The Metropolitan Council is taking public comment on an update to its 2030 Transportation Policy Plan (TPP). The plan includes adding a toll/HOV lane, also known as a MnPASS lane, on I-494 through Plymouth. Comments are due by Oct. 7.

The draft plan calls for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) to add a left "managed" lane on I-494 in Plymouth sometime between 2021 and 2030. A managed lane is a lane of traffic similar to the MnPASS/High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on I-394. The TPP is available for review on the Metropolitan Council website (see chapter 6, pages 96 -102).

To use the proposed managed lane, motorists would need to either have more than one person in the car or pay for each use of the lane, using the MnPASS system. MnPASS requires that drivers have a transponder attached to their vehicle so that they can be charged for each use of the lane. 

City of Plymouth Opposes MnPASS Toll Lane
The Plymouth City Council has worked for more than a decade with MNDOT to get a third lane added to I-494 to ease congestion on the freeway, which bottle necks in Plymouth when the roadway is reduced from three to two lanes. The Plymouth City Council opposes making a third lane a MnPASS toll lane for the following reasons.

Fairness. I-494 has three lanes running through adjacent communities -- Minnetonka and Maple Grove -- and the third lanes are not MnPASS/HOV lanes. The stretch through Plymouth should not be treated differently. If it is, it means that people traveling to Plymouth neighborhoods and businesses who are not carpooling will have to either pay to avoid congestion or lose time waiting in traffic jams.

Safety. A left managed lane will add to an already difficult transition for southbound motorists exiting I-494 to enter I-394 in Minnetonka.

Spill Over Traffic. A general use third lane is needed to alleviate congestion, which occurs as I-494 narrows to two lanes from Highway 55 to I-94. Vehicles caught in congestion often exit the freeway and use neighborhood streets to avoid traffic jams. If motorists have to pay on just this stretch of I-494, many may opt to use neighborhood roads to avoid paying or to dodge congestion.

City Council Preferred Previous Plan
The Plymouth City Council preferred a previous plan put forth by MNDOT in 2008. That plan would have added a general use lane to I-494 using the existing right-of-way. The estimated cost of the general use third lane was $43 million. This compares to the estimated $61 million cost of the new plan.

Voice Your Opinion
The Metropolitan Council will accept public comment until 5 p.m. on Thurs., Oct. 7. You can voice your opinion several ways.

• Email the Regional Data Center at data.center@metc.state.mn.us
• Record a comment on the Public Comment Line at 651-602-1500 (TTY 651-291-0904)
• Write the Regional Data Center at 390 Robert St. N. St. Paul, MN 55101
• Fax the Regional Data Center at 651-602-1464

Public Hearing Set for Sept. 27
The Metropolitan Council will also host a public meeting on Mon., Sept. 27, 5 pm., at the Fred T. Heywood Office Building, 560 Sixth Ave. N., Minneapolis.