By Sue Roe

Cities and townships are eligible to apply for funding under MnDOT's newly created Greater Minnesota Stand-Alone Noise Barrier program. The agency has approximately $700,000 to award to 172 eligible cities for building noise barrier projects.

“Currently, most of the noise barriers are in the Twin Cities area, where higher traffic counts can create noise levels that exceed state standards,” said Peter Wasko, program administrator. “There are many cities in Greater Minnesota impacted by traffic noise and this funding will help address that.”

Cities can apply for the first round of funding before May 9. MnDOT will select projects in June with plans to begin construction in July 2017. Wasko said future applications will be accepted annually from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, although future funding amounts are not yet determined.

To qualify, cities must be adjacent to a limited access freeway, expressway or interstate where noise limits exceed the state daytime noise standard set by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Cities are required to pay 10 percent of the project cost.

Wasko said MnDOT has constructed noise walls and barriers during roadway construction projects since the 1970s, when the Minnesota Legislature directed the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to adopt state noise standards. State and federal standards are used to determine noise impacts and mitigation in Minnesota.

In 1995, MnDOT developed a priority list to direct state resources to mitigate traffic noise in locations not adjacent to new roadway construction. Most of these locations were in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

In 2013, the Office of the Legislative Auditor recommended that MnDOT offer funding to communities outside the Twin Cities to build noise barriers. The new program is in response to that recommendation.

For more information, go to www.mndot.gov/environment/noise/greater-mn-program.html.

By Judy Jacobs

The small town of Bena, Minn., is located on the Leech Lake Reservation and is just a dot on the map as motorists travel between Bemidji and Grand Rapids. This small town had a big concern about safety for their members when economic development resulted in heavier volumes of traffic traveling at a much faster rate on Hwy 2 and made it difficult for members to access goods and services in their community. 

In early 2014, Steve White, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe tribal council member, contacted MnDOT to share his safety concerns about community members who needed to walk or bike on Hwy  2. Newly hired MnDOT Tribal Liaison, Ed Fairbanks, a Leech Lake Band member, knew the dangers of Hwy 2 near the Bena area and was instrumental in getting the right people together to have these discussions.

Working with White and Levi Brown, tribal director of environment and land development, Fairbanks coordinated meetings with MnDOT representatives from District 2/Bemidji, and Carol Zoff and Holly Slagle, Office of Environmental Stewardship, and road representatives from Leech Lake. This team formed a partnership that also included Cass County and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to address the need for a safer option for pedestrians and bicyclists.

“This endeavor is a shining example of a true and meaningful partnership in addressing a public safety issue facing Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and the village of Bena,” Fairbanks said.    

“Drivers do not expect to see people walking along a busy rural road such as Hwy 2,” said Craig Collison, District 2 engineer. “We wanted to work with the tribe to provide a safer option for community members.”

The Bena Bike Trail was the result of these discussions. It began with the goal to improve safety for reservation members as they traveled from the Old Housing Area to the Bena Store.  Members from the Leech Lake tribe sought funding and permits from the state and federal governments since the Chippewa National Forest surrounds the town of Bena. The project was developed through a strong partnership between BIA engineering staff and Art Chase, tribal engineer.      

The Bena Bike Path will be constructed in three phases. Phase 1, which extends the trail one-half mile from the Old Housing Development to the Bena Store, is complete. Mike Barnes, assistant commissioner of operations, represented MnDOT at the ribbon-cutting held in October 2015.

“This trail is incredibly important to providing safety to the people of the Leech Lake Reservation, residents of the village of Bena, and folks using the Mississippi River Trail,” Barnes said at the event, thanking Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe members for bringing their concerns to MnDOT. 

“MnDOT remains committed to working with the Leech Lake Tribal Council to build and maintain a sound transportation system that supports the health of the people, environment and the economy, and helps businesses access labor, move products and prosper in our state,” he added.

Phase 2 will begin in 2017 and extend the trail approximately two miles to connect to the restaurants and surrounding businesses. Phase 3 is pending funding and is designed to complete the trail to the Winnie Dam Road.  
   
In appreciation to MnDOT for its cooperation with the trail, Leech Lake’s Tribal Chairwoman Carri Jones presented Barnes with a hand-beaded bolo tie. The bolo, and other project-related materials, are displayed in Central Office behind the fourth floor receptionist area.        

Jones said the tribe is seeing a move towards greater cooperation among government entities which, in the long run, better serves all the people of Greater Minnesota.