Regional Bicycle Transportation Network Updates
The Met Council is considering proposals from local and state government agencies in the seven-county metropolitan area to update Regional Bicycle Transportation Network (RBTN) corridors and alignments.
Change request process
This application process is for Twin Cities metropolitan region agencies that have responsibility for bicycle system planning and facility development within their jurisdictions.
This update process will consider the following changes or additions:
- New corridors or alignments that connect to existing corridors or alignments
- Extensions of existing corridors or alignments
- Realignments or shifts to existing corridors and alignments
Please note that requests to designate an alignment that runs within and along an already established bicycle network corridor may not require a formal application through this process. If you have a specific alignment designation within an existing corridor in mind, please contact Met Council planning staff to determine the appropriate next steps.
The online application to propose additions or changes to bicycle network corridors and alignments is linked below. Agencies will need to submit one application for each change or addition proposed.
Regional Bicycle Transportation Network Change Request Form
Changes accepted through this process will be added to the bicycle network map to be adopted for use in scoring applications for the 2026 Regional Solicitation and incorporated into the Transportation Policy Plan.
The submission period to add, extend, or realign bicycle network routes is open through June 30. Proposals submitted after 5 p.m. on June 30 will not be considered through this process.
Evaluation measures
The Regional Bicycle Transportation Network Guidelines and Measures Study created a set of measures to facilitate evaluations of change proposals. These include measures for route directness, corridor spacing, connectivity, social and economic equity, and proximity/density. Detailed descriptions for each measure and guidelines for their application are provided in the measures summary tables below. For more information about the development of these measures, please see the guidelines and measures study Phase I Technical Memorandum and this recent presentation.
Measures summary tables
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Description
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Guidelines
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Destination Proximity
Measure: Net change in proximity to regional destinations and transit nodes.
Proximity measured using a 1/10-mile buffer for alignments and includes points within the corridor bandwidth (½-mile in core cities, 1-mile bandwidth outside core) for corridors.
Evaluated based on overall impact to regional destination connectivity, ranging from high benefit to none or adverse impact. |
Regional Destinations and Transit nodes:
- Metropolitan job centers
- Regional job centers
- Subregional job centers
- Colleges and universities (2000 + enrolled)
- Large high schools (2000+ enrolled)
- Major sport and entertainment centers
- Highly visited regional parks (> 400k/yr)
- Existing transitway stations
- Planned transitway stations
- Park and ride facilities (200+ spaces)
- Regional transitway stations
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Out-of-direction ratio
Measures two bicycle network route distances relative to each other to indicate comparative efficiency of two routes. |
Mainly used for bicycle network route shifts.
Ratio = proposed bicycle network route length divided by existing route length between two nearest common intersections.
Recommended maximum ratio = 2.0 |
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Description
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Guidelines
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Spacing buffer method
Compares buffers of existing and proposed routes to determine the extent to which the proposed route overlaps with buffers of existing parallel routes or fills existing gaps between bicycle network routes. Route buffers are based on preferred minimum spacing distances between bicycle network alignments and corridors that vary with Met Council community designation types. |
- Significant overlap should not occur (except in cases where routes converge like in CBDs or suburban development centers)
Preferred minimum spacing between RBTN routes:
- Urban cities: ½ mile
- Urban Edge cities: ¾ mile
- Suburban/Suburban Edge communities: 1 mile
- Rural areas: 2 miles
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Description
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Guidelines
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| Connectivity to regional bicycle barrier crossings: Number of new direct connections to existing and planned regional barrier crossings with the proposed bicycle network change. |
- Additional connections are viewed favorably
- Net number of direct connections should not be reduced for bicycle network shifts
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| Connectivity and/or continuity to bikeway networks in adjacent cities and counties: Number of newly connected city and county bikeway networks with the proposed bicycle network change. |
- Additional connections are viewed favorably
- Net number of direct connections should not be reduced for bicycle network shifts
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| Connectivity with local bikeway networks: Number of new intersections with local bikeway networks with proposed bicycle network change. |
- Number of intersections should not be reduced
- Net change in bicycle networks accessed should not be reduced for bicycle network shifts
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| Connectivity with state and regional trails: Number of new intersections with state and regional trails; does not include intersections with other bicycle network routes (for example, regional trails already designated on the bicycle network). |
- Number of intersections/connection points should not be reduced
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Description
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Guidelines
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| Access to communities who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) and people experiencing poverty: Measures BIPOC and below poverty threshold populations within 1 mile of existing and proposed bicycle network routes to determine net difference with the proposed change. |
- Measure only applies to proposed bicycle network shifts/realignments
- BIPOC and below poverty threshold populations with access to the bicycle network should not be reduced
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| Qualitative agency self-assessment of benefits to disadvantaged or vulnerable populations: Qualitative measure of benefits to BIPOC, people experiencing poverty, seniors, youth, and disabled individuals resulting from proposed bicycle network addition or change. |
- Proposals that improve access or conditions for BIPOC communities and people in poverty are viewed favorably
- Access and conditions for these communities should not be reduced
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Description
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Guidelines
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| Proximity to population and jobs: Measures the sum of forecast population and jobs per square mile within a ½-mile of the proposed bicycle network alignment or corridor centerline. |
- Measure applies to Urban, Urban Edge, Suburban/Suburban Edge communities
- Initial target guidance based on empirically derived values and Met Council/Bike-Ped Peer Discussion Group input
Minimum recommended densities by Imagine 2050 community designation:
- Urban cities: 5,000 pop. + jobs per square mile
- Urban Edge cities: 3,000 population + jobs per square mile
- Suburban/Suburban Edge communities: 1,300 pop. + jobs per square mile
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| Activity per mile ratio: Measure assessed for proposed extensions and additions connecting suburban communities and/or rural centers through rural areas. The activity ratio equals the sum of forecast jobs and population within a ½-mile of the proposed alignment or corridor centerline divided by the length of the route. |
- Measure only applies where significant route segments are proposed through rural areas
- Initial target guidance based on empirically derived values and Met Council/Bike-Ped Peer Discussion Group input
Minimum recommended ratio (through Rural communities):
- 800 forecast population + jobs per linear mile
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