The West Fargo City Commission voted 3-2 on Oct. 20 to issue a memorandum of support for the MetroCOG 2026–2030 Transit Development Plan after a presentation and lengthy exchange about route stops, grocery access and funding.

Adam Altenberg of MetroCOG presented the plan, saying it updates goals, system recommendations and a coordinated transportation plan for the Fargo–Moorhead metropolitan area. Altenberg highlighted that the plan aims to reduce transfers and increase bidirectional routes; he said the proposed adjustments would disrupt only about 0.4% of existing users while increasing the number of residents served by roughly 2% and job centers served by about 5%.

"We're not really looking to remove service from anyone who's using MAPPA services," Adam Altenberg said, summarizing the intention behind route adjustments and interlining to reduce transfers.

Commissioners, however, pressed for specifics about where buses will stop in West Fargo and raised concerns about access to neighborhood grocery stores and medical services. Commissioner Jorgensen questioned why several West Fargo grocery stores appear omitted from direct stops and said narrow streets such as Second Avenue could make some proposed stops impractical.

"Why are we not stopping at any of our grocery stores in our town?" Commissioner Jorgensen asked.

Commissioners also probed the survey and engagement data that informed the plan. Commissioner Zundell questioned whether the survey wording could overstate satisfaction: a plurality said service "works well," but a substantial share answered "sometimes works well" or "not working well at all," he said. Commissioners asked MetroCOG to provide jurisdiction-level breakout of responses for West Fargo specifically.

MetroCOG staff said public feedback remains open and that MetroCOG expects member jurisdictions to review the plan before MetroCOG’s anticipated final approval in December. The presentation also noted funding pressures: transit operations rely on a mix of fares, local subsidies and state support; commissioners referenced Fargo’s significant ongoing subsidy and urged additional state funding for service parity across the metro area.

Commissioner Olson moved that West Fargo issue a memorandum of support for the 2026–2030 Transit Development Plan; Commissioner Anderson seconded. After debate, the motion passed 3-2.

Altenberg and MetroCOG requested additional jurisdictional feedback ahead of the MetroCOG December meeting; commissioners asked that transit operators appear in West Fargo before final approval to answer route and stop-location questions directly.