For decades, major transportation projects in Minnesota have moved forward without meaningful input from the communities they affect most. When highways like I-94 and I-35W were constructed, they divided neighborhoods, displaced residents, and created lasting impacts, particularly in low-income areas and communities of color. Even today, communities have little substantive influence over highway projects that dramatically impact their daily lives, health, and community vitality.
The current system’s flaws are evident in projects like the 252/ I-94 corridor, where despite strong opposition from local residents and elected officials, expansion plans continue to advance. This has resulted in a decade-long process that has cost taxpayers millions while failing to address fundamental community concerns. Under existing regulations, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) can develop project alternatives without being required to study or implement solutions preferred by affected communities.
The Community-Preferred Alternative Act (Senate, SF 4677 | House, HF 4646) would transform this process by establishing a structured framework for community input in major transportation decisions. The legislation requires MnDOT to study project alternatives when requested by local governments through formal resolutions and obtain approval from Policy Advisory Committees before proceeding with construction. These committees, composed of elected officials and community representatives, would have real decision-making authority rather than serving merely advisory roles.
This approach goes beyond equity and creates a smart planning process that saves time and money. When communities have a meaningful voice in transportation decisions, projects can move forward more smoothly and can be more likely to succeed. Early community engagement helps identify and resolve concerns before they become costly problems, reducing the likelihood of expensive modifications or legal challenges later in the process.
The legislation maintains high technical and safety standards while ensuring that transportation projects serve both local neighborhood needs and broader regional goals. It creates clear processes for incorporating community input without compromising engineering requirements or regional connectivity. Importantly, the act only applies to major projects above certain cost thresholds, ensuring that routine maintenance and smaller improvements can proceed efficiently.
By reforming how we plan and build transportation infrastructure, the Community-Preferred Alternative Act offers benefits across the board: communities get infrastructure that serves their needs, taxpayers save money through more efficient project delivery, and workers benefit from more stable construction timelines. It’s time to ensure that when we invest in transportation infrastructure, we do it right the first time by empowering the communities who know their neighborhoods best to help shape these crucial decisions.
The legislation provides a practical path forward for better transportation planning in Minnesota, one that recognizes that the most successful infrastructure projects are those that truly serve the communities where they’re built. Let’s make Minnesota a leader in community-centered transportation planning that works for everyone.
Ask your legislators to support the Community-Preferred Alternative Act.
Take action and contact decision-makers.