Jill Schramm/MDN Dana Larsen speaks to the Ward County Commission Tuesday about the next steps in planning for a highway connector system around Minot.

City and county officials are taking the next step in planning for a highway connector system around Minot.

Both the Ward County Commission and Minot City Council voted Tuesday to each put $15,000 toward hiring a consultant to develop an application for a federal planning grant. The city council also approved an extra $5,000 as contingency to cover its share of any unforeseen costs. The grant application is due at the end of February.

Over the past 18 months, Ward County has been studying alternatives for a southwest and southeast bypass around Minot. Various alternatives were examined and public input taken. Among proposals are the realignment of County Road 17 at County Road 14 and a realignment of 30th Street Southwest to create a southern connection at U.S. Highways 2 & 52 from Burdick Expressway West.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation recommended the city and county apply for a Rebuilding America Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) planning grant to fund the environmental document and help identify the final road alignments and connection points for right-of-way acquisitions. The city estimates the environmental document alone could cost $2 million to $3 million, of which federal funds could pay for at least 80%. The additional study also would allow for more public input and cost analysis.

Ward County Highway Engineer Dana Larsen said the additional study is important to eventually seeking out construction funding.

“We could turn around and use that same data to apply for the next step, whether it be a RAISE grant or some other grant through the DOT. We’d have a lot better information and position ourselves to actually get the funding for those projects,” Larsen told commissioners.

He explained the county and city are working together to include both rural and urban pieces in an effort to put forth a stronger project in the application process.

The city and county should learn in September whether the proposed study will be funded.