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Minnesota’s Regional Development Program

The regional development program in Minnesota was established in 1969 under the Regional Development Act of the legislature and an Executive Order of the Governor. Its purpose is to facilitate intergovernmental cooperation and to insure the orderly and harmonious coordination of federal, state and local comprehensive planning and development programs. From this legislation the regional development commission system was initiated. Minnesota has 13 development regions with 10 active Regional Development Commissions (RDCs).

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has provided financial assistance to the RDCs for transportation planning activities since the late 1970s. The funding has been provided to all organized and active RDCs (except for Region 11, Twin Cities metro area). MN/DoT provides funding to the 9 active Greater Minnesota RDCs. The funding is biennially approved by the state legislature and requires a 15 percent match.

Each RDC enters into an agreement with MN/DoT. Each RDC agrees to perform work activities defined in an annual transportation work program, as approved by MN/DoT and to provide 15 percent matching funds. An annual report is also required. MN/DoT’s Office of Investment Management centrally administers the contracts. The district planner in each of MN/DoT’s seven district offices manages the work program with their respective RDCs.

The district planner work closely with the RDC transportation planners. Each of the nine RDCs has at least one transportation planner that works on transportation related activities. Each of the RDC transportation planners work with their own transportation advisory committee. In most cases, the RDC advisory committees approve the RDC transportation work programs before contracting with MN/DoT.

The work programs can vary between RDCs and reflect the transportation needs of each region. The transportation work programs typically include:

• Communications/Coordination Activities. Provide communication between MN/DoT, local units of government and the public.
• Technical and Professional Assistance. Provide customers with technical and/or professional assistance upon request. This includes local government, transit providers and others.
• Plan, Policy and Project Review. Participate in the development/review of plans, policies and studies impacting the region’s transportation system.
• Planning and Administrative Support. Provide planning and administrative support to the RDC Transportation Advisory Committee.
• Transportation Planning/Studies. Develop and update a multimodal regional transportation plan/planning process.

Along with these typical activities, some RDCs lead or participate in community transportation planning efforts, highway corridor studies and provide GIS assistance or products.

Coordination of activities and ongoing communication is very important to the relationship between MN/DoT and the RDCs. They strive to maintain good communication through both informal and formal links. The RDC transportation planners communicate regularly with their respective MN/DoT district planner. The RDC transportation planners hold four meetings annually where they discuss regional transportation issues and share techniques and other information. A MN/DoT representative is invited to attend these meetings. A RDC representative is also invited to the three meetings held annually by the state department’s transportation planners.


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