The Road to Funding

Anoka County is seeking federal funding through the Metropolitan Council for its Multimodal Transportation System.

Anoka County and its partners have identified several improvement projects that are eligible to compete for funding through this program.

Transportation projects are large investments. Securing federal funds will expand our ability to complete these needed projects.

Tell us how these projects fit into your vision for our community. We seek your input and value your opinions on these important transportation improvement investments.

Explore the map on the next page to learn how these projects can benefit you! You'll also find information about the funding process, next steps, and how to provide your input and stay connected.

Explore the Map
Anoka County, Minnesota

2024 Solicitation for Federal Transportation Funding

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Funding Category

Blue pin Roadway Expansion
Brown pin Roadway Spot Mobility & Safety
Gray pin Traffic Management Technologies
Gray pin Multi-use Trail
How do projects get funded?

How do Projects Get Funded?

What is Regional Solicitation?

The Metropolitan Council developed the Regional Solicitation process to enable local communities, like Anoka County, to apply for federal transportation funds to support their transportation projects. This process is one way that the Metropolitan Council prioritizes and invests in roads, bridges, transit, and biking and walking needs. The Regional Solicitation happens once every two years and awards about $180 million in federal funds.

How does it work?

Anoka County must submit an application to the Metropolitan Council for each project it wishes to receive funding for. Not every project will receive funding.

Each project must be consistent with the goals and policies outlined in the 2040 Transportation Policy Plan. This plan defines a policy framework of transportation system stewardship, safety and security, access to destinations, competitive economy, healthy and equitable communities, and investments that guide land use.

Projects are evaluated by a set of criteria specific to the eleven funding categories. Among the criteria, proposals must address the project’s role in the regional transportation system and regional economy, age and condition of the infrastructure, safety, connections, equity, and affordable housing.

Visit the Metropolitan Council’s website to learn more about the application and selection process.

Funding Categories

Each project must be submitted within one of these funding categories:

  • Checked Roadway Strategic Capacity (Roadway Expansion)
  • Checked Roadway Reconstruction / Modernization
  • Checked Roadway Spot Mobility and Safety
  • Checked Traffic Management Technologies (Roadway System Management)
  • Not checked Bridge Rehabilitation / Replacement
  • Checked Multi-use Trails & Bicycle Facilities
  • Not checked Pedestrian Facilities
  • Not checked Safe Routes to Schools
  • Not checked Transit Expansion
  • Not checked Travel Demand Management (2020 and 2021 funds)
  • Not checked Transit Modernization
Checked Anoka County is submitting projects within these categories.
View the map to learn more about each project.

So not every project gets funded?

Unfortunately, not every project submitted during the Regional Solicitation process gets selected. Anoka County is developing robust applications for each of the projects we’ve identified.

Even if some of our projects aren’t selected to receive funding now, we will continue to work towards making those projects a reality in the future.

Traditional Anoka County project funding sources include:

County State Aid Highway (CSAH) Funds:

  • Gas Tax
  • Motor Vehicle Sales Tax
  • Auto Parts Tax
  • License Tabs

County Transportation Tax Distribution

County Levy

When is funding awarded?

The Metropolitan Council will select final projects in spring 2024. There are a few steps in between—take a look at the schedule below.

  • October 2023

    2024 Regional Solicitation opened

  • Fall/Winter 2023

    Gather public input on projects

  • December 15, 2023

    Applications are due

  • Spring 2024

    Projects are selected

Highway 65 at Bunker Lake Boulevard From 133rd Avenue to 139th Avenue

Roadway Expansion
  • Approximately 1 mile
  • Interchange
  • Approximate construction cost $40M

This project includes replacing the existing at-grade signalized intersection at Highway 65 and Bunker Lake Boulevard in Ham Lake with a grade-separated interchange.

Aerial map of Highway 65 at Bunker Lake Boulevard

Issues to be Addressed

  • Poor mobility/traffic congestion
  • Poor access between east and west sides of Highway 65
  • Vehicle, pedestrian, and bicyclist safety issues
  • High crash-rate intersections
  • Unreliable travel times

Proposed Improvements

If this project receives funding, the potential improvements may include:

  • Construction of new interchange to serve the TH 65 / Bunker Lake Boulevard area
  • New service (frontage/backage) roads
  • Access modifications and improvements
  • New sidewalks/trails for pedestrians and bicyclists

Project Benefits

  • Improved travel mobility on Highway 65 and Bunker Lake Boulevard
  • Improved connectivity along, and across, Highway 65
  • Improved on-time reliability for transit
  • Improved travel safety for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists
What are your thoughts?

