Past research into Minnesota's regional linkages documented the Twin Cities-Greater Minnesota relationships. Some of the conclusions include: the Twin Cities is the major market for Greater Minnesota firms; commuter traffic to the Twin Cities is increasing from Greater Minnesota counties especially those adjacent to the Twin Cities; retail sales are increasingly concentrated in Regional Market Centers; Twin Cities is the major source of tourists for Greater Minnesota's recreational areas; Greater Minnesota's households have family and friendship ties with Twin Cities households.
While these findings provide a general perspective on regional linkage, another level of analysis is needed that examines the types and intensity of linkage between specific regions in the state. This report presents the results of a comprehensive study of the economic, transportation, and social linkages between Region Nine and the Twin Cities and discovered strong and weak linkage relationships.
To what extent are the social and economic activities of Minnesota's regions interconnected? Are the state's metropolitan and non-metropolitan regions part of an integrated system or are they self-sufficient, autonomous entities? Is the growth of the state's non-metropolitan regions dependent on the growth of the metropolitan regions? Has the transportation infrastructure of the state played an important role in promoting integration or fragmentation of the state's regions? This study attempts to answer these and other questions about regional linkage using available data and information.
Therefore, the goal of this project is to examine the economic, transportation, and social relationships between a metropolitan (Twin Cities) region and a non-metropolitan (Region Nine) region of the state. This study will identify the types of linkages that exist and document the linkage indicator data that are available. As a result of this study, Mn/DOT will have a better understanding of the linkage relationships between two regions of the state and may use this study as a framework for investigating regional linkages in other parts of the state.
