TABLE OF CONTENTS. MnDOT MPO TIP Check List. Section 1 INTRO & Public Involvement 2 Public Participation Activities 6 Annual Resolutions 9

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1 TABLE OF CONTENTS MnDOT MPO TIP Check List A-E Section 1 INTRO & Public Involvement 2 Public Participation Activities 6 Annual Resolutions 9 Section 2: ANNUAL LISTING 15 Section 3: PROGRAM OF PROJECTS 19 ROCOG Federal Project List 22a 22d Section 4: TIP LINK TO PLANNING 24 Section 5: FINANCIAL PLAN 32 Section 6: Process for Amending the TIP Preparation of this document is financed in part by the Federal Highway Administration as referenced in the ROCOG 2013 Transportation Work Program under Work Task Any questions or comments in regards to the content of this document should be directed to the Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments at 2122 Campus Drive S.E., Rochester, MN TIP contact: David Pesch Principal Transportation Planner pesch.dave@co.olmsted.mn.us 1

2 Section 1 INTRODUCTION The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a product of the Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments (ROCOG) transportation planning and programming process that documents a prioritized multi-year program of transportation projects proposed for implementation in the ROCOG planning area over the next 4 years. ROCOG is the officially designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Rochester urban area and was formed in TIP projects are either taken directly from the current ROCOG Long Range Plan or from local projects that are in conformance with this Plan. Development of the TIP provides a process whereby local units of government, along with state and federal transportation agencies, document the short term transportation priorities for the region. This TIP process includes consultation with other planning organizations and stakeholders, including applicable tribes and federal land management agencies. The TIP was developed in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and public transit operators. Checklist REF # 1 While each jurisdiction engages in this process in developing a Capital Improvements Program, transportation improvements often involve more than just single jurisdictional funding source and, particularly in major corridors, must be considered in light of regional and even statewide concerns. This is particularly true for projects involving federal funding, since these projects typically are oriented towards corridors serving not only local traffic but inter-regional transportation needs as well. For this reason, the Federal Highway Act, extending back to 1962, has recognized the need for inter-jurisdictional discussion and priority setting to ensure that federal transportation dollars are utilized not only in the best interests of a single jurisdiction but also in the interests of the entire region, state and nation. For this reason, subsequent National Transportation Acts require that a Metropolitan Planning Organization be organized (ROCOG in the case of Rochester) to provide coordination on an inter-jurisdictional and interregional level, and that both a regional Long Range Plan and an annual Transportation Improvement Program be developed which identify needs, priorities and solutions for both long range and short term transportation improvements. The interaction of federal, state, and local units of government to ensure that all relevant issues are considered is referred to as the 3-C Planning Process. For the ROCOG area, Figure 1 illustrates the partners in this process and their relationships. The term "3-C process" emphasizes that planning needs to be Comprehensive, Continuing, and Cooperative. Development of the TIP on an annual basis serves to ensure continuity from year to year and represents that prior to actual start of construction, coordination among jurisdictions has occurred and projects have been programmed in view of competing needs and resource limitations. The ROCOG planning area encompasses the entirety of Olmsted County, including parts of the border cities of Chatfield and Pine Island. Exhibit 1 depicts the extent of the area, and illustrates that the primary transportation planning area includes only a subset of this region, made up of the City of Rochester and the Townships of Rochester, Marion, Cascade, & Haverhill along with that portion of High Forest Township north of Interstate 90. 2

3 Exhibit 1./ 3 Pine Island Regional Study Area./ 12,- 52 Oronoco,- 63 () 24 7./ 21 ROCOGStudy Area Urban and Regional Study Areas Highlighted./ 14./ 14./ 24 Byron./ 4./ 2./ 11 () 42./ 7./ 2./ 5,- 3,- 14./ 25 Rochester,- 14 Urban Study Area./ 9./ 10 Eyota,- 14./ 9 Dover./ 17./ 26./ 16./ 3./ 15./ 6 () 30./ 8,- 63./ 20 Stewartville *+ 90 () 30./ 1,-52 3 *+ 90./ 19./ 7./ 10 Regional Study Area Chatfield () 30 () 74./ 30./ 29

