DEPARTMENT: Transportation
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Submit Applications For 2025 Minnesota Highway Freight Program For County State Aid Highway 46 From Trunk Highway 3 To US 52, County Project 99-13, And For County State Aid Highway 50/County State Aid Highway 5 and Interstate 35 Interchange, County Project 50-33
end
PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize staff to submit two projects to the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s 2025 Minnesota Highway Freight Program (MHFP)
SUMMARY
The Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) continues to invest in the National Highway Freight Program, which funds the MHFP. The MHFP is a competitive grant program that provides funds for construction projects that provide measurable freight transportation benefits across modes, including projects that connect highways, railroads, ports, waterways, and airports. All Freight Safety and Freight Mobility projects that fall in the Metropolitan Council planning boundary must be a Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 corridor on the Metropolitan Council’s Truck Highway Corridor Study, or the project itself must provide a direct and immediate physical connection to one of these three tiers. For this application cycle, there is a total of $51 million available, with $25.5 million available in 2029 and $25.5 million available in 2030. Applications are due September 3, 2025. Staff is proposing to submit projects in two different categories. The County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 46 expansion project would be submitted in the First and Last Mile category, and CSAH 50/5 and Interstate 35 Interchange would be submitted in the Freight Mobility category.
CSAH 46 is a tier 2 freight corridor. The project will expand CSAH 46 from two lanes to a four-lane divided section between TH 3 to US 52. This will address safety and mobility needs due to increasing traffic volumes and the disproportionately high amount of heavy commercial vehicle traffic. In addition, the project will consider modifications to the interchange ramp access at US 52. Staff is requesting to submit a funding application requesting $10,000,000 to the MHFP grant program. Letters of support will be sought from City of Rosemount, City of Coates, City of Empire, Metropolitan Council, and Minnesota Department of Transportation. This project is included in the adopted 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
County Project 50-033 includes the reconstruction of the bridges and the interchange at Interstate 35 and CSAH 50/CSAH 5 to replace the existing deficient interchange and coordinate with strategic capacity needs on I-35. Staff is requesting to submit a funding application requesting $10,000,000 to the MHFP grant program. Letters of support will be sought from the City of Lakeville, City of Burnsville, the Metropolitan Council, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation. This project is included in the adopted 2025-2029 CIP.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends authorization to submit the CSAH 46 two to four-lane expansion project, County Project 99-013 and CSAH 50/CSAH 5 and I-35, County Project 50-033 to the Minnesota Department of Transportation for the Minnesota Highway Freight Program.
end
EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
Funding if awarded, will be included in a future Transportation Capital Improvement Program.
☒ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
body
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Department of Transportation is requesting project submittals for the Minnesota Highway Freight Program (MHFP); and
WHEREAS, the MHFP grant program funds up to 80 percent of project construction costs; and
WHEREAS, the County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 46 two-to-four lane expansion project, County Project 99-013, will improve first and last mile freight mobility, accommodate future growth, support economic development opportunities, promote safety, and enhance multimodal connections; and
WHEREAS, County Project 50-33, the Interstate 35 and County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 50 interchange project, will improve freight capacity and general mobility, accommodate future growth and support economic development opportunities, promote safety, and enhance multimodal connections; and
WHEREAS, federal funding of projects reduces the burden on local taxpayers for regional improvements; and
WHEREAS, project submittals are due on September 3, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the project proposed is consistent with the adopted Dakota County 2040 Transportation Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council has indicated its support of these project submittals; and
WHEREAS, subject to funding awards for the CSAH 46 two-to-four lane expansion project, County Project 99-013, and CSAH 50/CSAH 5 and I-35, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners would be asked to consider acceptance of grant funds and authorization to execute a grant agreement at a future meeting.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Physical Development Director to submit applications for County Project 99-013, the County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 46 two-to-four lane expansion project from Trunk Highway 3 to US 52 and County Project 50-033, CSAH 50/CSAH 5 and Interstate 35 to the Minnesota Department of Transportation for the Minnesota Highway Freight Program.
end
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Project Location CSAH 46
Attachment: Project Location CSAH 50 CSAH 5 I35
BOARD GOALS
☐ Thriving People ☐ A Healthy Environment with Quality Natural Resources
☒ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Erin Laberee
Author: Barry Becker