Shared mobility in Greater Minnesota | Resources | Shared Mobility Public-Private Partnership Guide
9: MnDOT resources
The Minnesota Department of Transportation offers several resources to assist communities with their shared-mobility efforts, questions, and needs.
Minnesota shared mobility monthly call
MnDOT offers great resources for municipalities looking to explore both shared mobility and micromobility. MnDOT staff host monthly calls for municipalities seeking answers to some of the big questions about how to start exploring shared and micromobility. The call brings together both large and small municipalities to provide updates from participants, and to encourage collaboration in identifying state and federal funding and other resources that are available for municipalities. There is also an update from MnDOT staff about any new programs or initiatives the agency is offering to support shared and micromobility.
For more information or to be included in the monthly calls, contact Elliott McFadden, MnDOT Greater Minnesota Shared Mobility Program Coordinator, at Elliott.McFadden@state.mn.us.
Development program
We launched a new shared- mobility innovation ecosystem in August 2023 called Moving Greater Minnesota Forward. The program seeks to identify and support individuals and organizations with ideas to improve shared-mobility services in Greater Minnesota, from early idea development to real-world piloting and scaling success. The program is the first mobility incubator in the United States to focus on the dynamics and needs of rural and small urban (< 200,000 people) communities.
The program is divided into three phases. Phase 1: Early Idea Development works with organizations and individuals that have innovative ideas to meet real mobility needs in Greater Minnesota to help develop their vision using Lean Startup methods. MnDOT accepts up to twelve projects twice a year into Phase 1 cohorts. Projects that successfully complete Phase 1 and develop an idea that is ready for real-world testing will be encouraged to apply for up to two years of pilot funding in Phase 2: Real World Testing. OTAT has made $500,000 annually in project funding available for Phase 2 pilots. Phase 2 projects that have demonstrated successful pilot implementation and potential to scale will be supported in their transition to Phase 3: Scaling Success. Funding models for Phase 3 scaling may come in the form of private-equity investment, invitation to compete for procurement awards through existing federal and state programs, and/or public-private partnerships to leverage public, private, and philanthropic funding sources.
Greater Minnesota Shared Mobility Webinars
We host the Greater Minnesota shared mobility webinars. This is series from MnDOT’s Greater Minnesota Shared Mobility Program to help increase the knowledge of shared use technology and services to improve the way Minnesotans move around our state. Past webinars are available on MnDOT’s website and address a variety of topics around shared mobility in greater Minnesota. Some past topics include, “Opportunities to Grow Shared Mobility in Greater Minnesota” and “Filling in the Gaps: How Micromobility Can Help Enrich Transportation Options.”
MnDOT technical support
Our Greater Minnesota Shared Mobility Program offers technical support for Greater Minnesota communities wishing to implement shared-mobility services. Services include review of proposed services, briefing on current shared-mobility market conditions, help identifying project development and implementation funding, and introductions to other resources and potential project partners.
Communities interested in working with MnDOT on their shared-mobility project should contact the program manager, Elliott McFadden, at elliott.mcfadden@state.mn.us.