4 FIGURE 1 RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN STRUCTURE OF METROPOLITAN AREA PLANNING FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION TRANSIT OPERATORS CITY OF ROCHESTER PARTICIPANTS MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY (Air Quality) MINNESOTA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY BOARD (Environmental Impact) AREA TRANSPORTATION PARTNERSHIP Coordinated by MnDOT District 6 ROCHESTER OLMSTED COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS OLMSTED COUNTY TOWNSHIPS SMALL CITIES CITIZENS INTEREST GROUPS COMMUNITY INPUT LEVEL FEDERAL \ STATE OVERSIGHT REGIONAL COORDINATION LOCAL JURISDICTIONS 4

5 Metropolitan Planning Organization The Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments (ROCOG) was organized in November of 1971 to provide comprehensive planning services to member local units of government. ROCOG has the primary responsibility for transportation planning in the Rochester urbanized area. ROCOG is staffed by the Rochester-Olmsted Planning Department and maintains a cooperative relationship with both the City of Rochester and Olmsted County to utilizing their staff as necessary to fulfill its responsibilities in the area of transportation planning. The ROCOG Policy Board is comprised of fourteen individuals who represent the local units of government within Olmsted County, along with two citizen members. The composition of the board is as follows: City of Rochester Olmsted County Small Cities Townships School Districts Citizen Representatives 5 members 3 members 3 members 2 members 1 member 2 members KEY AGENTS IN DIRECTING ROCOG TRANSPORTATION PLANNING PROGRAM Staffing Provided by Rochester-Olmsted Planning Dept. & Rochester Dept of Public Services A technical advisory committee to the Policy Board was also established which consists of eight members representing each of the major jurisdictions with dedicated transportation staff. The Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC) reviews and recommends to the Policy Board on transportation issues, which have been identified within the ROCOG planning area. The composition of the committee is listed in the following table: Policy Direction Technical Advice Provided by ROCOG Policy Board Provided by TTAC (Transportation Technical Advisory Committee) TTAC Membership: Rochester-Olmsted Planning Department City of Rochester Dept of Public Works City of Rochester Transit System Olmsted County Public Works Dept Minnesota Department of Transportation Township Maintenance 4 members 2 members 1 member 2 members 2 members 1 member There is also a Bike-Ped Advisory Committee called BPAC that meets to advise ROCOG on bike trail and pedestrian issues. They also serve to advocate for biking as an alternative transportation mode in the Greater Rochester and Olmsted County area. This is also true of the Transit Advisory Committee in that they advocate for mass transit use as an alternative to driving autos, and act as an advisory to staff in Rochester transit operations and transit planning by both the City of Rochester and ROCOG. 5

6 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ACTIVITIES Checklist Ref # 2 MAP-21 continues the emphasis established in ISTEA on citizen involvement in the development of the Transportation Improvement Program. ROCOG, unlike larger MPO's, engages a limited number of governmental jurisdictions and transportation agencies involved in the project identification and prioritization process. The City of Rochester, Olmsted County, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (and Stewartville for their transit system), and the school district are the units responsible for implementation of projects in the MPO area. A significant amount of cooperation exists among the agencies that allows for early identification of major needs and identification of projects in Capital Improvement Programs well in advance of detailed project development activities such as environmental reports and preliminary design activities. Early agreement on transportation needs allows the roadway authorities to work together in a cooperative spirit to establish reasonable timelines for implementation of projects. Early input was solicited from the public during the preparation of the Draft TIP two months prior to the ROCOG meeting to adopt the Final TIP. Input was solicited from the public for the Draft TIP with the notice in the newspaper of record as shown below. (NOTE: there was no input from the public). _ 6

