There was a lot of activity in the Minnesota House this week. Successfully opposing HF3513, a bill led by Waymo and its corporate lawyers that devises a regulatory framework in the company’s image and interests, was the win of the week for people-first transportation.
Our Streets opposes the deployment of commercial autonomous vehicles (CAVs) on Minnesota’s public roads and streets. Decision-makers and legislators must carefully consider the impacts of this technology on labor, safety, transit, and active transportation development and services.Â
Minnesota’s most vulnerable, marginalized communities are targets of federal action. This has ultimately jeopardized neighbors’ fundamental freedom to move safely—stripping access to family and friends, jobs, school, and daily needs. Communities impacted by transportation projects deserve full consideration of their goals and concerns and actionable input in project decision-making. Today, because of our current crisis that is impossible.
At the start of Minnesota’s legislative session, transportation continues to highlight issues around pedestrian safety, a confirmation hearing for the Metropolitan Council Chair, and two bills introduced by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Minnesota’s most vulnerable, marginalized communities are targets of federal action. This has ultimately jeopardized neighbors’ fundamental freedom to move safely—stripping access to family and friends, jobs, school, and daily needs. Communities impacted by transportation projects deserve full consideration of their goals and concerns and actionable input in project decision-making. Today, because of our current crisis that is impossible.
On Tuesday, February 17th, the 2026 Minnesota legislative session officially kicked off after a tense and difficult year in the Twin Cities and across Minnesota. Our Streets’ 2026 policy agenda will continue to address the underlying problems with how we invest in transportation which will help us to build a transportation system that works for everyone in the state of Minnesota.
MnDOT should immediately pause the Rethinking I-94 project to protect Minnesota’s autonomy in deciding the future of our state’s most significant transportation mega-project and avoid locking our communities into a federal framework that contradicts our state values.
The official public comment period for the Rethinking I-94 Scoping Decision Document runs from January 6 through March 9, 2026. This is a critical moment to make your voice heard and ensure that MnDOT’s environmental review reflects what our communities actually need.
The legislation mandates that the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to publish additional information on all trunk highway projects (with special attention to “major highway projects” costing at least $15M in metropolitan areas or $5M elsewhere) to provide detailed information to the public, including plain language descriptions, timelines, cost data, funding sources, design plans, and historical approval information.Â
Under existing regulations, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has the ultimate authority on the major highway project’s design. The Community Preferred Alternatives Act helps balance state and local decision-making to ensure that local residents and the elected officials who represent them have meaningful advisory roles on projects within their jurisdiction.Â
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