Fargo residents will see a series of low‑cost, high‑impact traffic‑calming improvements along 64th Avenue South after the City Commission voted unanimously on Oct. 12 to fund the $245,000 package. The money comes from the city’s infrastructure sales tax, according to City Engineer Tom Knakmuhs.
What the improvements include
Commissioners approved the planting of 100 boulevard trees between 32nd Street and University Drive at a cost of $85,000. The trees will visually narrow the roadway, encouraging drivers to reduce speed naturally. In addition, two speed‑feedback signs will be installed for $60,000, providing real‑time speed information to motorists. A raised pedestrian crosswalk at 27th Street South will also be built, improving safety for walkers and cyclists.
Funding and broader project context
The traffic‑calming measures are part of a larger, long‑term plan to construct an I‑29 exit onto 64th Avenue South. The city voted in January to move forward with the $25 million interchange, securing $21.5 million in federal funds. Construction on the interchange is slated to begin in spring 2028.
Over the past two decades, Fargo has invested more than $61 million in the 64th Avenue South corridor, including an overpass bridge. The North Dakota Department of Transportation has agreed to cover additional costs for roundabouts at both exit‑bridge intersections, a design change that will further improve traffic flow.
Community input and safety concerns
City staff held multiple meetings with homeowners and collected 781 survey responses. About 90 % of respondents live on or near 64th Avenue. While more than half of the respondents felt a 30 mph speed limit was too slow, a majority supported the interchange and the need for faster travel speeds.
Some residents, such as Rob Kost, voiced concerns about speeding and the lack of pull‑out lanes for turning. Kost warned, “Someone is going to get killed,” highlighting the urgency of addressing safety gaps. The commission’s approved measures aim to mitigate these risks without imposing new taxes or special assessments, as Commissioner Michelle Turnberg emphasized.
Future options and next steps
Commissioners noted that the approved package is only the beginning. Turnberg said the city remains open to further conversations and additional traffic‑calming ideas as the project progresses. Options such as pull‑out turn lanes or a frontage road were discussed, but their higher costs—$100,000 per location for pull‑outs and $1.4 million for a frontage road—make them less feasible at this stage.
City engineers also evaluated raised center medians, which range from $50,000 to $100,000 each, but raised medians could present maintenance challenges during harsh North Dakota winters.
How to stay informed
The Fargo City Commission meets every other Monday at 5 p.m. in City Hall, 225 Fourth St. N. Meetings are livestreamed and recorded on the city’s YouTube channel, and agendas and minutes are posted on the official website.
Residents with questions or comments are encouraged to contact their commissioners directly or attend the next commission meeting.
Original reporting: InForum (Fargo section) — read the source article.
