As the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for this area, it’s our job to work with local jurisdictions to identify, plan for and program how federal transportation funds get used in the region. We’re already working to line up funding for construction projects that won’t begin until 2017.
Those funds, not surprisingly, have become a lot more scarce.
Last year, as part of developing the TIP, (Transportation Improvement Program), a document that allows Duluth Area communities to use federal transportation dollars, we were talking about divvying up about $7.5 million in federal highway transportation funds for local roadway projects [Read More]
The New Normal?
Posted by Robert Herling | Published on March 29th, 2013
As the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for this area, it’s our job to work with local jurisdictions to identify, plan for and program how federal transportation funds get used in the region. We’re already working to line up funding for construction projects that won’t begin until 2017.
Those funds, not surprisingly, have become a lot more scarce.
Last year, as part of developing the TIP, (Transportation Improvement Program), a document that allows Duluth Area communities to use federal transportation dollars, we were talking about divvying up about $7.5 million in federal highway transportation funds for local roadway projects [Read More]
Break Trail While the Sun Shines (and Plan for Them All Year Round)
Posted by Rondi Watson | Published on November 30th, 2012
This past week, after our first snowfall of the season, it’s been easy to spot the routes that people take when they travel on foot.
Previously-invisible pedestrian pathways are revealed as the snow is packed down underfoot. Some are traversed only lightly while others are obviously heavily used. Some are tough going while others are (comparatively) easy to negotiate on foot.
The Lincoln Park Pedestrian Plan, one of our recent planning efforts, was dedicated to discovering that same information — what routes people (especially school-aged children) take as they make their way through the neighborhood and how “walkable” those [Read More]
An Intern’s-Eye View
Posted by Brian Downing | Published on September 24th, 2012
What is the MIC, Anyway, and What Do They Do?
Have you ever wondered how great trails such as the Lakewalk come about or what goes in to planning the major road construction projects you see around town? Well, this summer I gained some insight into this process through my internship with the Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Council, or the MIC.
With one year remaining in my Environment and Sustainability program at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, I was able to gain valuable experience in the professional world of transportation and land use planning.
What I have gained most in my time at the MIC is a greater appreciation for the intricacies [Read More]
The Best Laid Plans
Posted by Rondi Watson | Published on June 25th, 2012
Last Tuesday night we presented information and took questions at a public meeting about our Central Entrance Transportation Plan. It was raining hard when the meeting wrapped up around 7 pm.
And it kept raining hard all night long.
By Wednesday morning, the City of Duluth had declared a state of emergency, due to the torrential downpour that caused widespread flooding and heavy damage to infrastructure. The cities of Superior, Hermantown and Proctor, all within the MIC’s planning area, followed suit shortly thereafter.
We received some good comments and questions at the Central Entrance meeting, which we had planned to address in this week’s [Read More]
Bike-Friendly Duluth?
Posted by James Gittemeier | Published on June 15th, 2012
As cities across the U.S. are battling it out for the distinction of “Most Bike-Friendly,” does Duluth stand a chance of being included some day in the Top-50 list?
You might think that our long winters and steep hills would prevent this. But think again: two of the top-ranked cities, Portland, Oregon (back to #1 this year) and Minneapolis (dropped to #2) are neither sunny nor warm places for much of the year-Portland is rainy , cool and hilly and we know all about the cold and snowy winters of Minnesota.
Consider also that two other cities – Boulder, Colorado (#3), which is comparable to Duluth in its total population and San Francisco, [Read More]