7 Final TIP opportunity for public input was provided during the presentation of the Final Draft of the TIP at the August 27, 2013 ROCOG meeting with the notice below in the newspaper of record soliciting input/comments from the public prior to, and during the ROCOG meeting where the TIP would be approved for submission to MnDOT. (NOTE: there was no input from the public). CHECKLIST REF # 3 Documentation of significant comments and disposition No documentation is needed since there was no public input. Also note that the development and presentation of this TIP during ROCOG Board meetings used visualization, was (and is) available on the World Wide Web, and the development process was consistent with the ROCOG public involvement plan. 7

8 Other Significant Citizen Input Opportunities Prior to TIP Development Other citizen participation activity is centered on the development of each individual jurisdiction's capital improvement program and negotiation among road authorities regarding responsibilities and roles related to major projects. This is outlined below: CITY OF ROCHESTER: Street - Highway Programs: The City Council holds public informational meetings followed by a Public Hearing prior to adoption of the Capital Improvement Program. Staff from the Public Works Department, which contains the transportation division, makes presentations to community groups including business groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, community groups such as the Sertoma and Kiwanis Clubs, and neighborhood groups in areas of planned projects. These activities occur throughout the course of the year and provide citizens the opportunity to offer their opinions and input to staff or their City Council representative prior to final action on the CIP. Information about the CIP is disseminated primarily through the newspaper, although other media will also report on the major projects proposed. Transit The transit coordinator works with the private sector providers to gather input on needed projects. Annual operating and capital budgets are reviewed with the Citizen's Advisory on Transit, and the coordinator will meet throughout the year with client groups and social service agencies to discuss dial-a-ride \ accessible route service and identify unmet needs and how to implement service changes. All advisory meetings are open to the public. Citizens may attend and present concerns to the advisory committee. Citizen input is also solicited through numerous community surveys that are conducted on an ongoing basis and through consumer initiated telephone contacts. OLMSTED COUNTY Highway Programs The Olmsted County Board of Commissioners conduct multiple public informational meetings followed by a Public Hearing prior to adoption of the Capital Improvement Program. Staff from the Public Works Department, which contains the county transportation engineering division, makes presentations to community groups including the Chamber of Commerce to discuss transportation projects prior to final action on the Olmsted County CIP. The Planning Department will review the CIP with the Planning Commission to gather their input. Information about the CIP is disseminated through the newspaper primarily, and other media will report on the major projects included in the TIP. Individual projects of major significance will also be managed so as to provide the opportunity for public input. Design open houses are normally held in advance of all major projects for the purpose of providing an opportunity for community input. 8

9 Transit Programs While the county contributes annually to the operation of the dial-a-ride program, the service is coordinated by the City of Rochester and opportunity for citizen participation is provided for by the City of Rochester as was described in the previous section. Bridge Program Another major effort of Olmsted County is in the area of Bridge repair and replacement. Review and coordination of this program is integrated into the highway program review described above. MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION The Minnesota Department of Transportation holds a Public Meeting within the district annually to disseminate information on the proposed capital improvement program. Local newspaper and radio\tv also report this information to educate the public about planned projects. The District Office also makes presentations to community groups on request to discuss the program and projects of interest in a particular community. The Department has a community relations officer whose purpose is to work with local jurisdictions and staff on disseminating information about the program. MnDOT also uses community advisory committees on its major projects in the project development process. Two projects, the US 14/52 Reconstruction and the US 63 South Design and Environmental Analysis have had active citizen committees involved in the completion of the design of these projects. Other projects having a citizen involvement phase included the Oronoco / Pine Island TH 52 Subarea Study. ROCHESTER-OLMSTED COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (other public input) ROCOG also conducted a series of public meetings related to work done during to update the Long Range Transportation Plan, and coordinates with the Rochester Post-Bulletin and other media to disseminate information about the Plan, which now continues to be in the implementation phase. The majority of projects contained in this TIP come directly from the 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan as adopted in Additional work was done during 2012 to meet further MAP-21 requirements including an update of the ROCOG Public Involvement Policy. This may be found in its entirety on the ROCOG web site. ANNUAL RESOLUTIONS OF THE ROCOG POLICY BOARD In approving the Transportation Improvement Program, the ROCOG Policy Board annually adopts a set of resolutions certifying that the transportation planning and programming efforts of the Rochester MPO are consistent with the guidelines and requirements established for the use of federal transportation funds. The federal government, through the programs of the Federal 9

