Project Manager Newsletter
March 2026
Welcome to Spring and our March monthly newsletter! It has been a while since I discussed the timeline of the study, so that is what I will focus on this month. I hope the warmer weather is re-energizing all of you!
We have been very busy over the last couple of months wrapping up some technical reports to document our process while also starting to write parts of the draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The DEIS is anticipated to be published this fall and will open a 60-day public comment period, the maximum allowable timeframe. This is an opportunity to send in your comments and concerns on the DEIS. I encourage all of you to read through the document when it is published as it will contain a lot of data and other information to understand MnDOT’s data analysis.
Thank you to the residents and neighbors who joined MnDOT at Riverdale Park to ask questions about a proposed pedestrian bridge at 70th Ave. North. We had a couple dozen attendees and project staff, a great turnout. We understand you had questions about the bridge design, whether art could be included on the pedestrian bridge, which preserves existing pedestrian access, and learning more about the study as we near publication of the DEIS this fall. We also heard about concerns about noise mitigation and will be providing information about the noise abatement analysis and noise wall voting process. These informal meetings are great opportunities for us to connect directly with residents. Let us know if you'd like project staff to attend a neighborhood gathering to talk about the Hwy 252/I-94 study.
MnDOT will also be conducting a noise wall voting process simultaneously during the DEIS public comment period. The voting is needed at this stage and helps keep the project on schedule. Those eligible, which are people who will experience a 5-decibel reduction in noise as a result of a noise wall, will be able to vote for or against noise walls along the corridor. For more information, visit the noise analysis webpage.
After the DEIS public comment period, we will compile comments and include them in the final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). The FEIS is anticipated to be published in spring 2027. In addition, there will be a document called the Record of Decision (ROD) published at the same time as the FEIS. The ROD contains the chosen alternative and the rationale behind that decision. The publication of the FEIS and ROD will conclude the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.
If you have any questions about the timeline for what’s to come, please reach out to us.
Question of the month: What updates or outcomes have occurred with Journey to Community Wellness since our last public meeting in 2025?
In addition to the federal Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process, MnDOT is advancing the Journey to Community Wellness initiative to identify strategies that promote community health within the study area. This is a state funded process and not part of NEPA. Over the past several months, the project team has reviewed public input to refine key priorities, including public health promotion, improvements to open space and connectivity, community and economic development, and impacts to specific communities. The team has also developed a preliminary list of strategies for further evaluation and contacted community-based organizations to explore potential partnerships. A progress update will be shared publicly in late June 2026. Sign up for email updates and continue to check the website for new information as it becomes available to the public.