2025-2028 Duluth Area TIP (current)

Transportation projects receiving federal funding through 2028

Before a surface transportation project can be built in the Duluth metropolitan area with federal funds, it must be included in an approved Transportation Improvement Program, or TIP – a detailed listing of the area’s federally funded and regionally significant transportation projects for the next four years.

The projects programmed for FY 2025-2028 in this TIP may be amended, administratively modified, or deleted and new projects may be added, in accordance with the MIC’s Public Involvement Plan.* 

See the Public Involvement tab, below, to view actions taken since its adoption on 8/21/24, and opportunities to comment on proposed changes.

Current Project Lists

2025 Projects as of 1/17/25
Includes all projects* programmed for FY2025, as adopted by the MIC Policy Board.
*Transit projects are listed separately, below

2026 Projects as of 8/21/24
Includes all projects* programmed for FY2026, as adopted by the MIC Policy Board.
*Transit projects are listed separately, below

2027 Projects as of 8/21/24
Includes all projects* programmed for FY2027, as adopted by the MIC Policy Board.
*Transit projects are listed separately, below

2028 Projects as of 8/21/24
Includes all projects* programmed for FY2028, as adopted by the MIC Policy Board.
*Transit projects are listed separately, below

Transit Projects 2025-2028 as of 8/21/24
Includes all Duluth Transit Authority projects programmed for FY 2025-2028, as adopted by the MIC Policy Board.
________________________________________
* Changes may be made to the projects in the adopted TIP to accommodate revised project cost estimates, new funding sources, modifications to the original scope of work and other considerations affecting project implementation. In accordance with the MIC’s Public Involvement Plan, staff has the discretion to decide if the request qualifies as a major change that will require a formal Amendment, requiring a public comment period of at least seven days and approval by the Policy Board. Administrative Modifications apply to minor (i.e., low- or no-cost) changes and do not require Board approval. All projects, as modified, must remain fiscally constrained. See Public Involvement tab, below, for information about proposed changes and related opportunities for public comment.

Amendment #2 Approved by the MIC Policy Board

Amendment #2 details

Amendment #2 Proposed for Approval (Opportunity for Public Comment)

Amendment #2 to the 2025-2028 Duluth TIP will be brought forward for approval at the January 15, 2025 MIC Policy Board meeting. The meeting is open to the public and comments will be taken.

MN Hwy 61 at McQuade Rd – Changes to Scope, Type of Work and Cost 

MnDOT and St. Louis County are requesting changes to the scope of work for a 2026 construction project, located on MN Hwy 61 at McQuade Rd.  Work on this project will be conducted by both jurisdictions and is separated into 3 state project ID’s in the TIP table. The scope change is to remove the Talmadge River Culvert Repair from both the MnDOT and St. Louis County projects, and to remove RWIS (Road and Weather Information System) from the St. Louis County project (but to retain it in the MnDOT project).

Additionally for the MnDOT project, type of work and cost changes are requested. Type of work is changing from “Drainage” to “Pavement Resurface and Rehabilitation” with related cost and funding decreases:

  • Total project cost decreased from $1,000,000 to $188,890
  • Federal funding decreased from $800,000 to $153,794
  • State funding decreased from $200,000 to $35,096

Amendment #2 details

Based on the criteria adopted in the MIC’s Public Involvement Plan, this project change requires a formal TIP Amendment.

About Amendments and Administrative Modifications

Amendment #1 Approved by the MIC Policy Board

Amendment #1 details

Amendment #1 Proposed for Approval (Opportunity for Public Comment)

Amendment #1 to the 2025-2028 Duluth TIP will be brought forward for approval at the December 11, 2024 MIC Policy Board meeting. The meeting is open to the public and comments will be taken.

New Project – UDAC Bus Purchase

MnDOT Transit is requesting the addition of a new project for 2025. This project is to purchase a Class 200 Minivan for UDAC to provide transportation to elderly and persons with disabilities. The proposed project has a cost of $170,000, $136,000 coming from FTA and $34,000 match from UDAC.

  • Total STIP project cost = $170,000
    • Federal funding = $136,000
    • Other local funding = $34,000

Amendment #1 details

Based on the criteria adopted in the MIC’s Public Involvement Plan, this project change requires a formal TIP Amendment.

About Amendments and Administrative Modifications

Public Notice: Administrative Modification #1

Changing ELLE from One Existing MnDOT Project to Another

MnDOT requests dropping the ELLE (Early Let Late Encumbrance) smart code from project 6908-68 (an 8.4 mile pavement resurface and rehabilitation project on US-2 from MN 194 to Midway Road (CSAH 13) and adding it to project 8821-358 (a 58.5 mile traffic control devices safety project to install wet reflective pavement markings that includes a portion of Boundary Avenue (CSAH 14) in Proctor).  The original project 6908-68 had trouble with an early letting date and could not deliver in time.  All costs, scope & fiscal year (2026) remain unchanged.

Administrative Modification #1 details

Based on the criteria adopted in the MIC’s Public Involvement Plan, this project change does not require a formal TIP Amendment and can be made as an Administrative Modification.

