MAPA Enews – February 2026
MAPA Regional Partnership Meeting Dates Are Set – Join Us
MAPA is again hosting a series of regional collaboration meetings designed to strengthen relationships, share technical expertise, and improve coordination between city, county, MnDOT personnel, and asphalt contractors. These sessions provide an opportunity for open discussion, timely updates, and meaningful engagement across Greater Minnesota and the Metro.
Agenda topics include:
- 2025 Asphalt Market Report
- Specification updates
- Oil content
- E-ticketing
- Ride Table
- EPDs
- Bituminous Office Update
- Pavement funding
- Scam pavers legislation
- High-modified asphalt
- Aggregate update
- Meet MAPA Technical Director, Kate Heine
Registration is $25 and includes a boxed lunch. We encourage you to attend, invite colleagues who would benefit, and bring forward any questions or discussion topics.
Upcoming Dates:
- D1–3: March 5 – Brainerd/Baxter (10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.): Register Today
- D4/8: March 6 – Alexandria (12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.): Register Today
- D6/7: March 24 – North Mankato (10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.): Register Today
- Metro: April 10 – St. Louis Park (10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.): Register Today
We look forward to productive conversations and continued collaboration across the state. SAVE THE DATE and look for registration information from MAPA soon.
Hike for Hope - Women of Asphalt
Sunday, May 3, 2026 | 1:00 PM | Legends Crossings at Vikings Lakes, Eagan, MN
Join us or support Women of Asphalt MN/Dak’s team with a donation as we join #TogetherToFightSuicide.
From Immigration to Infrastructure: The Issues Driving the 2026 Legislative Session
The 2026 Legislative Session started Tuesday. Issues sure to be on the agenda are:
- Immigration Enforcement/Federal Ice Response
- Social Services Fraud Oversight
- Gun Violence Prevention/Public Safety
- A Bonding Bill
The Legislature convenes amid a deep House tie (67–67) and a narrow DFL Senate majority, which impacts how much bipartisan agreement is needed to pass significant proposals.
Emotional and security concerns linger after tragic events including the killing of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, which has affected the political environment.
Some topics that usually draw interest, like tax conformity with federal law, autonomous vehicle regulation, and paid leave tweaks, are also on the docket but may be secondary to these core four.
MAPA will be there along with our lobbyists from Momentum Strategies. Top issues for MAPA this year are:
- MAPA’s Scam Pavers Prevention Bill
- Bond funding for pavement projects
- Supportive resources for MN’s Buy Clean legislation requiring EPDs in 2028
- Educating legislators on the cost and environmental benefits of asphalt paving
Our full legislative platform can be found here.
Please contact Abbey Bryduck abryduck@mnapa.org with any questions.
MAPA Advocacy Elevates Pavement in Governor’s Bonding Recommendation
The Governor’s latest bonding recommendation includes $50 million specifically for high-priority pavement projects—a notable shift from past proposals that grouped pavement needs under broader transportation funding. In recent years, MAPA has supported large, comprehensive transportation funding packages that ultimately passed, but as those dollars were distributed, a growing share was directed to active transportation, transit, and bridges, with a shrinking proportion going to roads and pavements. To our knowledge, this is the first time pavement preservation has been explicitly named as its own funding priority in a governor’s bonding plan. This recommendation reflects MAPA’s sustained advocacy to ensure pavement is clearly recognized as a core infrastructure investment as the Legislature begins its bonding deliberations.
Why this matters: Calling out pavement projects by name increases the likelihood that funding reaches the roads Minnesotans use every day.
Our advocacy directly shaped how this funding was framed and elevated pavement preservation into the governor’s bonding narrative.
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MAPA Initiative Strengthens Work Zone Safety in Driver Education
In 2025, MAPA initiated and advanced Minnesota’s new driver education work zone safety legislation and recently secured important clarifications during the rulemaking process to ensure the curriculum reflects real-world paving operations.
Beginning July 1, 2026, driver education programs must include instruction on:
- Safe speeds in work zones
- Driver responsibilities when entering, traveling through, and exiting work zones
- The dangers of distracted driving
- Legal work zone markings, including flagging and traffic control devices
- Safe merging practices when lanes are closed
During implementation, MAPA successfully advocated for additional language requiring instruction on:
- Work zones that move continuously or intermittently
- The importance of buffer zones
- The role of closed lanes and reduced speeds in protecting workers
These additions ensure new drivers receive more accurate and practical instruction about the dynamic conditions present in asphalt paving operations. MAPA will next pursue similar inclusion in the CDL curriculum to further reinforce work zone safety among commercial drivers.
