The City of West Fargo invites the public to attend a public information open house 4:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, at the West Training Room of West Fargo City Hall (800 Fourth Ave. E., West Fargo). The information meeting will provide residents with an opportunity to learn about the urban reconstruction of Sheyenne Street from Main Avenue W. to Seventh Avenue W. (Project map here)

The project is comprised of two components – the urbanization of Sheyenne Street and improving the Sheyenne Street and Seventh Avenue W. intersection. This 2020 street project is a major element in the revitalization of downtown West Fargo and has a goal of creating a vibrant downtown space that encourages walking, events and enhance economic development in the area. The initial proposed design calls for increasing sidewalk widths, slowing traffic, reducing pedestrian crossing distance at intersections, easing pedestrian and motorists’ safety concerns and improving lighting. The proposed project implements elements of the City of West Fargo’s Downtown Framework Study, new comprehensive plan and Downtown Sheyenne Street Corridor Study.

The project is scheduled to begin in spring 2020 and finish by winter 2020. The project’s estimated $5.58 million cost is partially funded with a $2.3 million grant from the North Dakota Department of Transportation’s (NDDOT) Urban Grant Program. The grant program focuses on transportation improvements that directly support a community’s urban core and central business district. The City of West Fargo was one of six communities chosen by an advisory committee comprised of NDDOT, Department of Commerce, Bank of North Dakota, League of Cities and Metropolitan Planning Organization representatives.

The revitalization of downtown West Fargo began in 2016 when the City of West Fargo began collaborating with developers to build a number of multiuse buildings and a city-owned plaza. These spaces bring residents and businesses together and provide a gathering space in the heart of downtown. In 2018, Sheyenne Plaza, the first mixed-use building, and the POW/MIA Plaza opened. Downtown West Fargo also joined Governor Doug Burgum’s Main Street Initiative in 2018 and was declared a Main Street Community. Pioneer Place, a second mixed use building to the north of Sheyenne Plaza opened July 2019. Two more multiuse buildings are planned for Sheyenne Street.

To stay updated on this project and other City of West Fargo news, residents are encouraged to create an account on westfargond.gov to sign up for alerts from the City of West Fargo by clicking “Sign In” at the top of the homepage. Residents can also receive project updates by following @CityofWestFargo on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and by joining Nextdoor.