Sustainability and Public Health

To reduce the impacts of climate change, we set goals for lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2025, 2030, 2035 and 2040. These goals appear in the Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan and support Minnesota’s Climate Action Framework and the state law goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050. The new state law requiring transportation emissions performance targets, helps the state track progress towards those overall goals more clearly.

Many strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions give people more ways to travel, help clean the air, and improve quality of life. These projects might include building electric vehicle charging stations, making it easier to walk and bike on local roads, or planning for new businesses and shops in town centers near where people live.

Transportation partners

Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), regional development organizations (RDOs) and area transportation partnerships (ATPs) play a key role in implementing this law.

• MPOs, RDOs and ATPs choose which projects get funding.
• MPOs, RDOs and ATPs can support the law by funding projects like bike lanes, public transit, land use plans and electric vehicle infrastructure. They also work with local governments to prioritize projects that lower emissions and improve safety, health, the economy and access.
• The law required the Commissioner of Transportation to set a target for the Metropolitan Council’s seven-county planning area. The Commissioner also set targets for 16 other regions of the state. MPOs, RDOs and ATPs will work with MnDOT to meet the emissions reduction targets and state goals.

Tribes

We will collaborate with Minnesota’s Advocacy Council for Tribal Transportation, to hear how Minnesota’s 11 Tribal Nations want to be involved in carrying out the law.

The public

Local governments and communities play a big role in reducing emissions. People can encourage and ask their community leaders to support and fund projects that reduce emissions, improve air quality and provide more travel options.

Target setting

State law requires transportation sector emissions reduction targets by region

Impact Assessment + Offset Planning

State law requires emissions and vehicle miles traveled to be assessed on projects on the Minnesota Trunk Highway system that expand vehicular capacity – adds lane miles or new interchanges

Greenhouse Gas Technical Advisory Committee

Legislatively established Committee to assist in the review of Emissions and Vehicle Miles Traveled Impact Assessments and Offset Plans to meet state law

Impact mitigation work group

Legislatively established working group to prepare recommendations for an Impact Assessment to align project decision-making with Minnesota’s emissions reduction targets and vehicle miles traveled reduction targets.

• Proposed projects - Resources for project proposers
• Emissions and VMT Impact Assessment and Offset Plan Procedure (PDF) - The purpose of this document is to direct the assessment of capacity expansion projects on Minnesota’s Trunk Highways for vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions impacts in response to Minnesota Statute 161.178. This Procedure is intended for use by Project Proposers, typically staff at the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), Minnesota cities and Minnesota counties, and their supporting consultants who are planning and designing expansion projects. This Procedure assumes knowledge of transportation planning and project development and analysis concepts.
•  Emissions and VMT Impact Assessment and Offset Plan Initial Worksheet (Word) - This is the Initial Assessment and Offset Plan Worksheet (Worksheet). The purpose of this form   is to document the steps in the Emissions and VMT Impact Assessment and Offset Plan Procedure (PDF) to meet the requirements in MN Statute 161.178 for projects that are determined to meet the definition of a capacity expansion project.
• Minnesota Carbon Emissions Tool (CET) (Excel) - The Carbon Emissions Tool (CET) is a spreadsheet tool developed by MnDOT to estimate the carbon emission reductions associated with transportation project investments. The CET is designed as a flexible tool and may be used to estimate emissions reductions associated with a wide variety of transportation projects.
•  Minnesota Carbon Emissions Tool (CET) Instructions and Tips (PDF) - This document provides an overview of the Carbon Emissions Tool (CET), instructions of how to utilize the tool, and provides a thorough frequently asked questions (FAQ) section for project proposers.
• Capacity Expansion Emissions Impact Assessment: Defining lane expansions and new grade-separated intersections (PDF) - This document defines lane expansions and new grade-separated intersections for prokect proposers, and in particular notes, “Per Minnesota Statute 161.178 Subd. 1(d) "Capacity expansion project" means a project for trunk highway construction or reconstruction that is a major highway project, as defined in Minnesota section 174.56, subd. 1(b); and adds highway   traffic capacity or provides for grade separation of motor vehicle traffic at an intersection, excluding auxiliary lanes with a length of less than 2,500 feet.”
• Technical Advisory Committee Checklist for Impact Assessment and Offset Plan (PDF) - This checklist guides the Greenhouse Gas Technical Advisory Committee as they review impact assessments and offset plans submitted for projects that qualify as capacity expansion under MN Statute 161.178.
• Test cases - Project proposers are encouraged to use the examples below when working through the Emissions and VMT Impact Assessment and Offset Plan Procedure (PDF). These are hypothetical test cases produced to illustrate the methods outlined in the Procedure. The test case is illustrative and does not prescribe project goals or alternatives, nor does it supersede the detailed calculations required for the design of actual projects.
  • Interchange: MN36 + MN120 in Washington County (PDF)
  • Interchange: US10 + 15th Street in St. Cloud (PDF)
  • Lane expansion: MN23 near Willmar (PDF)
• Template Offset Tracking (Excel)
• Offset Agreement template (Word)