ST. PAUL, Minn.—The Minnesota Department of Transportation received a national Transportation Planning Excellence Award for the 2009 Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan, a strategic vision for enhancing the movement of people and freight and improving access to goods and services.

The award was presented July 11 by the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration (divisions of the U.S. Department of Transportation) and the American Planning Association at the Transportation Research Board meeting in Minneapolis.

“In developing this comprehensive state rail plan, we have created a map for commodity movement by rail as well as a passenger rail network of linked routes that will improve travel times, energy conservation, environmental impacts, and traveler convenience throughout the region,” said Tom Sorel, Mn/DOT commissioner.

Mn/DOT was one of 11 winners of the biennial award, which recognizes outstanding initiatives nationwide that develop, plan and implement innovative transportation planning practices. Ninety projects competed for the award.

The panel of judges noted the plan’s comprehensive and balanced nature, data-driven approach, vision for the future, and leadership and compliance in responding to emerging federal requirements and guidelines.

Using data and planning analysis from the state rail plan, Mn/DOT and its partners submitted grant applications for rail-related projects to the federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program. As a result, the state received funding for the completion of the St. Paul Union Depot. Minnesota also was awarded the only basic high-speed planning grant in the country from first round stimulus funding for development of the Chicago-Twin Cities corridor.

“We’re already seeing pay-offs from this comprehensive plan, and look forward to future achievements in the areas of freight and passenger rail for our state and the region,” Sorel said. “Mn/DOT shares this award with our partners and the transportation stakeholders who participated in this landmark planning effort.”

To view the 2009 Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan, visit Mn/DOT’s Web site at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/planning/railplan/.

For information about the Transportation Planning Excellence Award, see https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/tpea/2010/.

The unemployment rate in Fergus Falls is improving, with 304 jobs added to the payroll since the beginning of the year. To put that in perspective, on average, 5 new jobs are added every day in the Fergus Falls area.

Compared to the national unemployment rate of 9.3% (May 2010), Fergus Falls is doing quite well with a mere 6.9% of the population being unemployed. Fergus Falls is also ahead of other near-by communities in the region, with similar population. In Alexandria, they’re facing an 8.8% unemployment rate, while Bemidji and Brainerd are facing a whopping 11.1% and 12.4% unemployment rate, respectively.

With a labor force of 7,038, Fergus Falls has 6,554 of the total labor force employed, which equals out to 484 residents in the area being unemployed.

In email correspondence with Fergus Forum,Harold Stanislawski, the Executive Director of the Fergus Falls Economic Improvement Commission (FFEIC) said that job growth came in retail, manufacturing, health care, utilities, as well as construction. While some of these jobs are seasonal, current predictions show that at least half of the added jobs will become permanent pending a stable economy.

Severe weather, which caused numerous tornadoes throughout the area, swept through on Thursday, and the latest reports are showing at least three deaths. Of those two deaths, one person died in Almora, Minn. (roughly 40 miles east of Fergus Falls), and another person died in rural Polk County. In southern Minnesota, one person was killed on a farm west of Albert Lea.

According to emergency officials, the Almora, Minn. woman was found dead in tornado debris.

The tornado in Almora was part of a severe weather system that rolled across the majority of Minnesota, as well as parts of North Dakota, which flattened  homes, wrecked a gas station, and knocked down an abundance of trees.

A tornado in Mentor, Minn., a community located roughly 25 miles east of Crookston, destroyed a convenience store, and killed one person in the process according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

The Minnesota State Patrol says the tornado came through town and traveled northwest, changed directions, and damaged cabins on Maple Lake. The only remains of the convenience store in Mentor is the north-facing wall, a small portion of the west-facing wall, a few 2×4′s, and corrugated metal.

In addition to damage in Almora and Mentor, the city of Wadena, Minn. was in the process of having a parade to celebrate an “all-school” reunion when a tornado tore through the city.

Just after 5:00PM, several buildings were completely destroyed, including the Wadena-Deer Creek High School, and the Wadena Area Community Center. As of late Thursday night, there were thirteen reported injuries, however no fatalities. Mike Carr, a Wadena County Sheriff, said that damage is so severe in Wadena, its not safe to enter the city.

The above photos are courtesy of Kevin Winkler.

