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Rural Task Force (RTF)/Small Urban Programs

Rural Task Force Program

The MDOT Rural Task Force Program provides federal & state dollars to rural counties in Michigan with a population under 400,000 (78/83 counties). These dollars must be spent in their geographic areas on eligible road and transit capital projects improvements.

MDOT provides two main sources of funding for the Local Rural Transportation Program:

  • Surface Transportation Program‐Rural (STL) - Federal
  • Transportation Economic Development Fund‐Category D (EDD) - State

Federal STL funds are used to preserve and improve the conditions and performance of federal‐aid highways and transit capital projects, including terminals and facilities. State EDD funds are designed to serve development and commerce by establishing and integrating a local secondary all‐season road network with the state trunkline system. All eligible projects must be located outside census designated urbanized boundaries.

Federal regulations require the development and consultation of a transportation planning process in non-metropolitan areas. This process managed by MDOT Planning, facilitated by Regional Planning Agencies, including Networks Northwest, and carried out by the twenty-two Rural Task Forces located across the state. Each task force is comprised of equal representation from the county road commission, cities and villages under 5,000 in population, rural transit provider, MDOT, and where applicable, Tribal government. The process delivers a financially constrained non-metropolitan program for inclusion in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).

Project selection and public involvement begins through the local county level. This is an effective way to incorporate community land use planning objectives and achieve consensus regarding transportation decisions within the county. These county level meetings, held prior to the Rural Task Force meeting, include elected officials, regional planning and development agency, Indian tribal government(s), transit providers, cities/villages, interested parties and the general public. Please refer to the STATEWIDE GUIDELINES AND OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR RURAL FUNDING AND PLANNING COORDINATION for more information on the RTF process.

 

 

 

Emmet, Charlevoix, Antrim, Kalkaska - 10A; Mainistee, Wexford, Missaukee - 10B; Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau - 10CIn partnership with MDOT, Networks Northwest provides staffing to the three rural task forces in northwest lower Michigan.
(Click to view individual RTF information)

RTF 10A - Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, Kalkaska

RTF 10B - Manistee, Missaukee, Wexford

RTF 10C - Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau

 

 

 

 

 

Small Urban Program

The Small Urban Program provides federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) funding to areas with an urbanized population of 5,000 to 49,999. Road and transit capital projects are eligible for STP funds. Communities within the Small Urban Program are eligible for funding every other year. Funding is given in either even or odd years. Communities with over 40,000 populations are eligible for funding every year. There are currently four (4) census-designated urbanized areas within the 10-county Northwest Lower Michigan region. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will be accepting Small Urban Program project applications for Fiscal Year's (FYs) 2024-2026.

Small Urban Task Force Meeting Agendas

 

 

Public Meeting Notices

Public notices of both county‐level and full task force meetings are posted below (click to view). The notices include the name of the City, County, or RTF; date, time, and location of the meeting per the requirements of the RTF oversight committee.

Local county meeting for Call for Projects 2024:

  • Charlevoix County - October 1, 2024 (Tues) at 9:30 AM -
    • Public Meeting Notice  |  Agenda 
    • Location -  Boyne City Hall Commission Chambers - 319 North Lake Street, 2nd Floor, Boyne City, MI 49712
  • Leelanau County - October 7, 2024 (Mon) at 9:00 AM
    • Public Meeting Notice  |  Agenda 
    • Location -  Leelanau County Road Commission Office - 10550 E Eckerle Rd, Suttons Bay, MI 49682
  • Benzie County - October 7, 2024 (Mon) at 12:00 PM
  • Missaukee County - October 9, 2024 (Wed) at 9:00 AM
    • Public Meeting Notice  |  Agenda 
    • Location - Missaukee County Road Commission Office - 1199 N Morey Rd, Lake City, MI 49651, USA
  • Wexford County - October 10, 2024 (Thurs) at 12:00PM
  • Grand Traverse County - October 11, 2024 (Fri) at 9:00 AM -
    • Public Meeting Notice  |  Agenda 
    • Location - Networks Northwest Office, Conference Room #2 - 600 East Front Street Suite 205, Traverse City, MI 49686
  • Emmet County - October 14, 2024 (Mon) at 1:00PM -
  • Manistee County - October 21, 2024 (Mon) at 12:00PM
  • Kalkaska County - October 22, 2024 (Tues) at 9:00 AM
  • Antrim County - October 22, 2024 (Tues) at 12:00PM

 

See previous meeting information below-

 

RTF Funding Distribution Documents

(RTF targets subject to change)

 

 

RTF Programming Documents

 

Regionwide RTF 10 Contacts

Brian Stark, MDOT RTF Coordinator (StarkB1@michigan.gov / 517-582-4970)

Valerie Shultz, MDOT North Region Transit Coordinator (shultzv@michigan.gov / 231-775-2733)

 
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