About Amendments and Administrative Modifications

CY2025-2028 Duluth Area TIP Approved by FTA and FHWA

The 2025-2028 Duluth Area Transportation Improvement Program replaces the 2024-2027 version, after adoption by the MIC Policy Board and federal approvals for inclusion in the Minnesota STIP.

2025-2028 Duluth Area TIP Adopted by MIC Board

The Board voted unanimously to adopt the final 2025-2028 Duluth Metropolitan Area Transportation Improvement Program and the listed transportation improvement projects to receive federal funding for CY 2024-2027. No public comments were received at the meeting.

Note, until this TIP is approved by MnDOT and the FHWA, the 2024-2027 Duluth Area TIP remains the current version.

Final TIP to be presented for Adoption by MIC Policy Board (Opportunity for Public Comment)

The final 2025-2028 Duluth Metropolitan Area Transportation Improvement Program will be presented for adoption at the August 21 meeting of the MIC Policy Board.

The meeting is open to the public and comments are welcome.

Virtual Open House – Project Info & Opportunity to Comment

Public Meeting #1 - Duluth Area Transportation Improvement Program (2025-2028)
Date & Time
07/17/2024
9:00 am - 10:00 am
Location
Virtual Meeting - See login/call-in info in body of post
Purpose

The Draft 2025-2028 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) lists all projects that are being proposed to use federal transportation funds for the upcoming four years in the greater Duluth area.

This is the first of three public informational sessions held today. Members of the public are invited and encouraged to participate in this virtual meeting to give input and get information about the federally-funded transportation projects in the Duluth area for the next four years.

Join on your computer or mobile app: Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 276 432 569 351
Passcode: oGiEwt

Download Teams | Join on the web


Virtual Open House – Project Info & Opportunity to Comment

Public Meeting #2 - Duluth Area Transportation Improvement Program (2025-2028)
Date & Time
07/17/2024
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Location
Virtual Meeting - See login/call-in info in body of post
Purpose

The Draft 2025-2028 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) lists all projects that are being proposed to use federal transportation funds for the upcoming four years in the greater Duluth area.

This is the first of three public informational sessions held today. Members of the public are invited and encouraged to participate in this virtual meeting to give input and get information about the federally-funded transportation projects in the Duluth area for the next four years.

Join on your computer or mobile app: Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 275 601 611 560 / Passcode: 9PN7yc

Download Teams | Join on the web


Virtual Open House – Project Info & Opportunity to Comment

Public Meeting #3 - Duluth Area Transportation Improvement Program (2025-2028)
Date & Time
07/17/2024
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Location
Virtual Meeting - See login/call-in info in body of post
Purpose

The Draft 2025-2028 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) lists all projects that are being proposed to use federal transportation funds for the upcoming four years in the greater Duluth area.

This is the third of three public informational sessions held today. Members of the public are invited and encouraged to participate in this virtual meeting to give input and get information about the federally-funded transportation projects in the Duluth area for the next four years.

Join on your computer or mobile app: Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 266 825 684 730
Passcode: QW7jpF

Download Teams | Join on the web

Draft TIP Open for Public Comment through 7/31/24

The Draft 2025-2028 Duluth Area Transportation Improvement Program was approved by the MIC Policy Board for release for the required 30-day public comment period. It lists all projects proposed for 2025-2028 and will be open for public review and input through 7/31/2024.  

The 2025-2028 Duluth TIP will be presented to the MIC Policy Board for final approval at its meeting on August 21, 2024 at 6:00pm.  This meeting will be open to the public and comments will be taken.

To comment:

  • Contact TIP Coordinator Prescott Morrill (see phone & email, above right)
  • Attend a virtual input session (via MS Teams) on Wed, July 17. Click to join meeting at the following times: 9-10 am or 12:00 noon-1:00 pm or 4:30-5:30 pm

New 2028 Projects Approved for Inclusion in Draft TIP

At the February meeting of the MIC Policy Board, the new 2028 projects proposed by area jurisdictions to receive federal funding were approved for inclusion in the Draft 2025-2028 Duluth Area TIP. These include:

STBGP Funding
Central Entrance Reconstruction Project Summary
Hermantown Road Reconstruction Project Summary

Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program Funding
Transportation Alternatives Projects Summary

No comments were received.  The Board approved the projects proposed for inclusion in the 2025-2028 Duluth Area TIP, as presented.

New 2028 Projects to be Presented for Approval for Inclusion in Draft TIP (Opportunity for Public Comment)

At the February 21, 2024 meeting of the MIC Policy Board, new projects proposed to receive federal funding will be presented for approval for inclusion in the Draft 2025-2028 Duluth Area TIP . The meeting is open to the public and comments will be taken.

The proposed projects include:

STBGP Funding
Central Entrance Reconstruction Project Summary
Hermantown Road Reconstruction Project Summary

Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program Funding
Transportation Alternatives Projects Summary

Duluth-Area Projects Proposed for 2028 STBGP Funds

Applications for proposed 2028 projects to receive federal STBGP funding were received from two MIC-area jurisdictions:

City of Duluth – Central Entrance Reconstruction

City of Hermantown – Hermantown Road Reconstruction

They will be presented for approval at the February 21, 2024 MIC Policy Board meeting for review and inclusion in the draft 2025-2028 Duluth Area TIP.  Public comments will be taken.

