Highway Sponsorship Program

MnDOT Engineering Services Division2018

mndot.gov

Origin of 160.801 Highway Sponsorship Statute (2017)

• Enhance and maintain highway right of way in partnership with businesses and civic organizations

• Improve highway aesthetics and sustainability statewide

• Create and maintain critical pollinator habitat

• New & innovative uses of right of way

Building on MnDOT’s experience and knowledge base

Innovative Uses of Right

of Way

Limited Use Permits/

Permits

Adopt-a-Highway Program

Community Landscape Partnership

Agreements/ Context Sensitive

Solutions

Expanded Public Engagement &

Intentional Partnership

Development

Initiatives Supporting Economic

Development

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Effective Public-Private Partnerships: Chicago Gateway Green

• Local nonprofit manages 95 gardens on Chicago Freeways around downtown through a MOU with IDOT.

• Gardens are financed primarily through corporate philanthropy (sponsor acknowledgement signs)

• Nonprofit contracts for plantings, maintenance, and litter pick-up April-Oct

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Opportunities for MnDOT’s Highway Sponsorship Agreements

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Gateway Landscaping adjacent to commercial

areas or downtowns

Scenic Byways

Solar projects

Wildlife Fencing

Historic markers

Enhanced Landscaping on

highway roadsides

Art on the Highway,

bridges, etc.

Installing Pollinator

Habitat

Conservancies for Ground

Nesting Species

Examples of Enhanced Landscaping Projects with Private Partnersthrough Highway Sponsorship Agreements

Partner underwrites plant material, installation, and on-going maintenance of landscaping by

hiring MnDOT-approved contractor

Partner underwrites expanded maintenance for existing plantings for improved aesthetics

Partner engages internal landscaping/maintenance employees and/or

“employee-volunteers” for plantings and maintenance

Partner engages new or existing philanthropic partners to execute new landscaping project

and on-going maintenance

Enhanced Landscaping Project Options through Highway Sponsorship Agreements

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Example Highway Sponsorship Agreement Opportunities

Hennepin-Lyndale Public

Space Coalition

Hmong American Farmers

Association

Minnesota United Stadium

St. Paul (I-94)

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Example #1: Hennepin-Lyndale Corridor Downtown Minneapolis

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Example #2: Minnesota United Stadium St. Paul

• High visibility demonstration project potential

• I-94 landscaping enhancements & maintenance

• 161,000+ Average Annual Daily Traffic

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First Highway Sponsorship Agreement:Andersen Corporation (Bayport, MN) FALL 2018

• Highway 95, Screening & mitigation landscaping required by the city of Bayport.

• Design, plant purchase, installation and maintenance done by Andersen Corp.

• Adjustments were made to proposal based on clear zone, plant selection, traffic plan, etc.

• Installation Fall 2018

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Second Highway Sponsorship Agreement Industrial EquitiesI-694/East River Road, Fridley

• Developer requested-expanded maintenance adjacent to Fridley’s Park of Commerce with 156,000 office space

• Tree removal, fence installation, maintenance and litter pick up

• Fall 2018 timeline

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Third Highway Sponsorship Agreement: Great River Greening/Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA)

• TH 52 in Dakota County, South of Coates, near Vermillion township

• Concept submitted by Great River Greening for 4.5 acre pollinator project underwritten by corporate partner.

• Pollinator habitat to support 155 acre-HAFA farm.

• Spring/summer 2019 project proposed.

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Examples of other potential uses for highway sponsorship agreements

Noise wall painting & maintenance

Rural traffic calming: gateway landscaping & blvd. trees

Wildlife protection: exclusionary fencing for threatened turtles

Educational Interpretive panels supporting scenic byways

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90 Day Pre-Development process for partners proposing sponsorship of Right of Way enhancement or maintenance

projects

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Submit Highway Sponsorship Concept Form with Site Map

Concept Phase: Consultation Meeting

Submit Highway Sponsorship Proposal

with Site Map, Installation Plan,

Maintenance Plan, etc.

MnDOT proposal review

(up to 30 days)

Review Phase: Consultation & design

adjustments

Highway Sponsorship Agreement Review

Meeting

Project coordination meeting and final

review of installation plan

Project Execution Phase: Installation or Maintenance Begins

Annual Sponsor Check-In Meeting

MnDOT Functional Units engaged during project review and routing:

District Review:

o District Engineer (or designee)/Area Manager

o District Resident Engineero District Planningo District Maintenance:

Superintendent/Local truck stationo District Right of Wayo District Permitso District Traffico District Environmental/Watero District Communications & Public

Engagement

Central Office Review:o OTST: State Sign Engineer

o OM: State Maintenance Engineero OLM: Right of Wayo OLM: Utility Permits/Permitso OLM: Mapping/Surveys o OLM: Limited Use Permitso OES: Vegetation Mgmt.o OES: Erosion & Storm water Mgmt.o OES: Env. Investigation Unito OES: Env. Planning & Designo OES: Cultural Serviceso General Counselo Tribal Affairs

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Next Steps in Program Development & How you can get Involved

• MnDOT District consultation June-November 2018

• Program branding & acknowledgement sign development

• Creation of agreement template, program guidance, policies and procedures through Highway Sponsorship Steering committee

• Internal risk assessment in conjunction with the Center for Community Connections

• FHWA: review and approval of Sponsorship Agreement guidance & Sponsor Acknowledgement Signs

• Suggest possible project sites/partners for demonstration projects statewide

• Provide input into prospect list of potential partners and interested parties for outreach in Greater Minnesota

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Where flowers

bloom, so does hope

-Lady Bird Johnson

Thank you!

Jessica Oh

Highway Sponsorship Program Director

MnDOT, Engineering Services, Office of Land Management

Jessica.Oh@state.mn.us

Office: 651-366-4939/Cell: 612-430-4762

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