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The '''Minnesota Department of Transportation''' ('''Mn/DOT''', pronounced "min-dot") oversees transportation by [[land]], [[water]], and [[air]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Minnesota]]. The [[cabinet]]-level agency is responsible for maintaining the state's [[trunk highway]] system (including [[List of Minnesota state highways|state highways]], [[U.S. highway]]s, and [[interstate highway]]s), funding municipal [[airport]]s and maintaining [[radio navigation aid]]s, and other activities. Minnesota's lieutenant governor, [[Carol Molnau]], is currently head of the department (Commissioner of Transportation).
==History==
The agency's history can be traced to the state's '''Railroad and Warehouse Commission''' which emerged slowly from [[1871]] to [[1905]], and the '''State Highway Commission''' created in 1905. However, the Highway Commission was abolished in [[1917]] and replaced by a '''Department of Highways'''. For air transport, the '''Minnesota Aeronautics Commission''' was created in [[1933]]. Much of the railroad oversight was transferred to the [[Minnesota Department of Public Service]] in [[1967]]. Two years later in [[1969]], the [[Minnesota Department of Public Safety|Department of Public Safety]] was established and took over the [[Minnesota State Patrol|Highway Patrol]] and [[driver's license|Driver's License Bureau]]. Mn/DOT finally came into being in [[1976]] and took over the functions of the aeronautics and highway departments, plus transportation-related duties of the [[Minnesota State Planning Agency|State Planning Agency]] and Department of Public Service.
==Services and projects==
Mn/DOT operates networks of [[ramp meter]]s and [[traffic camera]]s in the [[Minneapolis-St. Paul]] [[metropolitan area]] in order to manage traffic flow. In [[2000]], the ramp meters were turned off for a study period mandated by the [[Minnesota Legislature]]. The bill was backed by [[Republican Party of Minnesota|Republican]] [[Minnesota State Senate|State Senator]] [[Dick Day]] of [[Owatonna, Minnesota]], who has often been critical of Mn/DOT policies and projects. The study showed that ramp meters reduce the number of crashes on highways, and marginally reduce travel time in many cases. However, the study also showed some places where the meters were more of a hindrance, and metering strategies have been altered since that time. There are about 430 ramp meters and more than 280 traffic cameras.
The department has also put up informational [[variable message sign|electronic signage]] along highways to provide alert messages. Message boards have been in [[Rochester, Minnesota|Rochester]], [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]] and the Twin Cities for some time. Part of the reason for the Rochester signs is occasional [[flood]]ing of [[U.S. Highway 52]]. The department expanded use of the signs after [[Amber Alert]] legislation allocated funding for larger networks. In the Twin Cities, Mn/DOT began using them to display freeway travel times in [[2003]] or [[2004]] to help drivers plan alternate routes to avoid heavy traffic if necessary (although a generic message like "buckle up for safety" is often encountered).
[[Twin Cities Public Television]] (TPT) station KTCI channel 17 has been used for many years to display [[weather]]-related information that is funded by Mn/DOT. The department also had a long-standing partnership with [[KBEM]] radio (88.5 FM) in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]] to relay area traffic information, although that relationship is coming to an end. After public outcry, the term was extended, but it is unclear how long the two organizations will continue the relationship. Mn/DOT paid KBEM [[United States dollar|US$]]400,000 per year to provide the information, about half of the station's annual budget. Video from traffic cameras is also shown on [[cable television]] systems in the metro area (at one time, this had also been shown on KVBM channel 45, today known as [[KSTC-TV|KSTC]]).
[[Snow plow]]s used on trunk highways are also operated by Mn/DOT.
==See also==
*[[Mn/ROAD]]
*[[MnPASS]]
==External links==
*[http://www.dot.state.mn.us/ Minnesota Department of Transportation]
*[http://www.511mn.org/ 511mn.org] (state [[5-1-1]] webpage)
*[http://www.dot.state.mn.us/tmc/trafficinfo/map/refreshmap.html Twin Cities traffic map]
*[http://www.dot.state.mn.us/tmc/trafficinfo/metrocams/mapindex.html Twin Cities traffic cameras]
[[Category:Government of Minnesota|Department of Transportation]]
[[Category:Transportation in Minnesota|Department of Transportation]]
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