Delivering Transportation Solutions for a Changing World: 2015 Impacts Report

Performance Measures: Champion Knowledge Transfer and Education

CTS annually gathers performance measures data to quantify our impacts in effecting changes that improve transportation. Below, key measures from FY25 showcase our work related to one of CTS's three Areas of Excellence: Champion Knowledge Transfer and Education.

Professional Education and Student Engagement Funding

FY25 funding levels vastly exceeded the three-year target and continued the trend of growth for professional education and student engagement funding. CTS secured new contracts for customized training programs and work related to the Airport Technical Assistance Program (AirTAP). Additional revenue and program fees from new contracts and ongoing courses led to unanticipated boosts in this year’s funding levels. Additionally, delayed FY24 funding for two K-12 education programs arrived in this fiscal year, contributing to the higher-than-predicted funding amount.

FY25 Analysis

Professional education programs at CTS saw significant growth in FY25, with several new customized training programs that reached more than 1,000 new students this year. The Minnesota Local Technical Assistance Program (MnLTAP) hired a new full-time instructor and began expanding existing programs to reach additional practitioners. CTS continues to improve engagement with undergraduate and graduate students across the state, with an increase in total student engagements from FY24 and a dedicated focus on workforce development programs. CTS-facilitated internship programs saw steady growth over FY24, and a new collaboration with the Humphrey School of Public Affairs brought 11 Masters of Urban and Regional Planning students into a new co-op model of study.

FY26 Outlook

Looking ahead to FY26, staff will continue to develop relationships with University of Minnesota undergraduate and graduate students through existing events and programs, increased touchpoints with University-based interns throughout the school year, and a new program to connect undergraduate students with local agencies. MnLTAP staff will continue to develop the Roads Scholars Program by increasing the courses offered and adding a new certificate. MnLTAP will also continue to grow its Commercial Driver's License program, including piloting an in-person “train the trainer” course. The Work-Zone Temporary Traffic Control training is also expected to grow in FY26. Lastly, AirTAP will work with MnDOT Aeronautics to develop a K-12 aviation pipeline through their strategic planning process. Across all program areas, CTS staff will continue to seek new funding opportunities amid federal uncertainty.

Featured Measures

CTS was able to maintain the significant growth seen in FY24 into the FY25 training cycle. Continued delivery of online programs, such as the Geometric Design Training Series, allowed the MnLTAP program to reach a wide audience. AirTAP connected with an additional 500 practitioners and students through its programming in FY25. MnLTAP also delivered several other new programs this year that drew in new participants, including Chainsaw Safety Training for Local Agencies, Snowplow Simulator Training, and MnDOT ADA Workshops.

CTS continues to see incremental growth in the number of University of Minnesota students engaging throughout the year. Touchpoints include participation at CTS events, such as the annual research conference or TRB reception; work on research projects or CTS-facilitated internships; and receiving CTS-run academic and travel awards. In addition to these long-standing programs, CTS entered a partnership with the Humphrey School of Public Affairs to develop a student co-op of urban and regional planning master’s students. Acknowledging the gap between FY25 numbers and the three-year target, CTS staff are pursuing additional partnerships in FY26 to reach more students, including an effort to bring local agency mentorship opportunities to students in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering.