Public input begins into transportation plan – Minot Daily News

Angie Stenson, senior transportation planner with Bolton & Menk, said the public input will help identify issues important to residents and guide the consulting firm on the next stage of planning, which also will be subject to public comment again next spring.

“We hope to hear from a wide variety of people about what’s important to them,” Stenson said, noting a final plan is expected next fall. “Eventually, the goals and objectives will help us understand how to invest in the transportation system.”

The Central Dakota Metropolitan Planning Organization is developing the plan for the region that extends from Burlington to Surrey and incorporates nearly 600 miles of roadway. Additional open houses will be held today in Surrey from noon-2 p.m. at the senior center and in Burlington from 5-7 p.m. at the food pantry.

The Central Dakota MPO was federally authorized based on 2020 census numbers showing the area from Burlington to Minot to Surrey achieved the 50,000 population threshold.

Jill Schramm/MDN
John Van Dyke, executive director for the Central Dakota Metropolitan Planning Organization, puts out areas on a map showing transit networks to Tom Joyce, left, assistant city manager for the City of Minot, at a transportation open house in Minot City Hall Tuesday.

The plan under development will cover all modes of transportation, including bicycles, transit and freight.

Visitors had a chance to leave comments and indicate their priorities in eight different transportation areas, covering issues from safety and roadway maintenance to inclusion and mobility.

Kyle Erickson with the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities in Minot attended on behalf of those who need public transportation to get to school, church and work.

“Obviously, it’s an important issue,” he said. “I just showed up to see what is going to happen.”

Greg and Brenda Reed, both drivers for Souris Basin Transportation, also were curious about how transit might be included in the planning. Brenda Reed said Souris Basin’s service is critical to many seniors who don’t drive and can’t afford a taxi.

Greg Reed said he wants to ensure transit service is preserved. Brenda Reed said it should be expanded to reach more people, and both agreed keeping roads maintained and open year-round also is important to transit services.

Minot City Council member Mark Jantzer said people see the construction each year, but there needs to be a broader look at how to make transportation more safe, convenient and workable for the public.

“To me, that’s what it’s all about is having these funds to do some studies, do some work to get the long-term view of things and maybe direct us to where we should go first,” he said. “There can always be improvements and a resource like this can offer some big picture, long-term perspective, which we don’t always have.”

Stenson said the planning isn’t just to address existing issues within the transportation system but will look ahead to what will be needed in the future.

“So, we are projecting, ‘What will this look like in 20 years that we need to address?’” she said. Getting projects into a long-range plan is a necessary step to obtaining federal funding to help bring them to fruition, she added.

Public input also is being taken online through Nov. 5. Information is available online through the City of Minot.