|     facebook instagram youtube email
ph. 320-252-7568

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

March 18, 2024

FY 2025-2026 Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) Solicitation Now Open

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) established the Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) which provides federal funds for projects designed to reduce carbon emissions from surface transportation.

The CRP provides Minnesota with approximately $20.9 million annually over five years to fund projects that reduce carbon emissions from surface transportation. Program funding is distributed across the state with some funds allocated proportionally based on population. Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) districts, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) — like the Saint Cloud APO — and Area Transportation Partnerships (ATPs) will select projects to receive CRP funding.

This funding, like most federal funding programs, requires a minimum 20% match for federal funds requested.

Projects eligible for CRP funding are broken into three categories: Electrification, Travel Options, and Low Carbon Infrastructure and System Management.

  1. Eligible projects to support the decarbonization of vehicle fleets in Minnesota include:
    1. Install Electric Vehicle (EV) or Zero Emissions Vehicles (ZEV) charging infrastructure.
    2. Purchase or lease EVs or ZEVs.
    3. Support EV and ZEV adoption through outreach and education.
  2. Travel Options. Eligible projects to support a reduction in per-capita vehicle miles traveled (VMT) include:
    1. Install and maintain infrastructure network improvements for walking, rolling, and biking.
    2. Plan, design, and engineer infrastructure network improvements for walking, rolling, and biking.
    3. Implement context sensitive design for travel options.
    4. Add high-capacity transit options.
    5. Add intercity and regional public transit options.
    6. Implement travel demand management.
  3. Low Carbon Infrastructure and System Management. Eligible projects to support the reduction of carbon emissions throughout the entire transportation process (from construction and maintenance of infrastructure to vehicle operations) include:
    1. Optimize transportation system management and operations.
    2. Utilize low carbon methods for construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure.
    3. Support renewable energy generation.

MPOs, like the Saint Cloud APO, are directly allocated federal CRP funding. This funding can only be spent within the urbanized area of the MPO. Areas that fall within the APO’s planning area, but outside of the urbanized area, will be eligible to apply for CRP funding through the Central Minnesota Area Transportation Partnership (ATP-3) once that solicitation opens.

The APO is allocated $440,000 in CRP funding in fiscal year 2025 and fiscal year 2026.

Click on the following links to access and download the application information.

Saint Cloud APO CRP Solicitation Application Spring 2024
Minnesota Carbon Emissions Tool (CET) Instructions and Tips
Minnesota Carbon Reduction Strategy Carbon Emissions Tool Spreadsheet

Applications for the Saint Cloud APO’s Spring 2024 CRP Solicitation are due to APO Senior Transportation Planner Vicki Johnson (ikeogu@stcloudapo.org) by no later than 3 p.m. Friday, May 10.

Feb. 13, 2024

Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBGP) funding update:

On Jan. 25, 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 2028. 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.

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. 1, the APO’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) met to discuss the applications received on Jan. 8, 2024, for the STBGP solicitation.

Three applications were submitted to the APO (listed in the order they were received):

  1. Benton County’s CSAH 3 full depth reclamation.
  2. Stearns County’s CSAH 133 resurfacing.
  3. Stearns County’s CSAH 1 reconstruction.

Combined, these three projects were requesting $4,210,000 in STBGP Federal funding. With the APO only being allocated $2,504,660, TAC representatives discussed the technical merits of each project at their Feb. 1 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. Stearns County’s CSAH 1 reconstruction: $1,500,000.
  2. Benton County’s CSAH 3 full depth reclamation: $1,004,660.

At the APO’s Policy Board meeting on Feb. 7, 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
Stearns County CSAH 1 from near Rice Bridge to Stearns/Morrison County line, reconstruction and shoulder widening $1,500,000 $1,000,000 $2,500,000
Benton County Benton CSAH 3, from CSAH 1 to CR 44, full depth reclamation and bituminous surfacing $1,004,660 $1,717,100 $2,721,760

These projects will be added to the APO’s FY 2025-2028 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

Transportation Alternatives (TA) funding update:

On Jan. 25, 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 17 districtwide applicants to the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Federal funding program for fiscal year 2028. 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.

In addition to the anticipated $2.5 million, due to some accounting errors, the district also has an additional $74,038 to allocate in FY 2028 This brings the anticipated funding to $2,574,038.

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 17 applications were submitted to MnDOT District 3, six of which were from the Saint Cloud APO.

  1. City of Saint Cloud 22nd Street S.
  2. City of Saint Cloud Ninth Avenue S/13th Street S.
  3. City of Sauk Rapids Second Avenue S railroad crossing.
  4. City of Sauk Rapids CSAH 3 pedestrian improvements.
  5. City of Sartell Pinecone Road/15th Street S sidewalk.
  6. City of Saint Joseph downtown gap filling project.

At the Jan. 26 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 Saint Cloud’s Ninth Avenue S/13th Street S 10 regional priority points and the City of Sauk Rapids’s Second Avenue S railroad crossing the five regional priority points.

At the Feb. 1 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 affirm the recommendation made by the ATAC.

At the APO’s Policy Board meeting on Feb. 7, board members were provided an overview of the 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 Saint Cloud Filling sidewalk gaps on 13th Street S from 11th Avenue S to Ninth Avenue S. Installation of a pedestrian activated crossing at the intersection of 13th Street S and Ninth Avenue S $180,000 $45,000 $225,000 10
City of Sauk Rapids Construction of a sidewalk extension across dual set of railroad tracks adjacent to Second Avenue S and Benton Drive South $562,834 $175,000 $737,834 5

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.

Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding update:

In September 2023, the MnDOT’s Office of Traffic Engineering (OTE) opened up a solicitation for the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). This federal program is designed to be used by cities and counties to implement projects that are designed to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roadways.

During this solicitation – which closed on Nov. 22, 2023 – one jurisdiction submitted an HSIP project for funding consideration within the APO’s planning area. Sherburne County is proposing to install transverse rumble strips at the following intersections:

  • County Road 62 at CSAH 20.
  • CSAH 20 at CSAH 3.
  • CSAH 61 at CSAH 20.
  • CSAH 20 at CSAH 16.
  • County Road 65/CSAH 7 at CSAH 3.

This project is part of a larger, countywide project.

MnDOT’s OTE has reviewed all projects from across the state and has recommended its proposed funding allocation. OTE has allocated $607,500 in Federal funding assistance to Sherburne County to complete this countywide project in FY 2026 – including the locations identified within the APO’s planning area.

This project will be added to the APO’s FY 2025-2028 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

Sept. 21, 2023

The APO Policy Board has approved the FY 2024-2027 TIP at its Sept. 21, 2023 meeting.

 

Interim Deliverables

There are currently no interim deliverables for the Transportation Improvement Program.

arrow pointing down

Public Input Opportunities

There are currently no public input opportunities on the next draft of the APO’s Transportation Improvement Program.