EPDs Required in Upcoming MnDOT Projects
See the upcoming MnDOT projects that will require EPDs below. January projects will have an addendum.
MAPA still has grant funding available for MN producers to purchase the EPD software which is required for each plant. More information can be found here. Grant funds must be dispersed by April 30, 2026.
MAPA EPD Grant Program
NOTICE: If you produce asphalt mix for MnDOT projects, this is an important heads-up.
Beginning this month, many MnDOT projects will require Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) as part of the bid and procurement process. This is no longer theoretical—EPDs are becoming a standard requirement on public projects, and private owners are now requesting them as well.
To help contractors prepare, MAPA is offering the Minnesota Asphalt EPD Grant Program, which covers the cost of creating EPDs using NAPA’s Emerald Eco-Label tool and provides hands-on support through the process. NOTE: We have gotten confirmation from MnDOT that it is not necessary to publish your EPDs publically, the agency view is sufficient at this time.
A few key points to know:
- If you produce mix for MnDOT work, you will increasingly need EPDs bid for work.
- Private corporations are already asking for EPDs on projects.
- The grant funding is limited and only available through April 30.
- Once funds are exhausted, EPD development costs will be the responsibility of individual companies.
If you have not yet enrolled, now is the time. Waiting until EPDs are required on a specific project puts you at a disadvantage and leaves little time to prepare.
👉 Program details and enrollment information:
https://www.asphaltisbest.com/page/MNEPD
If you have questions about eligibility, timing, or what participation involves, contact abryduck@mnapa.org
MAPA 2025 Awards Highlight
Trunk Highway Reconditioning or Reconstruction
TH 73, MnDOT D1
- Contractor: KGM Contractors, Inc.
- Agency: MnDOT District 1
MnDOT Digital Delivery Plan is Approved
Digital delivery is a significant transformation in the transportation industry. It is being widely adopted across the United States and abroad.
MnDOT has published its Digital Delivery Implementation Plan, which is now available on eDOCS. The plan is also available on MnDOT’s new public Digital Delivery website.
If you want to learn more about Digital Delivery, sign up for the quarterly Project Data Management Section (PDMS) newsletter.
If you have any questions, please contact Angela Boardman, Angela.Boardman@state.mn.us, MnDOT Digital Delivery Coordinator.
2025 Top Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Violations in MN
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MPCA Industrial Stormwater Updates
ISW Snowmelt Runoff Inspection Reminder
Half of the industrial sectors under the ISW permit are required to conduct a snowmelt runoff inspection each year. Even in Minnesota, January/February thaws do occur so please keep this requirement in mind over the coming months. Check the sector-specific requirements in your permit to see if this snowmelt inspection applies to your site, as not conducting this inspection is an ISW permit violation.
2025-2030 Permit Application Delay
The e-Services application for the 2025-2030 ISW Permit and No Exposure Certification is still delayed. MPCA staff have been working to get the service up and running and we hope to have the application service available in the near future. As of now, we do not have a 'go live' date when it will be available and we appreciate your patience.
Once the online application service is ready, we will be sending out a GovDelivery notification. Until that time, all facilities are operating under their expired 2020-2025 permit/No Exposure Certification and it is expected that inspections, training, and SWPPP updates will continue. There is no paper application option, all applications are made online through e-Services.
ISW Training Opportunities
The ISW permit requires facility employees responsible for implementing the ISW permit receive stormwater-related training at least once a year. The MPCA partners with the University of Minnesota Erosion and Stormwater Management Program to offer two ISW training courses that meet the permit training requirements. While the following courses are not required by the ISW permit, they do a thorough job of highlighting the requirements of the ISW general permit.
Both courses are currently offered online for self-study, and will be offered in person later this spring. ISW2202 is a comprehensive course if you are new to the ISW world, and ISW2201 is a shorter overview course designed to meet the annual training requirement for those with previous experience implementing the ISW general permit.
Spring 2026 Truck Weight Education Program Training Dates and Locations
The spring 2026 Truck Weight Education Program's training dates and locations have now been established.
Please pass on the information to any of your constituents who may be interested in the training. There is no cost to attend.
Here is a link with class and registration information. To register, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on "register".