Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Metropolitan Planning Organizations

Information for MPOs

Nondiscrimination requirements and resources

Environmental Justice

Presidential Executive Order 12898 directed federal agencies to “make achieving environmental justice part of their missions” and to identify and address high and adverse impacts programs or policies may have on minority populations and low-income populations. This executive order builds on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Recipients of federal funding must also abide by this executive order and incorporate Environmental Justice (EJ) principles into planning and project implementation.

Executive Order 12898 (PDF) and U.S. Department of Transportation define minority populations as:

  • Black – a person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
  • American Indian and Alaskan Native – a person having origins in any original people of North America and who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition.
  • Asian – a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia or the Indian subcontinent.
  • Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander – a person having origins in any of the original people of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa and other Pacific Islands.
  • Hispanic – a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.

The executive order and U.S. Department of Transportation also define low-income populations as a person whose household income (or in the case of a community or group, whose median household income) is at or below the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines.

Title VI & Limited English Proficiency

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination by federal government regarding public assistance. Since MPOs receive federal funds, they are required to have a Title VI Plan.  Under Title VI and Executive Order 13166, agencies receiving federal funds must also meet requirements to improve limited English proficiency (LEP).

Title VI

Title VI Plans are required by FTA to be updated every three years. FHWA allows the primary oversight agency, in this case, MnDOT to determine how frequently the Title VI Plans are updated. To ensure the Plans are updated regularly and remain relevant, MnDOT in coordination with the MPOs have set that MPOs must update their Title VI Plans at least every three years. The following is the current schedule of update and adoptions.

MPO Last adopted Next update due
La Crosse Area Planning Committee* 2020 2023
Metropolitan Council 2020 2023
Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Council  2021 2024
Mankato-North Mankato Area Planning Organization 2021 2024
Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments 2022 2025
Saint Cloud Area Planning Organization 2022 2025
Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments** 2020 2023
Grand Forks-East Grand Forks Metropolitan Planning Organization** 2020 2023

* MPO’s lead oversight department of transportation (DOT) is Wisconsin DOT, so MnDOT will assist with Title VI and LEP reviews, but does not take a primary role.
** MPO’s lead oversight DOT is North Dakota DOT, so MnDOT will assist with Title VI and LEP reviews, but does not take a primary role.

Limited English Proficiency

Federal guidance
State guidance
Templates          

Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. MPOs and other recipients of federal funds must comply with the ADA under Title II .