Draft 2026 Regional Solicitation Applications

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The Regional Solicitation is a competitive process to award transportation funding to projects that meet regional transportation needs. It includes the Regional Solicitation, Active Transportation Solicitation, and Highway Safety Improvement Program Solicitation.

The solicitation is part of the Metropolitan Council’s federally required continuing, comprehensive, and cooperative transportation planning process for the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. For federally funded projects, funding program and related rules and requirements are established by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and administered locally through collaboration with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). For regionally funded projects through the Active Transportation Solicitation, the program requirements were established by the Minnesota legislature.

Changes for the 2026 Funding Cycle

Through the Regional Solicitation Evaluation, significant changes are underway for the 2026 cycle.
  1. A revised structure with new funding categories, including Proactive and Reactive Safety categories, New Interchanges, and EV Charging.
  2. Regional Transportation Sales and Use Tax for Active Transportation provides funding for local bicycle, local pedestrian, and active transportation planning categories.
  3. Simplified and focused applications with new criteria and measures that align with Imagine 2050 and the 2050 Transportation Policy Plan.
  4. Maximum awards have been increased in many categories