10 Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration, has a significant stake in the transportation system of this region, as evidenced by the planned expenditure of multiple millions of dollars in the planning region over the four-year period of the TIP. Since expenditures of this magnitude have the ability to influence not only transportation service but other socio-economic goals as well, the United States Congress over the years has identified policies regarding not only technical transportation matters but social and environmental goals as well which transportation expenditures should support. CHECKLIST REF # 4 per CFR : The ROCOG TIP includes a resolution whereby MPO self-certifies compliance with all applicable provisions of CFR and federal lobbying restrictions of 49 CFR The adoption of the resolutions on the following pages indicates that this community has made a good faith effort to implement these goals and is in compliance with the intent of these mandates. There are four resolutions that are adopted annually by the Policy Board. APPROVAL OF THE TIP: This statement establishes that the TIP has been prepared in a cooperative manner with other partner units of government and the public, and represents current community priorities on transportation needs within the region for the upcoming 4 year period. RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE CURRENT LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN: Along with the annual development of a Transportation Improvement Program each metropolitan area is required to have an adopted Long Range Plan and to certify that it represents the current agreement of the community in regard to the future development of transportation facilities and services for the community. SELF CERTIFICATION FINDING: In lieu of the federal government auditing local actions to ensure all applicable federal policies are being addressed by local areas, the authority exists for regions to self certify that this is being done. With this finding the community is stating that efforts to comply with various policies are ongoing and that the transportation program of the region is in compliance with the intent of these various mandates. Included in the resolution are statements relative to non-discrimination, special efforts to serve the elderly and disabled, and the maintenance of clean air. U.S. DOT REGULATIONS ON LOBBYING: Each MPO must certify that it is in compliance with the provisions of 49 CFR Part 20 regarding lobbying restrictions on influencing certain Federal activities. 10

11 R O C O G Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments Resolution No _7 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FY TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM of the ROCHESTER-OLMSTED COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Transportation requires the annual development of a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for each urbanized area under the direction of a Metropolitan Planning Organization in cooperation with the State of Minnesota through its Department of Transportation and with transit operators within the Rochester urbanized area; and WHEREAS, a prioritized list of those transportation projects for the period 2014 through 2017 which will be supported with Federal funds needs to be included in the TIP document. The projects implement the MPO region's recognized transportation plans and programs and are consistent with the ROCOG s current 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan; and WHEREAS, the Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments, acting as the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization, can, under 23 CFR Subpart A Part 450, certify itself annually through the TIP process. Part 450 states that the local planning process shall be consistent with the principles of non- discrimination on the basis of sex, color, creed or national origin and that transportation services should be provided for use by the elderly and handicapped; and WHEREAS, the Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments is responsible for the development and implementation of programs designed to assure that the air quality within the Rochester Urbanized Area meets the standards established under Federal Law in the 1990 Clean Air Act; and WHEREAS, the TIP has been developed with multiple public input opportunities from the citizens of the ROCOG planning region. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments approves the Transportation Improvement Program for the FY program period as being consistent with area plans and programs and approves the 4 year prioritized program of Federally supported projects included herein. Upon motion by, seconded by, this 27 day of August, 2013 ROCHESTER-OLMSTED COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS By: Chairman ATTEST: Philip H. Wheeler, AICP, Executive Director, ROCOG Dated: 11

