Community Conversations Engagement Project

Advancing Transportation Equity Initiative

The Community Conversations project is a series of conversations between MnDOT staff and individuals and organizations who work with and represent underserved communities in Minnesota. The intent of these conversations is to learn directly from underserved communities about their unique experiences and challenges with transportation. We then document these findings so they can be used to inform the agency’s transportation funding, planning and programming efforts.

Methodology

MnDOT typically conducts around 30 interviews in each district with nonprofit, government, transit, education, tribal, and other partners to understand the transportation needs for underserved and underrepresented communities. Select findings include:

Inadequate transportation options create barriers to the community
Private vehicles are common
Capacity of public transit does not meet demand
Land use and natural barriers also affect access
Relationships are key to engagement
People have many ideas to solve challenges with transportation equity
Organizations provided varied definitions and examples of equity

Project highlights

For planning and operational purposes MnDOT groups Minnesota into eight different districts. Conversations have started in 2018 and have been completed in Districts 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8. Work is expected to conclude for District 3 by Spring of 2023. This will be significant milestone marking the completion of Community Conversations for all of greater Minnesota districts.

A similar but separate process is expected for the Metro District.

Community conversations engagement project

Methodology

Project highlights

Reports and resources