1. State Aid Standards Development
March 2010

2. STATE AID AUTHORITY / RESPONSONSIBILTY
Authorized by Minnesota Statutes 162
Rules Chapter 8820 Include Design Standards
Standards Apply Only When Using State Aid Funds
The purpose of the state-aid program is to provide resources from the Highway Users Tax Distribution Fund to assist local governments with the construction and maintenance of community-interest highways and streets on the state-aid system.

3. DEVELOPMENT OF STATE AID POLICY
Developed Through a Peer Driven Process:
Rules are Developed by 21 Member Advisory Committee of Elected Officials and Engineers.
Variance Committee of 5 Elected Officials and Engineers Recommends Approval / Denial of Variance Requests.

4. DEVELOPMENT OF STATE AID STANDARDS
Standards are Derived From AASHTO (National) and adapted by MnDOT for State Highways, then adapted by State Aid for Major Local Roadways.
Mn County Engineers Association and City Engineers Association of Mn Review and Update Standards Regularly.
State Aid Division Solicits Suggestions for Rule Revisions From Everyone.
- Current list.
- some examples recently trucks, design speed, changes to reconditioning, fitting in the bridge standards, and safety projects, even design build,...point is the committee is on the pulse of current public thinking and sensitive to change and decide how to allow changes to allow new thinking...roundabout good example.

5. EVOLVING FLEXIBILITY
In 1986, 12’ lanes required on all MSAS routes. Now only for > 40 mph.
Allow parking in outside lanes during off peak if LOS D is met during peak hour.
Developed bike path standards and roundabout design criteria.
Allow landscaping items up to 5%.
Minimal reconditioning standards.

6. APPLY COMMON SENSE
State Aid Standards Do Promote Movement of People and Freight, Accessibility, Safety, Driver Expectation, and Wise Use of Funds , but –
State Aid Standards Do Not Discourage or Obstruct Sound Engineering Judgment In Any Specific Situation

7. BALANCE Type of Traffic Surrounding Land Use Natural Environment
Safety
Promote Wise Use of Funds
The state aid system “driven” by people.
We serve as a good place to bring new design considerations into the discussion arena and they work.
- Roundabouts
- ADA
- Natural Preservation Routes
- Bicycling

8. URBAN NEW / RECONSTRUCTION STANDARDS
Design Standards, Urban; New or Reconstruction Projects.
Look at handout.

9. URBAN RECONDITIONING STANDARDS
Minimum Design Standards, Urban; Reconditioning Projects. Subpart 1. Two-way streets.

10. RESIDENTIAL BUMP-OUT AND TEARDROP
Project done by the City on Jefferson and Edgecombe Avenues. Bump outs installed as well as teardrop shaped center median in an attempt to reduce traffic speeds.
Corridor was currently under study by the city as a bike corridor connecting Mississippi River Blvd. with West 7th Street. Portions of the route would have dedicated bike lanes while others would be a shared bike/vehicle area.

11. COMMERCIAL AREA BUMP-OUTS

12. PHALEN BOULEVARD – ST. PAUL
This is a commercial/industrial area with a railroad parallel to Phalen just left of the picture.
The lane width varies from 12 to 18 ft. with 6 ft shoulders and a 12 ft bike/ped path.

13. WEST RIVER ROAD - BROOKLYN PARK BEFORE
This project involved taking an old rural section with 1:1 ditch slopes on both sides and reconstructing it as an urban residential street with a 10 ft bike path, 28 ft street width, curb and gutter, and landscaping, which all together dropped the speed limit from 50 to 30 mph.
This still meets State Aid standards and provides for snow storage and emergency breakdown.
The intention was to narrow the road as much as possible to reduce the 85th percentile speed – it worked.

14. WEST RIVER ROAD - BROOKLYN PARK AFTER
Ladybird Johnson would be pleased.
Meets State Aid standards and provides for curb reaction distance, snow storage, and emergency breakdown.
The intention was to narrow the road as much as possible to reduce the 85th percentile speed – it worked.

15. SHEPARD ROAD – ST. PAUL
This project includes four lanes to accommodate higher volumes and also has a wide median with landscaping and a trail separated from the roadway.
This is not a route that should be narrow but still looks nice.

16. 7th AVE. ROUNDABOUT – GRAND RAPIDS
This project replaced two offset T intersections with a single lane roundabout.
It includes stamped concrete on the truck apron and splitter islands.
A 10’ bituminous trail crosses the 10th Street approach leg to accommodate bikes and pedestrians.