Mn/DOT again will host an annual exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair, which runs Aug. 21 through Labor Day. The theme of this year's exhibit is "The Mn/DOT Zone."

Submitted for your consideration: Thousands of people. Twelve sweaty days. A 25-ton orange snowplow. And a five-foot-tall polyurethane Charlie Brown dressed in work zone safety gear.

You’ve just entered…The Mn/DOT Zone, the department’s exhibit at the annual Minnesota State Fair.

Located at 1698 Judson Boulevard next to the Dairy Building, Mn/DOT’s exhibit is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day of the fair, which opens Aug. 21 and ends Labor Day.

At the Mn/DOT Zone fairgoers can:

• Meet with knowledgeable Mn/DOT employees staffing the exhibit

• Get behind the wheel of a new snowplow

• Check out Mn/DOT’s "Work Zone Safety Charlie Brown"

• Pick up a free Minnesota transportation history postcard

• Learn how an idea becomes a road

• Learn about the new 511 traveler information system for road and traffic updates

• See a traffic camera's view of the fair

• Take a break in the Kids’ Zone with trivia questions

Mn/DOT’s exhibit this year includes the results of last year’s straw poll to which 4,300 people responded. Here’s what fairgoers said in 2002:

Transportation focus for next 20 years:

• Preserve existing roadway system

• Improve mobility – reduce congestion

• Increase travel options (bus, bike and pedestrian trails, light rail transit, etc.)

• Increase safety and security

Route most beneficial to you: Interstate 94 from Collegeville to Maple Grove

What would encourage you to use a bike for short trips instead of a car: More off-the-road bike paths

Favorite wildflower: Black-eyed Susan

Reason for visiting Mn/DOT’s Web site: Get construction updates

Check out the department’s Web site for more information about Mn/DOT’s exhibit.

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Mn/DOT took its first step toward implementing the agency’s new strategic plan when Lt. Gov./Commissioner Carol Molnau gave her approval for Minnesota’s 20-year Statewide Transportation Plan on July 31.

"This is a sound plan that sets the policy direction to implement the agency’s vision for now and into the future. The key new part of this plan is the performance measures," said Molnau. "We will measure what we do against our targets and be accountable to the taxpayers for our performance."

The plan is developed at least every six years to set long-range transportation policy for Mn/DOT. The Office of Investment Management oversees the development of the plan, which serves as Mn/DOT’s guide for the future.

"The plan provides the policy framework within which district and modal plans will now be prepared," said Randy Halvorson, Program Management Division director. "For the first time we have incorporated performance measures with clear targets so we can prioritize investments based on achievement of any particular target."

"We are grateful to our partners and stakeholders as well as the general public for their input into this plan," said Halvorson.

A variety of public involvement techniques were used to gather public input for the plan:

• Transportation Dialogues were held in each Mn/DOT district, which engaged attendees in discussion about the plan’s policies.

• Focus groups with minority populations and general citizens were held across the state.

• Visitors to the 2002 State Fair had the chance to rank the policies.

• Mn/DOT’s Web site offered a place for comments for people who were unable to participate in any of these forums.

"We were very pleased to see that greater numbers of people were interested in giving their input on a 20-year plan than we have seen in the past,’’ said Halvorson. "Our public meetings were filled beyond capacity in some situations."

Mn/DOT division staff and the Office of Investment Management staff will visit districts and divisions this fall to discuss the new Strategic Plan (highlighted in Aug. 6 edition of Newsline) and the 20-year Statewide Transportation Plan (http://www.oim.dot.state.mn.us/State%20Plan/index.html) in more detail.

By Lucy Kender

After signing off on Minnesota's 20-year Statewide Transportation Plan on July 31, Lt. Gov./ Commissioner Carol Molnau (pink suit) posed with some of the Mn/DOT staff who have worked on developing the plan. From left are Randy Halvorson, Donna Lindberg, Mitch Webster, Lucy Kender, Molnau, Abby McKenzie, Al Schenkelberg and Jonette Kreideweis. Photo by David Gonzalez

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The final layoff numbers are now official according to Rich Peterson, director of the Office of Human Resources Operations. Peterson reported to Commissioner’s staff on Aug. 4 that Mn/DOT processed 185 layoff transactions. Of the 185, 109 were involuntary and 76 were voluntary.

"It would be inappropriate to distribute a list of the names due to privacy issues, but we can share the numbers," Peterson said.

The layoff numbers break down as follows by bargaining unit:

• 109 involuntary (48 AFSCME; eight Commissioner’s Plan; 47 MAPE; one managers' plan; five MMA)

• 76 voluntary (39 AFSCME; three Commissioner’s Plan; nine MAPE; six managers' plan; nine MGEC, 10 MMA)

Since the layoff process began this past spring, Mn/DOT’s layoff Web site has provided information regarding layoffs and related links. The Web site will no longer be available after Aug. 31.

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This image of a stalled vehicle on the shoulder of I-35E south of Cedar Avenue was captured on Wednesday afternoon by one of Mn/DOT's metro area traffic cameras. The image was then "broadcast" on the 511 new Traveler Information System’s incident Web page, which changes every 60 seconds. The truck behind the stalled vehicle is one of the department's Highway Helpers.

Internet users may now view events such as crashes, overturned trucks and stalled vehicles on Twin Cities area freeways on the 511 new Traveler Information System’s incident page, courtesy of Mn/DOT’s Regional Transportation Management Center.

"The page can show as many as 12 on-going incidents being monitored and cleared to minimize traffic congestion," said Nick Thompson, freeway operations manager at the RTMC.

"The new page adds to the information now available via 511 such as detours, traffic volume flows and crashes. Currently the page provides only video images; however, it will soon provide text information about each incident as well," he said.

"The availability of ‘live monitors’ allows commuters to make informed decisions and avoid congestion," said Jim Kranig, assistant state traffic engineer, Operations. "The monitors give a real-time snapshot of traffic-impeding incidents, including major construction and weather-related incidents

"Commuters can log onto www.511mn.org, check the congestion map and incident monitors, then make adjustments to their travel itinerary," Kranig said.

Users may access the cameras by selecting the "Twin Cities metro area" on 511, select "cameras" and then click on "current incidents" to view the video screens that display current Twin Cities area incidents.

"Initial public response to the service has been very good," Kranig said. "Members of the news media find the new page especially helpful when reporting traffic updates during rush hour.

"We hope that more members of the public will use the Web site to see if a crash or other incident blocks traffic and then choose a route that won’t worsen an existing situation," he said.

By Craig Wilkins

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