The regional transportation plan with at least a 20 year planning horizon, developed cooperatively between the units of government and relevant agencies which are members of the APO.

RFP

Request for Proposals: This is a document used to procure consultant services. The RFP outlines the goals and objectives of a project or study and provides a not-to-exceed budget. Interested consultants then respond by writing and submitting a proposal to provide the required services.

SEP

Stakeholder Engagement Plan: The document that identifies when and how the APO will engage the public during the planning process. In Federal regulations, this document is called the "Public Participation Plan." The APO's SEP also includes our Title VI and Limited English Proficiency Plan.

SRTS

Safe Routes to School: A national initiative that works to make it safe, convenient, and fun for students to walk and bike to and from school.

STBGP

Surface Transportation Block Grant Program: Flexible funding from the Federal Government that may be used by states and localities for projects to preserve and improve the conditions and performance on any Federal-aid highway, bridge or tunnel project on any public road, pedestrian or bicycle infrastructure, and transit capital purchases, including intercity bus terminals.

TA

Transportation Alternatives: Funding from the Federal Government that may be used by state and localities for projects including, but not limited to, the creation of facilities for pedestrians and bicycles, environmental mitigation or habitat protection related to highway construction or operations, as well as infrastructure and non-infrastructure related to Safe Routes to School (SRTS) activities.

TAC

Technical Advisory Committee: The TAC is a committee of planners and engineers representing the local member governments and relevant agencies which is responsible for providing technical advice and guidance to the Policy Board and APO staff.

TAZ

Traffic Analysis Zone: A geographic area used in the Travel Demand Model (TDM). TAZs are assigned socio-economic attributes such as population, number of households, square feet of commercial space, and other data relevant to trip production or attraction.

TH

Trunk Highway: A major roadway connecting two or more cities that is operated and maintained by the State Department of Transportation and is the recommended or preferred route for long-distance and freight trips. In Minnesota, Trunk Highways are numbered, such as TH-15 or TH-23 and they may also be designated as MN-15 or MN-23.

TDM

Travel Demand Model: A computer model used to forecast traffic and traffic congestion under a variety of land use and roadway network conditions.

TPMR

Transportation Performance Monitoring Report: An annual report on how the transportation networks are functioning relative to the APO's adopted performance measures. The TPMR is a product of the APO's Transportation System Performance Monitoring (TSPM) program.

TIP

Transportation Improvement Program: The document that programs Federal funding for surface transportation projects within the MPA.

TSPM

Transportation System Performance Monitoring: An APO program in which staff collect and analyze transportation performance data in order to discover problem areas and help prioritize the programming of transportation improvement projects. The Transportation Performance Monitoring Report (TPMR) is a product of the TSPM.

UPWP

Unified Planning Work Program: A Federally required statement of work identifying the planning priorities and activities to be carried out by the APO staff. The UPWP includes the APO's annual budget and it identifies any special studies and consultant contracts for the fiscal year.

CURRENT TIP   //  STATUS UPDATE FOR THE NEXT TIP

STATUS UPDATE FOR THE NEXT TIP

Status Report

Feb. 15, 2023

Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBGP) funding update

On Jan. 23, the Central Minnesota Area Transportation Partnership (ATP) met at the Saint Cloud Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) office. As part of that meeting, MnDOT District 3 staff announced the funding targets for STBGP for fiscal year 2027. The ATP is anticipated to receive $12.2 million in Federal STBGP funding. Based upon a funding formula developed by the ATP, the APO is anticipated to receive $2,504,660 in Federal funding for STBGP.

In addition, thanks in part to the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) – the Federal transportation reauthorization act – additional STBGP funding was made available in fiscal years 2023-2026. MnDOT District staff was able to re-arrange existing projects within the Area Transportation Improvement Program (ATIP) to spend the available funding in years 2023-2025. This has left an additional $7,983,992 available for the ATP to be spent in 2026. Based upon the same funding formula used to determine the APO’s 2027 allocation, the APO is anticipated to receive $1,639,114 to be spent in fiscal year 2026.

In total, this has left the APO with $4,143,774 to allocate.

STBGP funding has been historically allocated by the APO for roadway and bridge projects within the planning area, however, this funding can be allocated for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects as well.

On Feb. 2, the APO’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) met to discuss the applications received on Jan. 9, 2023, for the STBGP solicitation.

A total of six applications were submitted to the APO (listed in order they were received):

  1. City of Saint Cloud’s 22nd Street S reconstruction.
  2. City of Sauk Rapids’s Second Avenue S reconstruction.
  3. City of Sartell’s 15th Street N extension – Right-of-Way acquisition.
  4. City of Sartell’s 15th Street N extension – construction.
  5. Stearns County’s CSAH 1 reconstruction.
  6. Benton County’s CSAH 3 full depth reclamation.

