West Fargo directs engineer to study roundabout and signal options for Sixth Street and 20 Third Avenue intersection

The West Fargo City Commission on Jan. 20 accepted a petition for intersection improvements at Sixth Street and 20 Third Avenue East, created Improvement District No. 2294 and directed the city engineer to prepare an engineer’s report that analyzes both a single‑lane roundabout and a traffic signal as possible solutions.

City Engineer Dan Hansen told commissioners Dakota Medical Foundation (DMF) intends to develop property west of Costco and that recent traffic patterns — including changes after a signal installation at Bluestem and 20 Third — warranted re-evaluating the Sixth/20 Third intersection. Hansen said a recent traffic study modeled three alternatives: no build, signal and single‑lane roundabout. The study found the no‑build option would degrade to failing levels of service as development proceeds and estimated traffic could more than double by the 2050 horizon used in the analysis.

Hansen said the traffic signal would likely be warranted within five years under projected development and would provide an acceptable Level of Service B in an ultimate build‑out. He said a roundabout offers higher safety performance and better traffic flow — often reducing severe collisions — and would perform at a Level of Service A under projected conditions, but the roundabout carries a higher preliminary cost estimate and may require additional right‑of‑way and utility relocations.

Preliminary cost estimates provided during the presentation ranged from roughly $1.4 million for a signalized intersection to as much as $2.3 million for a single‑lane roundabout; Hansen noted those figures are preliminary and that the engineer’s report would refine cost, right‑of‑way and utility implications. Funding options discussed included a mix of assessment district charges, capital improvement sales tax and economic development sales tax; Hansen said roundabouts are candidates for federal HSIP safety funding, but such funding cycles can be several years out.

Commissioners discussed timing and cost. Some favored the signal because of lower near-term cost; others noted roundabout safety benefits and long-term performance. Commissioner Zundell moved, and Commissioner Olson seconded, to accept the petition, create Improvement District No. 2294 and direct staff to prepare an engineer’s report that examines both signal and roundabout options. The motion passed by voice vote.

Hansen said the city will pursue the engineer’s report and continue coordination with property owners and the North Dakota Department of Transportation as the project progresses through the assessment and design steps.