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Commission Minutes—May 2. 2022 5560 <br />TAP), and Carbon Reduction Program (CRP). She said a large change will be that the MetroCOG <br />Policy Board will be given the responsibility of prioritizing and selecting projects for funding which the <br />North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) has done in the past. <br />Ms. Gray said on March 25, 2022, MetroCOG received a letter from the NDDOT outlining what they <br />believe the sub-allocation for MetroCOG will be for 2023 to 2026. She said the National Highway <br />Preservation Program (NHPP) fund allocation is the funds that are a concern. She said there are <br />several state jurisdictional roadways that are in the metro area and need NHPP funding for <br />maintenance and repair. She said the NDDOT has said the Interstate systems will continue to be <br />funded through NHPP funds; however, the other State roadways will not. The interstates that would <br />be covered include Interstate 94 and Interstate 29. The other roadways under the State's jurisdiction <br />include Main Avenue (US Highway 10), 12th Avenue North (Highway 294), 19th Avenue North (US <br />Highway 81), and University and 10th Street (US Highway 81). Ms. Gray said the NDDOT has said <br />they will not continue to fund the roadways and will contribute 1% of their NHPP funds equal to $1.8 <br />to $2 million which the MetroCOG Policy Board does not believe is enough to maintain and make <br />needed repairs to the roadways. <br />Ms. Gray discussed the projects planned from 2022 to 2025. She said in 2023 there is a project <br />scheduled on Main Avenue that was programed as a NDDOT project and $8.3 million in NHPP <br />funds were planned. She said MetroCOG needs clarification from the NDDOT to determine if they <br />will supply the funding for already programmed projects. She said if the 2023 project is not <br />completed, funds would open for other projects. She said this is a time sensitive conflict as federal <br />projects take time and the TMA area and related changes will take effect at the start of fiscal year <br />2023, October 1, 2022. <br />Ms. Gray said there are other projects planned in 2024 and 2025 that are affected by these funding <br />changes and local cost shares will increase for all local jurisdictions. She said MetroCOG will be <br />receiving a Memorandum of Understanding from the NDDOT soon. She said the MetroCOG Policy <br />Board believes the NDDOT should continue providing NHPP funds for the State's jurisdictional <br />roadways to ensure direct suballocation of STGB funds can be used on the local roadway network to <br />the greatest extent possible. Ms. Gray said she has talked with other states and other state highway <br />departments continue to fund state jurisdictional roadways in TMAs. She said she is asking for local <br />governmental entities support in answering questions related to funding and state jurisdictional <br />roadways. She stressed the timing of these answers and figuring out funding is essential to getting <br />projects programmed and completed. <br />Mrs. Scherling said she believes the Commission should take formal action to show their support for <br />this funding and MetroCOG. Mr. Peterson said Cass County should not be discriminated against <br />because of population. He said Cass County needs support to maintain roadways as all Counties <br />do. <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mrs. Scherling moved and Mr. Kapitan seconded to approve a letter of support <br />for MetroCOG to the North Dakota Department of Transportation to obtain <br />clarity related to the Transportation Management Area written by County <br />Administrator, Robert Wilson and signed by Commission Chairman Rick Steen. <br />On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. <br />8. ROAD DEPARTMENT, Public hearing set on June 20, 2022 for roads right-of-way <br />The County has been working with the Metro Flood Diversion Authority (FMDA) and Cass County <br />Joint Water Resource District (CCJWRD) on road closures for the construction of the FM Diversion <br />Project. In April of 2021, Cass County, FMDA, and CCJWRD approved a Memorandum of <br />Understanding for the construction of the Diversion over road rights-of-way (ROW). Jason Benson, <br />County Engineer was present and said the County is being asked by the FMDA and CCJWRD to <br />take control of and prepare to close portions of 24th Street Southeast, 27th Street Southeast, 170th <br />Avenue Southeast, 17155 Avenue Southeast, and 172nd Avenue Southeast in Harwood that will be