Metro COG outlines transit, trail and freight projects as counties weigh membership funding

Ben, a Metro COG staff member, told the Clay County Board of Commissioners on May 6 that the bi-state Metropolitan Planning Organization (Metro COG) is advancing several regional transportation efforts — including a Heartland Trail corridor study, a five-year transit development plan for MATBUS, and an updated regional freight plan — and that jurisdictions will be asked to continue annual funding under an established cost-share formula.

The presentation laid out why Metro COG is seeking continued local contributions: the agency programs more than 60 transportation improvement projects totaling roughly $86 million and manages regional planning tasks that cross Minnesota and North Dakota, Ben said. Clay County's current share is 6.1 percent of jurisdictional dues; the county's last annual payment was $18,258.04.

Metro COG staff framed three immediate priorities: (1) the Heartland Trail corridor study, which focuses on alignments through Clay County and potential sections alongside US 10; (2) a transit development plan for MATBUS that includes microtransit and on-demand pilots and is intended to guide route changes as agencies merge and funding formulas shift; and (3) a regional freight and rail study to support an upcoming metropolitan transportation plan. Ben said the agency was designated a Transportation Management Area (TMA) in 2023 and now has dedicated funds and direct control over some federal dollars but not necessarily additional total funding.

Board members asked about the county's participation in future Metro COG funding and flagged two related local items: a pending request later on the agenda for a county letter to Fargo about a MATBUS stop at a new DMV facility, and a separate county highway committee discussion on Fargo's study of 12th–15th Avenue bridge connections. Ben said Metro COG will finalize a draft 2026 work program and budget within days and that he planned minor budget adjustments to the 2025 program at upcoming technical and policy board meetings.

The Metro COG overview emphasized that the agency must balance both Minnesota and North Dakota policy and oversight requirements and noted that program priorities can shift with state-level policy changes. Ben said Metro COG staff would follow up with county staff on the proposed 2026 contribution estimate.

Board action / next steps: Commissioners did not take an immediate vote on the funding ask. Ben said he would provide an estimate of Clay County's 2026 contribution in the next few days and that Metro COG would forward formal budget materials to the county and to the policy board for approval.