2028 STBGP Project Solicitation

MIC staff distributed project applications to eligible agencies and jurisdictions — State of Minnesota (MnDOT), St. Louis County, cities with a population over 5,000 (Duluth and Hermantown), the Duluth Seaway Port Authority and the Duluth Transit Authority (DTA). 2028 Duluth area project submittals are due January 16, 2024.

Funded Projects

No projects match selected year

FINAL 2025-2028 Duluth Area TIP (Adopted by MIC Board 8-21-24 and Approved by FHWA 11-12-24)

2025-2028_DuluthTIP_FINAL.pdf

Map of Project Locations by Year

TIP-Map-2025-2028.pdf

Map of Project Locations and Concentrations of Minority & Low Income Populations

EJ-TIP-Map-2025-2028.pdf

Map of Project Locations and Environmentally Sensitive and Historically Significant Sites

ES-TIP-Map-2025-2028.pdf

Draft 2025-2028 Duluth Area TIP - open for public comment 7/1/24 - 7/31/24

2025-2028_DuluthTIP_DRAFT.pdf


Programming federally funded infrastructure projects for the next four years

It is part of the MIC’s role as an MPO to work with state and local agencies to prioritize and program the region’s transportation projects and services that will receive anticipated federal funds.

Before any surface transportation project in the Duluth area can be constructed with federal funding, it must be included in a current Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) that has been approved by the MIC Policy Board.

TIP Development Process

TIP development involves a series of sequential steps to reach the project approval stage. It is a coordinated effort among state, regional and local agencies and jurisdictions responsible for implementing transportation projects.*

The TIP is prepared in cooperation with MnDOT, local transit providers and area jurisdictions as required by federal surface transportation law (FAST Act), and also in cooperation with the Northeast Minnesota Area Transportation Partnership (NE MN ATP) process.

The draft plan is made available for public comment, reviewed and approved by the MIC’s Transportation Advisory Committee and Policy Board, and submitted to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

The TIP development schedule, below, reflects the availability of funds, coordination with MnDOT and the NE MN ATP, local capital improvement budget processes, MPO public involvement requirements and the STIP development process. Important schedule milestones include:

(Oct/Nov) Project solicitation – MPO Consultations with local jurisdictions
(Dec/Jan) Project solicitation – Applications distributed in December and due in January
(Feb) Proposed projects – Presented for review and approval by the TAC and MIC
(Mar) If approved, the proposed projects are forwarded on to the Northeast Minnesota Area Transportation Partnership (NE MN ATP)
(Apr) Draft TIP document development
(May/Jun) Draft TIP Public Involvement and MnDOT review
(Jun) MPO Policy Board approval of final TIP
(Jul) Adopted TIP and Board Resolution submitted to MnDOT
(Nov) Federal review and action – November
(Dec) Incorporation into next year’s draft STIP by MnDOT
(Jan) Approved by reference in the federally approved STIP – January

*Eligible agencies and jurisdictions include the state of Minnesota (MnDOT), St. Louis County, the Cities of Duluth, Hermantown, Proctor and Rice Lake and the Duluth Transit Authority (DTA).

Public Involvement

Public participation is an integral part of transportation planning in general and the development of the TIP in particular. All public comments received for the draft document are presented for consideration by the Transportation Advisory Committee and the MIC Policy Board and are included in the final TIP.

How are TIP projects selected?

All projects must be identified in the MIC’s current 25-year Long Range Transportation Plan in support of the Duluth-Superior area’s goals and transportation system needs. In addition, the MIC evaluates and prioritizes each proposal based on the following criteria:

• Regional Benefit: What are the project’s merits/benefits and intended effect upon the regional transportation network and what are the project’s estimated benefits relative to its cost?
• Mobility: How will the project improve the mobility of people and goods?
• Planning Support: How will the project incorporate the MIC’s Long Range Transportation Plan, other MIC studies and related plans and studies?
• Multimodal Connectivity: How does the project encompass multiple modes of travel?
• Environmental Impacts: Where is the project’s location and what potential environmental and community impacts does it potentially pose?
• Public Participation: What level of public participation has been undertaken or will take place for the proposed project?

Amendments

Projects may be amended into the current, approved TIP throughout the year. Amendments usually modify existing projects as changes to the scope, cost or timeline for programmed projects occur. Sometimes new projects may be added if new funding becomes available. The process for developing and amending a TIP are specified in the MIC’s Public Involvement Plan.

Performance Management

MAP-21 and FAST ACT require incorporation of Performance-Based Planning and Programming (PBPP) for use in the development of the MPO’s Transportation Improvement Plans.

The TIP includes a description of the anticipated effect of the TIP toward achieving the 23 C.F.R. 490 performance measure targets identified in the metropolitan transportation plan, linking investment priorities to those performance targets.