12 R O C O G Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments Resolution No _8_ SELF-CERTIFICATION FINDING In accordance with 23 CFR (a) the Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments hereby certifies that the metropolitan transportation planning process is addressing major issues facing the metropolitan planning area and is being conducted in accordance with all applicable requirements of: U.S.C. 134 and 49 U.S.C. 5303, and this subpart 2. In non-attainment and maintenance areas, Sections 174 and 176 (c) and (d) of the Clean Air Act as amended (42 U.S.C. 7504, 7506 (c) and (d)) and 40 CFR part 93; 3. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 USC 2000d-1) and 49 CFR part 21; USC 5332, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, ex, or age in employment or business opportunity; 5. Sections 1101(b) of the SAFETEA-LU (Pub. L ) and 49 CFR Part 26 regarding the involvement of disadvantaged business enterprises in the US DOT funded projects; CFR part 230, regarding the implementation of an equal employment opportunity program on Federal and Federal-aid highway construction contracts; 7. The provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C et seq.) and 49 CFR Parts 27, 37, and 38; 8. The Older Americans Act, as amended (42 U.S.C 6101), prohibiting discrimination on the basis of age in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance; 9. Section 324 of title 23, U.S.C regarding the prohibition of discrimination based on gender; and 10. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794) and 49 CFR 27 regarding discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Upon motion by, seconded by, this _27 day of August, ROCHESTER-OLMSTED COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, Chairman ATTEST: Philip H. Wheeler, AICP, Executive Director, ROCOG DATED: 12

13 R O C O G Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments Resolution No _9 RESOLUTION OF CONFIRMATION: ROCOG LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Transportation requires that the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) designated with the authority to carry out metropolitan transportation planning in a given urbanized area shall prepare a transportation plan for that area; and WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Transportation further requires that the MPO annually review this plan and confirm that it is currently held valid and consistent with current transportation and land use issues; and WHEREAS, the Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments (ROCOG) has been designated by the Governor of Minnesota as the MPO for the Rochester, Minnesota urbanized area; and WHEREAS, ROCOG has adopted a Year Plan for future transportation investment entitled ROCOG 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan, adopted August 6, 2010 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments certifies that the adopted plans and policies of the Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments are currently held valid, that they represent the present thinking of the community on future transportation facility and service development, and that they are consistent with currently identified transportation needs and land use considerations in the Rochester, Minnesota urbanized area. Upon motion by, seconded by, this _27 day of August, ROCHESTER-OLMSTED COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, Chairman ATTEST: Philip H. Wheeler, AICP, Executive Director, ROCOG DATED: 13

14 R O C O G Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments Resolution No _10 RESOLUTION Regarding Restrictions on Lobbying WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Transportation and MnDOT require that Minnesota Metropolitan Planning Organizations receiving more than $100,000 in MN CPG funding, which includes ROCOG, certify annually to lobbying restrictions; and 1. WHEREAS, the Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments (ROCOG) has been designated by the Governor of Minnesota as the MPO for the Rochester, Minnesota urbanized area; and 2. WHEREAS, No Federally appropriated funds have been or will be paid by or on behalf of the Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments to any person to influence or attempt to influence an officer or employee of any Federal agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress regarding the award of Federal assistance, or the extension, continuation, renewal, amendment, or modification of any Federal assistance agreement; and 3. WHEREAS, If any funds other than Federally appropriated funds have been or will be paid to any person to influence or attempt to influence an officer or employee of any Federal agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with any application for Federal assistance, the Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments assures that it will complete and submit Standard Form-LLL, "Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying," as required by 49 CFR NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments certifies and will abide by lobbying restrictions as defined by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Upon motion by, seconded by, this _27 day of August, ROCHESTER-OLMSTED COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, Chairman ATTEST: Philip H. Wheeler, AICP, Executive Director, ROCOG DATED: 14