City presents safety plan for 40th Avenue South; roundabout at 14th Street proposed to address pedestrian risks near Moorhead schools
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Summary
City engineers told the Moorhead Area Public Schools board that pedestrian safety was the dominant concern on 40th Avenue South near 14th Street. Officials proposed a roundabout at 14th plus rapid‑flashing beacons, refuge islands, a road diet and sidewalks; bids expected in April with construction this year.
City engineers and consultants presented a corridor safety study for 40th Avenue South and a proposed redesign of the 14th Street intersection at the Moorhead Area Public Schools board meeting on Feb. 23.
The presenters said pedestrian safety was the top concern among outreach respondents and described multiple design options to slow traffic and improve crossings. “The biggest concern everybody has out there is pedestrian safety,” the presenter said, summarizing feedback from the open house and online comments. The project team reported 25 attendees at the in-person open house, about 166 views of the project video, and roughly 40 total comment responses gathered online and at the meeting.
The engineering team highlighted a roundabout at 14th Street as their preferred alternative to reduce vehicle speeds and simplify the intersection. They also proposed rectangular rapid‑flashing beacons at key crossings, pedestrian refuge islands, removing select right‑turn lanes as part of a road‑diet approach, new sidewalks on 14th Street, and creating a one‑way parent drop‑off flow aligned with the proposed roundabout. The presenters said data from two video observations showed less than half of drivers were fully complying with the existing stop control at 14th.
City staff described a typical project timeline: ordering plans and specifications now, soliciting bids with a target to receive them in April, awarding in May, and constructing the project this year. They estimated the roundabout option would add roughly $500,000–$750,000 to what otherwise would have been a mill‑and‑overlay resurfacing project, with full roundabout costs possibly in the $500,000–$1,000,000 range depending on size and design.
Board members and residents asked about speed bumps, underpasses, bus stop pullouts and how the roundabout would affect school drop‑off queuing. Presenters said speed bumps are not appropriate on the state‑aid minor arterial, underpasses are prohibitively expensive (they cited local underpass examples costing about $1 million), and the district’s bus operator prefers not to use bus pullouts because buses have difficulty merging back into traffic.
Several trustees and residents raised practical concerns about children crossing near roundabouts and about off‑hour crossings when school crossing guards are not present. The engineers emphasized a “safe‑systems” approach that combines engineering, education and enforcement: “We can design whatever we want. People are still going to drive the way they drive,” one presenter said, noting opportunities for education and targeted crossings that are comfortable for pedestrians.
The presenters encouraged district staff and parents to review the project website and provide feedback; they said the city wants public buy‑in before finalizing the design.
Next steps: the city will finalize plans and advertise for bids with the stated timeline; trustees asked staff to continue coordination with district operations and communicate updates to parents once a construction schedule is set.
