Interstates 90 and 94 between Wisconsin and Washington function as major corridors for commercial and recreational travel. Extreme winter weather conditions, prevalent in the northern states within this corridor, pose significant operational and travel-related challenges. Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming are predominantly rural and face similar transportation issues related to traffic management, traveler information, and commercial vehicle operations.

Recognizing the value of coordinated, cross-border collaboration for ITS deployment to address these issues, Minnesota initiated a meeting in 2002 with representatives from each of the states within the corridor. The group established itself as a Transportation Pooled Fund in 2003. 

North/West Passage members contribute annually to the pooled fund and are reimbursed for program travel.  A work plan is developed and approved annually by the Steering Committee.  Work Plan 1 and Work Plan 2 were funded through TFP-5(093).  That project number was closed out and Work Plan 3 - Work Plan 13 were funded through the FHWA number TPF-5(190). Work Plan 14 – Work Plan 17 are currently funded under the current TPF number: 5(376). To view each work plan and project results, visit the program website at: http://www.nwpassage.info/about/workplan.php. 

This new TPF number will fund Work Plan 18 – Work Plan 22.

The vision of the North/West Passage (NWP) Corridor is to focus on developing effective methods for sharing, coordinating, and integrating traveler information, operational activities, and emerging technologies across state and provincial borders.  The vision provides a framework to guide the states’ future projects in the corridor. 

The Minnesota DOT (MnDOT) serves as the Program Administrator and a Steering Committee consists of one representative from each of the states that have financially contributed to the effort. The Steering Committee meets monthly or as necessary to provide overall program direction.  Key elements include:

• Annual work plan development and initiation.
• Overseeing selected contractors that perform research, complete project tasks and prepare technical documents as outlined in each annual work plan.
• The projects voted in annually by the members are determined by discussing common issues, problems, or needs related to the following six focus areas and corresponding goals and objectives as described below.

Participants requested to contribute $30,000/year.