What is MnSHIP and what does it affect?

The 20-Year Minnesota State Highway Investment Plan 2014-2033 (MnSHIP) will support the guiding principles from the Minnesota GO vision and link the policies and strategies laid out in the Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan to improvements on the state highway system. The state highway system is a network of roads that includes interstates, U.S. highways, and state highways. MnDOT maintains the state’s 12,000-mile highway system. MnSHIP will guide future capital improvements on Minnesota’s state highway system over the next twenty years; it will not affect local or county roads.

The 20-year plan is divided into three periods:

• 2014-2017 - The State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) (years 1-4): The STIP identifies projects on the state highway system that MnDOT intends to carry out in the next four years. The investment direction established in MnSHIP will primarily affect projects after the STIP.
• 2018-2023 (years 5-10): A general plan of improvements and several specific projects will be identified in MnSHIP, though project timing and scope may change.
• 2024-2033 (years 11-20): Specific projects will not be identified; rather, MnSHIP will set broad investment priorities and develop associated funding allocations.

 

MnSHIP will establish a fiscally-constrained investment direction for highway projects from years 2018 through 2033.

How does MnSHIP differ from the last plan update?

MnSHIP is updated every four years, as required by the Minnesota State Legislature. The last plan was completed in 2009. Since the last plan update, MnDOT has adopted a risk management approach to decision-making. The current MnSHIP update will incorporate risk management in the following ways:

• MnDOT will assess risks across multiple performance levels for each investment category; and
• MnDOT will solicit feedback on different combinations of strategies that manage risks to the highway system.

What other factors will shape MnSHIP?

MnSHIP must consider a variety of factors that affect the state highway system. System needs exceed projected revenue that will be available over the next twenty years. In addition, MnSHIP will respond to recent federal legislation (MAP-21) that requires MnDOT to prioritize improvements on major routes included in the National Highway System. State and federal requirements, the Governor, technical experts, and public opinion will all guide the development of MnSHIP.

What categories make up the MnSHIP investment?

The total MnSHIP investment will be allocated into ten categories that make up five key groups of highway projects. These include:

• Asset Management

  - Pavement Condition

  - Bridge Condition

  - Roadside Infrastructure Condition

• Traveler Safety
• Critical Connections

  - Twin Cities Mobility

  - Interregional Corridor Mobility

  - Bicycle Infrastructure

  - Accessible Pedestrian Infrastructure

• Regional + Community Improvement Priorities
• Project Support

 

For more information, visit the Investment Categories page.

Will MnDOT be able to address the state highway system’s needs?

The state highway system’s needs have increased since the 2009 MnSHIP update and will continue to grow. Preliminary estimates suggest that the investment needed just to preserve physical highway assets in good repair–without addressing safety, mobility or local issues–would require all projected revenue over the 20-year period.

MnDOT’s obligation to balance revenue constraints, legislative requirements, increasing needs, and reduced buying power means that MnSHIP must establish the state’s priorities for capital investments on state highways.

The Plan Development page provides a more detailed view of how MnSHIP will incorporate risk, performance targets, and public input. Please refer to What is MnSHIP? for additional information on how MnSHIP is being developed and what’s new about the 2014-2033 update.

How Can I Get Involved?

Specific dates and locations for involvement opportunities are posted on the website under Participate. Opportunities for influencing MnSHIP include:

• Website and e-mail updates
• Social media
• Webinars
• Sending comments to the MnSHIP team
• Use the Online Interactive Tool (through November 15, 2012)
• Public hearing (Spring 2013)

Click on Schedule for a timeline of the planning and public involvement process.