The Minnesota Department of Transportation's northeast district has completed a freight transportation plan and is taking public comments through Nov. 1.

In a news release this week, MnDOT said it desires to provide a freight transportation system that attracts new businesses and enables others to maintain and grow their presence in northeast Minnesota.

"To do this, it is essential that MnDOT and its local transportation planning and economic development partners have at their disposal recent and relevant freight data and analysis tools," MnDOT said.

The plan includes an extensive wish list of long-term projects and estimated costs.

The District 1 Freight Plan has been developed to provide a clear understanding of the multimodal freight system, local industry use of the system and their needs and concerns. This plan will help guide MnDOT District 1 policy and programming decisions.

The final draft of the MnDOT District 1 Freight Plan has been published online and is ready for public comments. Those interested can view the plan at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/ofrw/freight/districtfreightplan/d1.html .

Until Nov. 1, comments can be sent to MnDOT freight planner Andrew Andrusko at andrew.andrusko@state.mn.us or call 651-366-3644, or Planning Director Bryan Anderson at bryan.anderson@state.mn.us or call 218-725-2794.

MnDOT District 1 covers almost a quarter of Minnesota’s land area and is made up of eight counties: Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Pine and St. Louis.

"This region owes its historic development and continued economic well-being to a freight transportation network that supports the safe and efficient movement of iron ore, timber and manufactured goods, such as metal and paper products," MnDOT said.

The network includes Interstate 35, Highway 2, Highway 53 and Highway 169, major rail lines owned by the Canadian National and Burlington Northern Santa Fe, and ports in Duluth, Two Harbors and Silver Bay.