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.
2026 Regional Solicitation Community Considerations Workshop
The Metropolitan Council is offering a workshop to support best practices in community-centered transportation projects. This workshop is intended for anyone who plays a role in developing and implementing transportation projects and will build a shared understanding of community-centered transportation project concepts, explore challenges and strategies, and prepare for the Regional Solicitation process. Learn more and register using the attached flyer.
Community Considerations Workshop Flyer
Changes for the 2026 Funding Cycle
Through the Regional Solicitation Evaluation, significant changes are underway for the 2026 cycle.
- A revised structure with new funding categories, including Proactive and Reactive Safety categories, New Interchanges, and EV Charging.
- Regional Transportation Sales and Use Tax for Active Transportation provides funding for local bicycle, local pedestrian, and active transportation planning categories.
- Simplified and focused applications with new criteria and measures that align with Imagine 2050 and the 2050 Transportation Policy Plan.
- Maximum awards have been increased in many categories.
Project eligibility and evaluation
Federal funds are available for roadway, bridge, transit capital and operating, and bike and pedestrian projects. Regional sales tax funds are available for active transportation infrastructure and planning.
The criteria and measures for evaluating project applications and the solicitation process undergo a regular review every two years through the region’s cooperative planning process, and the revised application is adopted by the Transportation Advisory Board. For 2026, the Regional Solicitation Evaluation provided a complete review and realignment with Imagine 2050 and the 2050 Transportation Policy Plan. Project applications are solicited, reviewed, scored, and ranked through this process.