​Combined, these six projects were requesting $12,802,100 in STBGP Federal funding. With the APO only being allocated $4,143,774 (between both 2026 and 2027), TAC representatives discussed the technical merits of each project at their Feb. 2 meeting. Based upon that discussion, along with the initial rankings provided by APO staff, the TAC made a recommendation to the Policy Board to fund the following projects as follows:

  1. City of Saint Cloud’s 22nd Street S reconstruction: $239,114 in fiscal year 2026; $1,560,886 in fiscal year 2027 for a total of $1,800,000 in Federal funding.
  2. City of Sauk Rapids’s Second Avenue S reconstruction: $1,400,000 in fiscal year 2026.
  3. City of Sartell’s 15th Street N extension – Right-of-Way acquisition: $943,774 in fiscal year 2027.

At the APO’s Policy Board meeting on Feb. 9, board members heard presentations from all applicants and reviewed the TAC’s recommendation for funding. The Policy Board had voted to accept the recommendations made by the TAC.

Jurisdiction Project Description Federal Funds Awarded Local Match Required Total Project Cost
Saint Cloud From St. Cloud County Road 136/Oak Grove Road to St. Cloud Cooper Avenue South: Reconstruct 24’-28’ rural road to a 36’ wide urban multimodal street, including 12’ traffic/6’ bike lanes in each direction, new sidewalk, new storm sewer system, new potable water transmission supply line and street lighting $1,800,000 $1,242,000 $3,042,000
Sauk Rapids Reconstruction of Second Avenue South from 10th Street South to the south city limits, including roadway, sidewalk, lighting, storm water, sanitary sewer, and water main improvements $1,400,000 $2,950,000 $4,350,000
Sartell 15th Street N corridor extension from Pinecone Road N to 19th Avenue N – right of way acquisition $943,774 $2,106,626 $3,050,400

 

These projects will be added to the APO’s FY 2024-2027 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

Transportation Alternatives (TA) funding update
On Jan. 23, the Central Minnesota Area Transportation Partnership (ATP) met at the Saint Cloud Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) office. As part of that meeting MnDOT District 3 staff informed members that there were 14 districtwide applicants to the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Federal funding program for fiscal year 2027. TA funding is primarily allocated to the creation of bicycle and pedestrian facilities but can be used for environmental mitigation or habitat protection. The district is anticipating receiving $2.5 million in Federal TA funding. Applications are evaluated and scored on a districtwide level.

Similar to the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBGP), there was a substantial increase in available TA funding as a result of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). MnDOT District staff were able to re-arrange existing projects within the Area Transportation Improvement Program (ATIP) to spend the available funding in years 2023-2026. However, there is still funding available:

  • 2024: $600,332.
  • 2025: $1,236,759.
  • 2026: $2,700,000.

Regions such as the APO are able to assign regional priority points to the top two most important TA projects for the region. These regional priority points – 10 points for the top project, five points for the second – are added to the final technical scores of the projects and ideally work to boost the region’s top priority for funding consideration.

A total of 14 applications were submitted to MnDOT District 3, two of which was from the Saint Cloud APO.

  1. City of Sartell’s trail and sidewalk gap project.
  2. City of Waite Park’s 15th Avenue N Trail.

At the Jan. 24 Active Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC) meeting, ATAC members heard presentations about both projects. The ATAC then made a recommendation to the TAC to assign the City of Waite Park’s project 10 regional priority points and the City of Sartell the five regional priority points.

At the Feb. 2 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting, TAC representatives also heard presentations from both cities and discussed the technical merits of the projects. The TAC then made a recommendation to the Policy Board to assign the City of Waite Park project 10 regional priority points and to assign the City of Sartell the five regional priority points.

At the APO’s Policy Board meeting on Feb. 9, board members were provided an overview of the Sartell and Waite Park applications and reviewed the TAC’s recommendation for prioritization. The Policy Board had voted to accept the recommendations made by the ATAC and TAC.

Jurisdiction Project Description Requested Federal Funds Local Match Required Total Project Cost Regional Priority Points Distribution
City of Sartell Trail and sidewalk improvements for: Heritage Drive connection from Amber Avenue to CSAH 1; Sidewalk extension from Seventh Street N to Riverview Intermediate School; Adding sidewalk from Fifth Street N up to and around south side of Riverview Intermediate School. $389,160 $97,290 $486,450 5
City of Waite Park Construction of a multiuse trail/sidewalk to serve as Phase I of the City’s plan to create a connection between the Lake Wobegon Trail and the Glacial Lakes Trail systems $482,542 $120,635 $603,177 10

 

The regional priority points will be submitted to MnDOT District 3 and will be provided to the TA committee to assist in the scoring and ranking of projects. This committee will meet in mid-March to compile scores and develop a prioritization that will be considered by the ATP board in April.

Oct. 17, 2022

Solicitation for the FY 2024-2027 TIP is currently underway.