Was your afternoon affected by severe weather? Did you have to seek shelter? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

After running upwards of 3,000 miles, Jasmine Jordan, or “Jazzy” as she’s become to be known, has arrived in New York City after beginning her nine month run from Los Angeles, CA to benefit the St. Christopher’s Truckers Development and Relief Fund, which assists truckers around the country who are unable to afford health insurance.

17-year-old Jordan decided to make the cross-country trek after a family friend died of a disease at a time when she was unable to afford medical insurance at the age of 38. It all started when her dad, Lee Jordan, said, “If you want to make a statement, run across the country”, though he was joking at the time, Jordan took it seriously.

While her cross-country run has had some road bumps, such as pulled tendon, which side-tracked her for a month, and a car accident, she has kept running through it all.

“Jazzy” has inspired people all across the country to get out and improve their own health after hearing her story. In an interview with Fast Lane, a Department of Transportation blog, she had this to say:

“I met a truck driver named Ed German who weighed over 400 pounds. Then, he said he heard about what I was doing and decided to change his lifestyle. He cut out the three or four quarts of pop he drank every day and started getting more exercise. By the time I met him in person, he was already down below 300 pounds! That’s the kind of story that keeps me going for the long haul.”

She arrived in Times Square at around 12:30PM, central time, with a crowd awaiting her arrival.

“Jazzy” has a fan page on the popular social networking website, Facebook, where she has been able to communicate with her over 5,000 fans.

For more information on “Jazzy”, visit her website, http://www.runwithjazzy.com/ or be sure to check out her Facebook page by clicking here.

Last Friday, Sen. Al Franken challenged for more renewable energy research and support while addressing the Minnesota Renewable Energy Roundtable (MRER) in Fergus Falls.

With the recent Golf Coast oil spill, Franken pointed out why renewable energy is so important. According to Franken, a 46-day ethanol spill wouldn’t threaten livelihoods or wildlife, while wildlife is being threatened daily in the Gulf Coast.

“This disaster underscores the urgency of why we need a new comprehensive energy policy from rural America”, Franken said.

Renewable bioenergy as well as wind and solar power were among some of the investments Franken called for. Franken was quick to point out that is where new job growth is set course to take place, and if those investments are not made, those jobs will easily go to overseas markets such as China and Japan.

The Minnesota Renewable Energy Roundtable  has played an important role in bioenergy discussions. Researchers, teachers, farmers, and business executives alike are all members of the roundtable. The goal is to get discussions going, and prompt action plans.

The Minnesota Renewable Energy Roundtable expects agriculture to play a big part in renewable energy for generations to come.

Information gathered from AgriNews with additional information available on their website, http://www.agrinews.com/sen/franken/pushes/renewable/energy/research/at/fergus/falls/story-2651.html

The 2010 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test results released last week shows that drivers in Minnesota are the fourth smartest in the entire country, just behind Kansas, Oregon, and South Dakota. In addition, the results from GMAC’s 2010 National Drivers Test show that nearly 1 in 5 currently licensed drivers – roughly 38 million Americans – would not pass a written drivers test exam if they were to take it today.

The sixth annual survey polled 5,202 licensed Americans from 50 states and the District of Columbia, gauging driver knowledge by administering 20 questions taken from state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) exams. Additional questions explored distracting habits such as texting while driving.

Overall, findings indicate a number of licensed Americans continue to lack knowledge of basic rules of the road; the national average score decreased to 76.2 percent from 76.6 percent in 2009. Eighty-five percent could not identify the correct action to take when approaching a steady yellow traffic light, and many remained confused by safe following distances.

“It’s discouraging to see that overall average test scores are lower than last year,” said Wade Bontrager, senior vice president, GMAC Insurance. “American drivers need to make safety a top priority and be aware of the rules of the road at all times. The National Drivers Test allows everyone to brush up on their driving knowledge with a brief refresher course.”

When analyzed regionally, the results reveal that drivers in the Northeast may not be as road-rule savvy as their Midwestern counterparts. The Northeast had the lowest average test scores (74.9 percent) and had the highest failure rate (25.1 percent). The Midwest region had the highest average test scores (77.5 percent) and the lowest failure rates (11.9 percent).

