The council approved an ADA Paratransit Plan and Paratransit Service Agreement to continue its arrangement with Souris Basin Transportation to provide services for individuals with disabilities. The agreement has a $20,000 city cost.

The council’s action advances part of the first phase of a two-year, four-phase project to comply with federal regulations as well as ensure accessibility for individuals with disabilities, according to the Public Works Department.

The first phase focuses on needed adjustments to comply with new federal and state regulations associated with the city’s change in federal designation from rural to a small urban community. This phase includes identifying new staffing needs, specifically for development and management of a program in which riders would need to certify their disability statuses.

Phase 2 efforts have already begun, Public Works Director Bryan Banfill informed the council in a memo. This phase will focus on an analysis of equipment and operational needs and is expected to be completed by the end of March.

A vehicle heads east on Eighth Avenue Southeast, near the Clarion Hotel, in Minot Saturday. The roadway is scheduled for reduction from four lanes to three later this year.

Phase 3 would begin in July and includes creating a Transit Development Plan as required by the federal government. An associated study will look at route efficiency, equipment adequacy and operational hours, based on collected ridership data. The study is expected to last six months to a year.

Phase 4 would begin in April 2026. In this phase, study recommendations will be assessed and a strategy developed to make changes in the city’s transit system.

In addressing the Eighth Avenue Southeast matter, the council approved converting about 600 feet of the avenue from four lanes to three lanes from the Burdick Expressway intersection, where it meets the entrance to the state fairgrounds, to 20th Avenue. Beyond 20th Street, west of the Clarion Hotel, Eighth Avenue is a two-lane roadway.

The city’s Engineering Department reported Federal Highway Administration studies have shown reducing four lanes to three lanes reduces crashes by 19-47%. Nine crashes have occurred at the signalized intersection at Burdick from 2019-2023, with no pedestrian incidents.

A traffic count by the state showed Eighth Avenue west of Burdick averages 2,575 vehicles a day.

The conversion would occur as part of the 2025 street seal project.

In other business, the council voted to reject a bid from Retail Strategies for retail development services. The council looks to replace Retail Coach, whose contract the city decided not to renew. The city plans to conduct another round of proposal requests this summer.