Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Project development

Functional groups

Roadside Vegetation Management Unit

Goal

The goal of this unit is to provide recommendations for protection, removal, management, or control of existing vegetation for design and construction of state construction projects, building services projects, negotiated maintenance projects, utility and miscellaneous use permits, and roadside vegetation maintenance. This document addresses construction projects and utility and miscellaneous permits.

Products the unit provides

  • State Construction Projects, Building Services Projects, and Negotiated Maintenance Projects
    • Report of presence or absence of potential vegetation impacts at the Early Notification Memo (ENM) stage
    • Electronic file of impacted vegetation locations
    • Project specific special provisions
    • Review and report including recommendations for Design-Build RFPs
    • Report of protected plant survey including presence of protected plant species within the construction limits or absence of plant species    
    • Valuation of removed or damaged vegetation that was identified on plans to remain through construction
  • Utility and Miscellaneous Use Permits
    • Report of presence or absence of potential vegetation impacts including guidance for additional permits needed by the permit requestor and recommendation on whether to grant the permit in the submitted area
    • Memo of recommendation for vegetation removal by third party
    • Valuation of vegetation removed or requested to be removed by third party

What to expect from the unit

  • Products listed above
  • Awareness of the laws, rules, and regulations that pertain to vegetation on MnDOT right of way
  • Support and assistance for existing vegetation issues and concerns

What you need to provide to the unit

  • State Construction Projects, Building Services Projects, and Negotiated Maintenance Projects
    • Project limits including construction limits
    • Type of work included in the project
    • Knowledge of vegetation with local importance, i.e. memorial trees, local landmarks, etc
    • Discussion of anticipated vegetation impacts, i.e. tree removals, grading disturbance
  • Utility and Miscellaneous Use Permits
    • Location of requested work area
    • Type of work being performed
    • History of activity on the site, if applicable

What the unit expects from you

  • State Construction Projects, Building Services Projects, and Negotiated Maintenance Projects
    • ENM sent to Unit contact if thresholds listed on ENM template are met
    • Plans sent for review when construction limits are set (or 30% plan completion) if requested as part of the ENM review
  • Utility and Miscellaneous Use Permits
    • Permits review request sent through PACER for Utility permits
    • Permits review request sent through PACER or direct contact with Unit members for Miscellaneous use permits
    • Email sent to Unit supervisor when an emergency permit needs review
    • Follow-up contact with permit applicant if diagrams and maps are not clear