Results also indicate that the older the driver, the higher the score. Males over 45 earned the highest average test score. Males also out-performed females overall in terms of average score (78.1 percent male versus 74.4 percent female) and failure rates (24 percent female versus 18.1 percent male).

Additional questions from the survey reveal drivers conduct a variety of distracting behaviors behind the wheel; approximately 1 in 4 participants admitted to driving while talking on a cell phone, eating and adjusting the radio or selecting songs on an iPod. However, only five percent reported they text while driving. Overall, a significantly higher percentage of females than males reported engaging in the following distracting situations: conversation with passengers, selecting songs on an iPod or CD/adjusting the radio, talking on a cell phone, eating, applying make-up and reading.

To view the list of every state, and their safe driving rank, simply go to the State Rankings Overview on GMAC’s website by clicking here.

Think You’re Smarter Than the Average Driver?

Test your driving smarts at www.gmacinsurance.com, where you can take the survey, play a quirky driving game, and challenge friends to top your score. Facebook users can take the National Drivers Test Facebook quiz and challenge their friends, and Twitter users can follow the Drivers Test Twitter page for updates on state rankings and tidbits on safe driving habits.

The League of American Bicyclists recently announced that Minnesota has been named the fourth most bicycle friendly state in the nation—up from the number five slot that the state held in both 2008 and 2009.

“Improving and expanding bicycling route options for commuter and recreational bicyclists provides a safe, efficient and enjoyable experience for everyone,” said Tom Sorel, Minnesota Department of Transportation, commissioner.

This is the third year that the League of American Bicyclists has awarded Bicycle Friendly State designations. The awards announcement coincides with preparations for Minnesota’s Bike/Walk Week activities June 5–11, 2010—dates set aside to encourage bicycling as a healthy, environmentally- friendly transportation alternative for commuting to work or school and safe bike riding in general.

“Many events have been planned throughout the state during Minnesota Bike/Walk Week,” said Tim Mitchell, Mn/DOT’s state bicycle and pedestrian coordinator. “Check our Web site http://www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/ for more information about events planned in St. Cloud, Rochester, Duluth and the Twin Cities metro area.”

“Minnesota is a stand-out state for its initiative and progress to become more bicycle friendly,” said Andy Clarke, league president.

Minnesota improved its ranking due to several factors:

• Formation of the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota, a new statewide bicycle advocacy group that helped increase the number of certified bicycles instructors from five to more than 50 last year.

• Creation of partnerships with the city of Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota Parking Services, the Humphrey Institute research staff, Transit for Livable Communities and many other entities in an effort to conduct traffic counts for bicycles.

• Creation of “Share the Road”. For five years, this nationally recognized bicycle safety education campaign  has helped improve awareness of bicycle laws by both motorists and bicyclists.

• Development of Complete Streets policies by many organizations and communities across Minnesota.

To learn more about the League’s Bicycle Friendly State program visit: http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/.

The League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle friendly America. The league represents the interests of America’s 57 million bicyclists, including its 300,000 members and affiliates. For information or to support the league, visit http://www.bikeleague.org/.

The state operated dental clinic on Pebble Lake Road won’t be closing in May, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. State Representative, Bud Nornes (R-Dist.10A), said that a 30-day extension was granted on Friday, April 23rd, to keep the clinic open while the state legislature finalizes funding details.

The closing was proposed by Governor Tim Pawently in hope to balance the state budget.

The Fergus Falls facility isn’t the only state operated dental clinic in Minnesota that is on the chopping block, however. Cambridge and Willmar dental clinics are also set to close.

The Fergus Falls clinic alone serves more than 500 disabled clients from across the region. Patients who currently travel to Fergus Falls may ultimately have to travel to the clinic in Brainerd, which is where the closest nearby facility is located.

Fergus Falls-based Otter Tail Corp. is expecting to record a charge of nearly $1.7 million in the first quarter due to the recent federal health care overhaul. According to Otter Tail Corporation, in a regulatory filing earlier this week, the charge will amount to 5 cents per share.

Otter Tail Corporation, among other companies, currently receive a government subsidy to keep prescription drug benefits for their retirees, and have been able to deduct their expenses. However, under the recently passed health care legislation, that will end in 2013.

Companies throughout the country are announcing the charges now because accounting rules dictate that they must book them during the period a new law is enacted.