Surface Transportation Block Grant Program
The Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBGP) provides flexible funding that may be used by states and localities for projects to preserve and improve the conditions and performance on any Federal-aid highway, bridge, and tunnel projects on any public road; pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and transit capital projects including intercity bus terminals. States and localities are responsible for a minimum 20% share of project costs funded through this program.

Solicitation for the FY 2027 STBGP began in mid-October. Applications were distributed to the APO’s city and county engineers through the APO’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). Applications are due to APO Senior Transportation Planner Vicki Johnson by no later than 3 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. For more information, please contact Vicki Johnson at ikeogu@stcloudapo.org.

Transportation Alternatives Program
Projects eligible for Transportation Alternatives (TA) funding include, but are not limited to: the creation of facilities for pedestrians and bicycles, environmental mitigation or habitat protection as related to highway construction or operations, as well as infrastructure and non-infrastructure related to Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) activities. States and localities are responsible for a minimum 20% share of project costs funded through this program.

The TA program kicked off Oct. 3, 2022, with the Letter of Intent (LOI) process. This information was shared with the APO’s city and county engineers through the APO’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). LOIs are due to the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s (MnDOT’s) Central Office by Monday, Nov. 4. Any LOIs submitted for projects within the APO’s planning area will be distributed to APO staff for review. Once LOIs have been reviewed including a consultation with the applicant, APO staff will distribute the full TA application – beginning Monday, Nov. 21. Applications are due to MnDOT District 3 Engineering Specialist/Program Coordinator Jeff Lenz by Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. For more information, please contact Vicki Johnson at ikeogu@stcloudapo.org.

Highway Safety Improvement Program
The goal of the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) is to achieve a significant reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads and roads on tribal lands. This funding source requires 10% local match with a maximum cap for a project being $750,000 per location.

HSIP applications within the APO’s planning area are typically handled at the county level.

Changes to the solicitation process last year – initiated by MnDOT’s Office of Traffic Engineering (OTE) – have allowed the APO to provide input on projects being considered for this program prior to their submission. This change required the APO to review and develop a prioritization for HSIP projects submitted within the planning area.

APO staff received two HSIP applications by the Sept. 19 deadline established by APO staff to conduct the ranking/prioritization process.

Jurisdiction Project Description Requested Year of Expenditure Requested Federal Funds Local Match Required Total Project Cost
Benton County Construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Mayhew Lake Road/CSAH 1 and 35th Street/CSAH 29 2025, 2026, or 2027 $750,000 $450,000 $1,200,000
City of Sartell Traffic signal installation at the intersection of Pinecone Road and Seventh Street N 2026 $400,000 $150,000 $550,000

 

At the Sept. 29, 2022, regularly scheduled Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting, TAC representatives heard presentations from county staff about these projects. It was decided that TAC representatives would recommend the Policy Board allow both of these applications to continue with their request for funding consideration.

Policy Board members considered the HSIP applications at their Oct. 13 regularly scheduled meeting. The Policy Board approved the TAC’s recommendation.

These applications, along with this ranking information, must be submitted to MnDOT’s OTE by no later than Wednesday, Nov. 23. For more information, please contact Vicki Johnson at ikeogu@stcloudapo.org.

Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants
The Minnesota Active Transportation (AT) Infrastructure Program provides grant funding for the construction of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure projects. The program was established by the Minnesota Legislature in 2017. Currently, the legislature appropriated a total of $3.5 million for infrastructure projects across the state. AT infrastructure funding does not require any local match. The funds are intended to fund standalone AT projects or provide the local match for AT infrastructure projects under federal bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure programs.

Projects must be able to enter construction in either the 2023 or 2024 calendar years.

This solicitation process kicked off Sept. 12 with a letter of intent (LOI) phase. LOIs were due to MnDOT on Friday, Oct 14. Full applications will be distributed to applicants by Monday, Oct. 31 with applications due by Friday, Dec. 30, 2022. For more information, please contact Vicki Johnson at ikeogu@stcloudapo.org.

Local Partnership Program
The purpose of the Local Partnership Program (LPP) is to address transportation issues on the trunk highway system that are of concern to Local Units of Government, but are typically not large-scale or high enough priority that they are directly selected as projects in the regular MnDOT Transportation Program. This program exists to provide funding for projects that deliver benefit to both the local community and the trunk highway system. This program will pay for the eligible trunk highway costs and up to 8% of the construction engineering costs.

Solicitation for the LPP kicked off on Oct. 5, 2022. Applications are due to MnDOT District 3 LPP Project Manager Luke Wehseler by no later than Friday, Jan. 27, 2023. For more information, please contact Vicki Johnson at ikeogu@stcloudapo.org.

Sept. 12, 2022

The APO Policy Board has approved the FY 2023-2026 TIP at its Sept. 8, 2022 meeting.

 

Interim Deliverables

Currently, there are no interim deliverables for the next TIP.

 

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Public Input Opportunities

There are currently no public input opportunities on the TIP. However, the public is always welcome to share their transportation stories with APO staff via the public input form at the bottom of our GET INVOLVED page.