The
North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) is teaming up with local
communities to plan, design and install temporary Active Transportation
Demonstration Projects this summer. These temporary demonstration projects, or
“pop-up” projects are a community approach at building short-term projects to
help determine the public’s desired types of long-term changes for safer
streets and healthier, more vibrant communities. Input from the public in each
community is encouraged and is a large part of each projects’ success and
possible permanent installation.
“Demonstration
projects allow people walking, biking, taking transit or driving to test run
potential project features,” says Steve Mullen, NDDOT planner and project
manager. “Along with helping NDDOT determine
the types of walkable features the public likes, the pop-up projects also help
communities determine how to incorporate active transportation into their long
term planning.”
Communities
will be installing the projects for a short duration of time and community
members are encouraged to utilize the project and provide input either at the
project location or through the online survey: http://bit.ly/NDMoves. Pop-up projects include
using temporary materials for installations such as bike lanes, mini
roundabouts, crosswalk enhancements, park benches, decorative features on curbs
and roadways, etc.
The
NDDOT has been working with local communities along with the North Dakota
Department of Health over the last several months to recruit communities to
participate in the program. Nine communities are taking part in this first
round of projects which will be installed at various times in June and July.
Communities
participating in the program include:
Bismarck
Mandan
Grand Forks
Williston
Hazen
Rugby
Grafton
Bottineau
Horace
More information about NDDOT’s Active Transportation Pop-up Projects can be found at https://www.dot.nd.gov/plans/statewide/popup.htm.