Minot council adopts Transit Development Plan and coordinated human‑services plan

The Minot City Council on July 6 adopted a Transit Development Plan and separately approved Chapter 10, the coordinated public transit human‑services transportation plan, actions council members and consultants said will preserve eligibility for federal funding and provide a road map for service changes.

City staff and regional planners urged adoption as guidance only: John Van Dyke, executive director of the Central Dakota Metropolitan Planning Organization, told the council the plan is a non‑binding guiding document that covers fixed‑route and paratransit services and lays out short‑, medium‑ and long‑range options. Consultant Bill Tro of SRF Consulting outlined recommendations including targeted route changes, technology to improve fare payment and operational adjustments that would enable 30‑minute service to high‑demand retail centers and the addition of Saturday service in a multi‑year rollout.

"This plan does a deep dive into transit as a mode of transportation and provides a set of short‑ and long‑term actions for the community," Van Dyke said. Tro noted the city’s bus fleet is older than typical replacement targets (he said the average age is about 14 years) and described three implementation packages intended to improve on‑time performance and increase ridership without immediately increasing annual revenue hours.

Council discussion focused on affordability and implementation. Alderman Blessum, who served on the steering committee, praised the plan’s process but warned that funding and Minot‑specific pressures — from flood projects to bridge and utility work — will constrain local investment. "This is well done and gives a good foundation," Blessum said, while noting the long list of competing capital needs.

Councilors voted to adopt the Transit Development Plan and then to adopt Chapter 10 (the coordinated human‑services plan), which staff said preserves eligibility to apply for federal programs targeted at seniors and people with disabilities. The roll call votes on both motions were affirmative and the mayor declared the motions passed.

Next steps include incorporating the plan’s recommendations into budget discussions and pursuing specific pilot projects and grant opportunities outlined in the plan. Adoption does not obligate the city to immediate expenditures, staff said; it establishes a policy framework the transit operator and council can use when seeking funding or approving operational changes.