In 2024, Minnesota state law changed to require any project where the work involves excavation of one mile or more in length—or any combination of notices provided for adjacent geographic sections that, when combined, meet or exceed the minimum excavation length of one mile—to file a “Meet Ticket” with Gopher State One Call (GSOC). This update marked an important change when it comes not only to marking large or complex projects, but also in increasing communication between excavators, facility operators, and other stakeholders on these vital projects.
About Meet Tickets
While a Normal Ticket can meet the needs of simple excavation projects, larger or more complex projects require—and benefit from—filing a Meet Ticket. State law requires a Meet Ticket be submitted if the work involves excavation of one mile or more in length or any combination of notices provided for adjacent geographic sections that, when combined, meet or exceed the minimum excavation length of one mile, or if the project crosses county lines. However, Meet Tickets may also be used if a project will be completed over time or sections need to be marked at different times. Meet Tickets are valid for up to six months.
While submitting a Meet Ticket takes a little more time up-front, it saves time for excavators in the long run. A Meet Ticket:
- Helps avoid needless work when plans change, which is common on large projects.
- Helps reduce the strain on facility locators, like in rural areas where there may be fewer resources available.
- Takes less time than what might be needed to open and manage dozens of Normal Tickets.
State law requires that any agreement regarding a Meet Ticket, including locating plans or an agreement that a Meet is not needed, must be filed with GSOC. A link to the current suggested form can be found below.
Meet Tickets are Required Because They Enhance Communication
Meet Tickets open a line of communication between all stakeholders before the project even starts. After a Meet Ticket is submitted, an on-site meeting must take place at least 48 hours after the request to discuss the proposed excavation, schedule utility locates and share other necessary information about the project. An affected facility operator must attend the meeting or contact the excavator prior to reschedule or reach a mutual agreement that the meeting is not required. The excavation start time on the site must be at least 48 hours after the meeting. Both 48-hour periods exclude weekends and holidays.
In a real-life example, A.J. Clark, locating solutions manager at Badger Infrastructure Solutions, worked with a general contractor to set up a required Meet Ticket for a large-scale project that included about 120 miles of linear construction. All parties were able to provide clarification at the on-site meeting before locating began. The Meet Ticket meant that the contractor did not have to regularly update numerous Normal Tickets. The facility operator also benefited because they did not have to locate everything at once. All stakeholders were able to communicate and work together to achieve a better result by using a Meet Ticket.
“The entire process is about communicating,” A.J. shared. A Meet Ticket promotes continuous and ongoing communication among everyone who is necessary for a safe project. Clear communication is essential, and an on-site meeting ensures all stakeholders are brought up to speed. Projects are always easier and more successful when everyone feels like they’re on the same team and Meet Tickets help everyone in the damage-prevention community collaborate for safety and efficiency.
Badger Infrastructure Solutions’ A.J. Clark, sums it up best: “If we all work together, we can make this easier for everyone.”
Effective August 1, 2024, updates were made to Minnesota State Statute 216D that impact meet requirements for large projects, including the one-mile length requirement and alterations to the Meet Ticket timeline. Visit the Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety (MNOPS) website for more information on these changes. Click here to view the current form suggested by MNOPS for documenting the directions for the meet notification or click the file linked below .