Understanding Manufacturers' Perspectives on Transportation in MnDOT District 3: An Industry Cluster Approach

Project summary:

This project follows work done 2013 through 2019 in the Minnesota Department of Transportation's (MnDOT's) Districts 8, 4, 2, 1, 6, and 7 that employed a qualitative approach (in-person interviews) to obtain a better understanding of the transportation challenges and priorities faced by manufacturers and related industries in the district, and to identify and recommend potential responses to these needs from MnDOT. The proposed project will replicate the process in MnDOT District 3.

To achieve this goal, the proposed research has the following objectives:

1. To employ a regional industry cluster approach to identify key industries and manufacturers in the district;

2. To work with MnDOT and Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) staff, and local economic development officers, to contact up to 200-250 specific manufacturers and freight carriers, with a goal of having at least 90-110 agree to in-person interviews and/or site visits in each district to learn their transportation concerns and ideas for improvement;

3. To analyze and present the data to MnDOT and other key decision makers at various meetings and forums; and

4. To work with MnDOT and MMB staff to prepare a report that documents this process and recommendations such that it can be replicated in other districts.