Historically, equity has not been a primary objective in the transportation infrastructure investment planning process. By effectively incorporating equity into the process, underserved communities and Native nations can realize increased benefits from transportation improvements. This research explored effective strategies for incorporating equity in transportation capital investment planning and provides guidance to transportation agencies, planning organizations and Native nations.
Continue reading Increasing Equity in Transportation InvestmentsAll posts by mndotresearch
The winding road to an electric fleet
Reprinted from CTS News, November 24, 2025
Even for cities, counties, and organizations with zero-carbon emissions goals, most fleet managers are skeptical about going fully electric. Calculating the return on investment for a single vehicle is straightforward—but for a fleet, it’s complex.
Continue reading The winding road to an electric fleet
CTS Webinar: The Coffee Supply Chain—What Goes into Delivering Your Favorite Coffee to the Store Shelf
Thursday, December 11, 2025
noon–1:00 p.m. CST, Virtual
About the Event
This webinar may not be related to MnDOT research, but we thought you might find it interesting if you drink coffee.
Join CTS and Patrick Hessini, CTS Executive Committee member and head of supply chain at Cameron’s Coffee, for an in-depth look at the challenges and logistics of today’s supply chain. Grab a cup of coffee and bring your lunch as we learn about where and how we get our coffee from trees to mugs.
Registration
This webinar is free, but registration is required. Once you have registered, you will receive an email confirmation with a Zoom link. The link should not be shared with others; it is unique to you.
More Information
Visit the CTS website or contact James De Sota at jadesota@umn.edu.
Identifying Factors That Affect Stormwater Basin Performance
Stormwater basins are used to control runoff, prevent flooding and limit pollutants from reaching rivers, lakes and other large bodies of water. MnDOT monitors and maintains more than 400 infiltration and filtration basins statewide, and that number continues to grow. Identifying indicators of needed maintenance will increase management efficiency and basin performance. Field research at 28 basins identified basin age and silt content as two important factors to consider when planning inspections and taking corrective actions.
Continue reading Identifying Factors That Affect Stormwater Basin Performance
Mitigating the Negative Effects of Spaghetti Junctions
Complex highway interchanges in large metropolitan areas, also referred to as spaghetti junctions, have contributed greatly to enhancing vehicular connectivity and spurring economic growth. But the benefits of this built infrastructure are not evenly distributed, and neighborhoods near these highways are often negatively impacted. This project explored strategies used by other states to mitigate the consequences of spaghetti junctions that MnDOT could implement to improve conditions and livability for similar neighborhoods in Minnesota.
Continue reading Mitigating the Negative Effects of Spaghetti Junctions
Evaluating Taconite as a Lower Cost Friction Treatment
High friction surface treatments (HFSTs) on Minnesota roads are composed of imported, industry standard calcined bauxite aggregate. This material is expensive, and producing it is energy-intensive. Taconite aggregate, a by-product of the Minnesota mining industry, is a potential alternative to calcined bauxite that is less expensive. This research compared taconite and calcined bauxite in field skid resistance performance testing to determine the feasibility of using taconite in place of calcined bauxite in HFST applications.
Continue reading Evaluating Taconite as a Lower Cost Friction Treatment
Evaluating Road Designs That Use Lower Quality Aggregate
Aggregate materials used in the base and subbase layers of pavements provide structural support and drainability to Minnesota roads. But the supply of locally available high-quality aggregate material is becoming increasingly scarce. This project explored sustainable and cost-effective solutions for constructing durable flexible pavement roads with lower quality aggregate material.
Continue reading Evaluating Road Designs That Use Lower Quality Aggregate
Developing Biochar Specifications for Stormwater Management
Effective stormwater management helps keep roadway contaminants from entering Minnesota’s lakes and streams. Management practices include soil and vegetation in roadside bioretention systems that filter heavy metals and hydrocarbons created by vehicles. Based on other studies, retention and transformation of roadside pollutants should be improved by biochar application to existing or engineered soils. Abundant sources of biomass can be used to produce biochar, a soil amendment with numerous benefits. MnDOT and local agencies identified biochar specifications for effective use in stormwater treatment to support the next phase of testing and development of biochar design guidance.
Continue reading Developing Biochar Specifications for Stormwater Management
Evaluating Strategies to Prevent Early-Age Bridge Deck Cracking
Premature cracking in reinforced concrete bridge decks is expensive to repair and may lead to rapid bridge deterioration. Despite changes to mix designs, transverse cracking after casting continues to be a problem in Minnesota. This project evaluated alternative concrete mix designs and reinforcement strategies to mitigate early-age bridge deck cracking, reduce maintenance costs and extend bridge deck service lives.
Continue reading Evaluating Strategies to Prevent Early-Age Bridge Deck Cracking
Detecting Endangered Turtles with Environmental DNA
More than 60% of the world’s turtle species are endangered, including Blanding’s and wood turtles, which are native to Minnesota and may be found in the state’s wetlands, ponds, lakes and streams. To protect these vulnerable populations and their habitats, a cost-effective tool developed in this study will efficiently allow for the early detection of these turtles at transportation project sites.
Continue reading Detecting Endangered Turtles with Environmental DNA
Crossroads 