Otter Tail Power, based in Fergus Falls, Minn., provides electricity to roughly 130,000 customers in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. According to the company website, they have over $1.2 billion in revenues and over 4,000 employees across many industries. They have diversified operations in electric, manufacturing, health services, food ingredient processing, plastics, construction, as well as transportation.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation today announced its 2010 construction program of 283 projects around the state with a construction cost of $1.3 billion.

“Minnesota’s transportation system is a cornerstone to a strong and vibrant state economy,” Governor Pawlenty said. “Our administration has invested more than $5 billion on more than 1,900 projects since 2003 to battle congestion, improve safety and foster economic growth.”

Of this year’s 283 projects, 217 are state highway construction projects including the Highway 169/Interstate 494 interchange in the Twin Cities and bridge and pavement replacement on a section of I-35 in Duluth. The other 66 projects improve safety at railroad crossings, repair seawalls and docks in three ports, make improvements on runways and terminals at regional airports and remodel or construct new transit facilities.

“Mn/DOT is focused on improving our highways and maximizing the capacity of the system,” said Tom Sorel, Mn/DOT Commissioner.

Projects in the Twin Cities metro area include:

· Converting Highway 169 at Interstate 494 to a freeway to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion in Bloomington, Eden Prairie and Edina ($150 million).

· Rebuilding the Highway 52 Lafayette Bridge in St. Paul ($46.2 million).

· Constructing a new interchange at Highway 101 and Highway 13 in Savage ($20 million).

· Resurfacing Interstate 94 from Western Avenue to Highway 280 in St. Paul ($11.05 million).

Projects in northern and central Minnesota include:

· Replacing and repairing bridge and pavement from I-35 from Boundary Avenue to 26th Avenue East in Duluth ($70 million).

· Reconstructing, resurfacing and building Highway 61 from Duluth to Grand Portage to improve safety ($13.7 million).

· Expanding Highway 71 from two to four lanes, adding turn lanes south of Bemidji and building a new bridge over Highway 2 ($13.5 million).

· Resurfacing Highway 210 from Breckenridge to French ($8.3 million).

· Resurfacing Highway 55 from west Douglas County line to Glenwood and replacing bridge over Chippewa River ($8.1 million).

· Constructing roundabout, reconstructing Highway 95 and Mille Lacs County Road 29 bridges ($2.7 million).

· Reconstructing Highway 25 in Pierz and installing sidewalks, curbs, gutters, sewers, utilities and street lights ($2.6 million).

· Reconstructing Mississippi River bridges on Highway 10 bypass in Little Falls-damaged during spring 2010 flooding ($1.5 million).

Projects in southern Minnesota include:

· Building a four-lane alignment and 10 bridges on Highway 14 south of Waseca ($56 million).

· Constructing a four-lane divided highway bypass, building bridges and installing lighting on Highway 23 near Paynesville ($32 million).

· Build a highway interchange and frontage road on Highway 52 near Pine Island in Olmsted and Goodhue counties ($30 million).

· Constructing a four-lane road on Highway 59/Highway 60 to Nobles County Road 4 in Worthington to improve safety and mobility ($23 million).

· Replacing railroad tracks, building turnouts, resurfacing grade crossings and installing grade crossing safety equipment in Sibley County ($7 million).

· Resurfacing Highway 60 from Worthington to Wilder. The project will use a warm-mix asphalt that saves energy ($6.2 million).

For a complete list of projects, including construction dates and traffic impacts, visit the Web site at www.mndot.gov.

To access construction projects in west central Minnesota, Mn/DOT District 4, visit www.dot.state.mn.us/d4/construct.html.

During construction and road maintenance work, Mn/DOT urges drivers to:

* Check 511 for up-to-date information about traffic and road conditions.
* Stay alert, expect the unexpected.
* Be especially alert at night when driving through work zones.
* Never enter a road that has been blocked with barriers or cones.
* Minimize distractions.
o Don’t use cell phones.
o Remember text messaging while driving is illegal.
o Don’t eat or drink while driving.

* Avoid tailgating. Keep plenty of space between you and the vehicle ahead.
* Follow posted speed limits; fines double in work zones.
* Stay in one lane while driving through a work zone; don’t pass or change lanes unnecessarily.
* Be patient. Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.