Greater Minnesota Transportation Alternatives Solicitation
Greater Minnesota Transportation Alternatives Solicitation supports communities and regional agencies with walking, biking, preservation, and school-route projects to advance transportation alternatives.
Funder: Minnesota Department of Transportation
Due Dates: October 30, 2026 (Northwest LOI) | January 8, 2027 (Northwest full application) | March 29, 2027 (Northwest project selection)
Funding Amounts: Approximately $12.5 million statewide, allocated across seven Area Transportation Partnerships
Summary: Supports local communities and regional agencies with pedestrian, bicycle, historic preservation, Safe Routes to School, and other transportation alternatives projects.
Key Information: Greater Minnesota applicants must submit a letter of intent before proceeding to a full application.
Description
The Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternatives Solicitation is a competitive funding opportunity for local communities and regional agencies. It supports pedestrian and bicycle facilities, historic preservation, Safe Routes to School, and other transportation alternatives. The program replaces historical funding streams—including Transportation Enhancements, Scenic Byways, Safe Routes to School, and several discretionary programs—with a state-developed competitive approach.
Funding is allocated regionally through seven Area Transportation Partnerships (ATPs), which manage all aspects of the 2026–2027 Greater Minnesota application process. Regional representatives review proposed projects and help applicants understand the steps needed to deliver a federally funded project before a full application is submitted. The seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area has a separate solicitation administered by the Metropolitan Council and its Transportation Advisory Board.
