Residents press Fremont council to curb truck traffic on Broad Street; staff point to state control and limited enforcement resources

Residents from multiple blocks on Broad Street told the Fremont City Council on Monday evening that heavy truck traffic, engine braking and high speeds are damaging homes and making crossings dangerous, and urged the council to take steps — from lower speed limits to four‑way stops — to protect neighborhoods.

"Isn't it reasonable to invest $62,000,000 of taxpayer money on a roadway designed specifically to relieve traffic ... to see no appreciable reduction in traffic," asked Don Atwell, who said he and his wife have lived at 1650 North Broad Street for more than 45 years, arguing the city should make the bypass more attractive to through trucks and protect residential life along Broad Street.

Other residents offered similar on‑the‑ground counts and observations. "In the 10 minutes that I sat at my office desk to write this little memo ... there were 19 tractor trailers that drove by," said Ellen Lund, who described frequent engine braking and drivers running red lights as ongoing safety threats.

Business owners and haulers told council members that Broad Street remains a working state highway and that routing constraints and local deliveries limit the effectiveness of some traffic controls. "It is a state highway, and it would be adversely impactful to our business if we have to ... go all the way around the bypass," said Michael Arps of Arps Ready Mix.

Staff briefings underscored legal and operational limits. Planning Director Jeff Ray reminded the council that Broad Street (U.S. Highway 77) is identified in the city’s comprehensive and long‑range transportation plans as part of the federal and state highway systems, and Public Works Director Dan Gillis noted that relinquishment agreements give the city design and maintenance jurisdiction while the state retains title and certain controls over future use.

Public safety and enforcement constraints came into sharper focus when Police Chief Jeff Elliott described practical obstacles to regular enforcement: narrow right‑of‑ways, few parking lots for stationary radar, difficulty turning to follow violators and, most importantly, limited officer availability. "The single biggest issue we have is the lack of manpower," Elliott said, adding that special enforcement events and overtime shifts are possible but not a long‑term solution.

Council members voiced support for residents and acknowledged no single easy fix. Several members suggested forming a small, informal working group of residents, business representatives and staff to craft recommendations for the council, and they directed staff to continue coordination with the state Department of Transportation, to pursue findings from the ongoing Safe Streets study, and to seek ways to improve signage and signage placement where state jurisdiction permits.

No ordinance was adopted at the session. The study period ended with the council agreeing to keep the issue under active review and to return with options once staff has had additional coordination with NDOT and the Safe Streets study is complete.