Highway 610 at East River Road
From Mississippi River to Coon Rapids Boulevard

Roadway Expansion
  • 2.9 miles
  • Interchange Improvement
  • Approximate Construction Cost TBD

This project includes reconstructing the Highway 610/East River Road (CSAH 1) interchange between the Mississippi River and Coon Rapids Boulevard in Coon Rapids.

Aerial map of Highway 610 at East River Road.

Issues to be Addressed

  • Poor accessibility
  • Mobility and travel safety issues at the current interchange serving the area (Foley/Highway 10) System connectivity

Proposed Improvements

If this project receives funding, the potential improvements may include:

  • Construction of eastbound on-ramp and westbound off-ramp to create a full access interchange at Highway 610 and East River Road
  • New auxiliary lanes onto Highway 610 between East River Road and Coon Rapids Boulevard

Project Benefits

  • Improved access to area
  • Improved connectivity
  • Improved transit access
What are your thoughts?

Intersection of Main Street and Lake Drive
Lino Lakes

Roadway Spot Mobility & Safety Improvements
  • 0.2 miles
  • Roundabout
  • Approximate Construction Cost $2M–$3M

This project includes reconstructing the intersection at CSAH 14 (Main Street) and CSAH 23 (Lake Drive) in the City of Lino Lakes.

Aerial map of the intersection of Main Street and Lake Drive.

Issues to be Addressed

  • Poor mobility/traffic congestion at existing intersection
  • High crash rates at existing intersection
  • Inadequate pedestrian and bicyclist accommodations

Proposed Improvements

If this project receives funding, the potential improvements may include:

  • Construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Main Street and Lake Drive
  • Paved shoulders on Main Street and Lake Drive leading into the roundabout
  • Construction of new sidewalks and trails leading up to the intersection

Project Benefits

  • Improved travel safety
  • Improved travel mobility
  • Improved conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists
  • Improved multimodal connectivity
What are your thoughts?

Intersection of Hodgson Road and Birch Street
Lino Lakes

Roadway Spot Mobility & Safety Improvements
  • 0.2 miles
  • Roundabout
  • Approximate Construction Cost $2M–$3M

This project includes reconstructing the intersection at CSAH 49 (Hodgson Road) and CSAH 34 (Birch Street) in the City of Lino Lakes.

Aerial map of the intersection of Hodgson Road and Birch Street.

Issues to be Addressed

  • Poor mobility/traffic congestion at existing intersection
  • High crash rates at existing intersection
  • Inadequate pedestrian and bicyclist accommodations

Proposed Improvements

If this project receives funding, the potential improvements may include:

  • Construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Hodgson Road and Birch Street
  • Paved shoulders on Hodgson Road and Birch Street leading into the roundabout
  • Construction of new sidewalks and trails leading up to the intersection

Project Benefits

  • Improved travel safety
  • Improved travel mobility
  • Improved conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists
  • Improved multimodal connectivity
What are your thoughts?

East River Road Traffic/Signal Management Improvements
Multiple Locations

Traffic Management Technologies
  • Approximately 8 miles
  • Traffic Management Technologies
  • Approximate Construction Cost TBD

This project includes the installation of traffic signal management technologies (fiber, new signals, etc.) on approximately 8 miles of CSAH 1 (5th Avenue and East River Road) through the cities of Anoka, Coon Rapids, and Fridley.

Aerial map of Traffic/Signal Management Improvements in Anoka County.

Issues to be Addressed

  • Poor mobility/traffic congestion at intersections

Proposed Improvements

If this project receives funding, the potential improvements may include:

  • Installation of fiber/technology

Project Benefits

  • Improved travel mobility
What are your thoughts?

Mississippi Street Multi-use Trail
from East River Road to Stinson Boulevard

Multi-use Trail
  • Approximately 2.3 miles
  • Multi-use Trail
  • Approximate Construction Cost TBD

This project involves the construction of a multi-use trail on the approximately 2.3 miles of Mississippi Street from East River Road to Stinson Boulevard at the Anoka/Ramsey County line.

Aerial map of the trail location in Fridley.

Issues to be Addressed

  • Improved east-west connectivity and connection to Regional Bicycle Trail Network
  • Inadequare pedestrian and bicyclist accommodations

Proposed Improvements

If this project receives funding, the potential improvements may include:

  • Construction of combined pedestrian and bicyclist trail extending from East River Road to Stinson Boulevard

Project Benefits

  • Improved conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists
  • Improved multimodal connectivity
What are your thoughts?