Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Project development

Functional groups

Historic Roadside Property and Waysides Program

Goal

The goal of this program is to preserve and protect and educate people about waysides and historic roadside properties which are an integral part of the trunk highway system.

Products the program provides

  • Information on the purpose and activities of the program
  • Project selection and investment priority for projects funded through an annual small program setaside and included in the State Transportation Improvement Program
  • Project management and implementation
  • Education on historic roadside properties
  • Research and reports evaluating and identifying historic roadside properties
  • Archiving historic photos and plans
  • Technical assistance on projects that involve historic roadside properties and waysides (HRPW)

What to expect from the program

  • Deliver trainings and other learning opportunities to deepen understanding of the HRPW program and historic roadside properties
  • Technical assistance on project planning, scoping, and through the environmental review process
  • Review and comment on interim deliverables, including layouts and bidding documents

What you need to provide to the program

  • Timely opportunities to participate in and comment on project planning and scoping before major design decisions are made that could impact a historic roadside property
  • Documentation of major project decisions that impact historic roadside properties focusing on avoidance, minimization and mitigation process

What the program expects from you

  • Carefully consider how design decisions impact historic roadside properties and waysides, understanding that the setting and viewshed of an historic property is important to its integrity and historic significance. Even though a project may not directly appear to touch the property, it may still create an impact on it.
  • Familiarize your team with resources available on potentially impacted properties by reviewing historic inventories and treatment plans if available. Some are available on the HRPW website while others may only be available by reaching out to the HRPW program manager.
  • Recognize that historic roadside properties and waysides are an important and valued part of our transportation network. They capture parts of our history and legacy as a state agency. Once lost, they may be irreplaceable.