Meetings will take place across southeast Minnesota during the month of March to discuss the organization of a Regional Transportation Coordinating Council to improve public transportation access and coordination.

According to a press release, these meetings will focus on service area and membership, goals and objectives and workplan priorities. The information will be used to inform development of an operational implementation plan, which will be used to successfully transition the Regional Transportation Coordinating Council from planning to implementation.

Stakeholders interested in improving public transportation in southeast Minnesota are encouraged to attend, including representatives from county departments of social services, transportation providers, human service agencies, veteran service organizations, senior service organizations, workforce development, private organizations and the general public.

The following meetings have been scheduled:

4 to 6 p.m. March 13 at 125 Live, 125 Elton Hills Drive NW in Rochester

4 to 6 p.m. March 18 at Albert Lea City Hall

4 to 6 p.m. March 19 at Northfield Public Library, 210 Washington St. in Northfield

4 to 6 p.m. March 27 at Winona City Hall, 207 Lafayette St. in Winona

The same material will be presented during each meeting. Multiple locations and dates have been scheduled for convenience.

A Regional Transportation Coordinating Council is a local organization focused on addressing the challenges of the current regional public transportation system, the release stated.

A Regional Transportation Coordinating Council would lead coordination efforts to fill transportation gaps, streamline access to transportation and increase options of where and when to travel.

The proposed project area for the southeast Regional Transportation Coordinating Councilincludes Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha and Winona counties.

The initial planning and organizational development phase for the southeast Minnesota RTCC is funded by the Minnesota Department of Transportation Organizational Planning grant program. Three Rivers Community Action applied for the grant funding on behalf of a collaboration of regional agencies and organizations.