Working with consultants KFH Group, the North Dakota Department of Transportation has concluded eight statewide meetings on the development of two federally required, transit-related plans.

A Statewide Coordinated Public Transit Human Service Plan will focus on the needs of individuals with disabilities, the elderly and low-income populations. An Intercity Bus Plan will address the needs of all passengers traveling within the state. Draft plans are expected by February and final plans by March.

The Minot meeting drew a handful of representatives from transit and advocacy organizations, who presented an overview of current services and needs and outlined the potential for expansion and coordination of the transit system.

Darrell Francis, executive director of Souris Basin Transportation (SBT) in Minot, suggested building on the state and federally funded rural transit systems already in place rather than creating new hubs.

Jill Schramm/MDN Darrell Francis, front, executive director at Souris Basin Transportation, speaks at a transit planning meeting Monday, Nov. 3, in Minot Public Library. Also shown are Brian Horinka, left, City of Minot superintendent, and Tonya Parker, right, director of community relations at Independence, Inc.

“We don’t need additional services. I think we just need to use what we have. Utilize it, and then increase ridership. I think we can do that,” he said.

Brian Horinka, City of Minot Transit superintendent, agreed. He added bringing Amtrak into the discussion could be important to utilizing all the coordination options.

“Again, instead of reinventing the wheel, use some of the pieces that are already there,” he said.

The intercity bus service provided by SBT from Minot to Bismarck, where it connects with Jefferson Lines, was highlighted as an area where more coordination and expansion can occur.

“By putting that private and public partnership together and joining that under one umbrella, that’s what makes that work. And I think that’s going to be the key to these other areas,” Horinka said.

Francis reported SBT expanded the intercity bus route to seven days a week on Oct. 1. Picking up passengers along the route, the service caters to individuals looking for day trips to Bismarck and those needing a connection to Jefferson Lines. Jefferson Lines provides bus service along Interstates 94 and 29 in North Dakota as well as across a number of other states.

“It’s working very well,” Francis said of the intercity service, adding it can be made better with coordination among transit services already bringing people to Minot.

“We need to coordinate some of the people that are coming from the northwest or even Wells County, Sheridan – any of those who do come to Minot. We need to get the information out to these guys, saying they can always meet our bus to go to Bismarck,” he said.

Williston’s transit service does not bring a bus to Minot, although Wildrose Public Transportation, based in Crosby, does. Francis said there have been requests for a service between Williston and Minot, which could form the basis for a connection with the intercity service.

Francis said SBT also is looking at extending its New Town bus route to Watford City. There’s been rider interest in making a connection to the east of Minot, but the extent of the need for that service would have to be assessed before a new route would get a more detailed look, he said.

Francis noted the need for more research into the demand for transit connections both northwest and northeast of Minot, saying the responsibility for surveying riders and communities lies with their local transit agencies.

Those at the meeting discussed the need for more information and clarity for riders regarding available services. Although marketing has made the communities aware of the intercity bus service involving SBT and Jefferson Lines, the concern is that individuals may not understand how to utilize the service.

Bonnie Buchanan, vice president at Jefferson Lines, participating remotely, said the bus line is open to anything that would improve communication.

“We’re very pleased with the customers that we’re getting from this route, and it’s really helped us. When you operate in rural America, you don’t have the population, so it’s just kind of a battle to keep everything going. But his service has definitely added to our intercity bus system,” she said of Francis and the SBT route. “We would definitely love to work with any community that would like to start feeding into our route system.”

In addition to SBT, a transit service from Standing Rock also travels to Bismarck and connects with Jefferson Lines.

Regarding demand-response services provided by rural transit agencies such as SBT, there is a high need, said Tonya Parker, community relations director with Independence, Inc., Minot. SBT has the right model, but more versions of that model are needed, she said.

“Independence, Inc. has 11 counties that we serve and outside of Ward, we’re pretty under-served in the rest of the 10,” she said. “Darrell is doing weekends. He’s doing nights. He’s doing all the right things. We just need more of him to happen.”

Francis responded some of the concern can be addressed by getting local social service agencies on board with the information to share with their clients about the transit services available.

Horinka said the City of Minot is preparing in 2026 to push out information about transit through a quarterly newsletter that can be shared by local service agencies with their networks of clients.