3:48 p.m. - A Metropolitan Planning Organization study on a roadway connection between Bismarck and Lincoln is underway, with a final report expected in March.

SEH Inc., a Minnesota-based engineering company, is conducting the study. The firm kicked it off this week with a public meeting Monday in Bismarck. Transportation engineer Mark Sloboden reported the turnout for the meeting was low, about 15 people, but the public will be provided three other opportunities to participate.

"We're just getting off the ground on the study," Sloboden told the MPO at Tuesday's policy board meeting. "We're in the process of recruiting stakeholder volunteers to participate in the process and we'll begin having those discussions next month. Another big issue we're concentrating on is collecting information on possible restraints and issues."

Since there is a waterway involved, along with several wetlands, SEH will contact the North Dakota Game and Fish Department and the State Water Commission. Also being kept in mind is a connection's impact on Bismarck Expressway, so SEH will contact URS Engineering, which is conducting an Expressway-corridor study for the MPO.

Immediate plans include a survey of Lincoln residents with questions based on work-related trips and other trips made each day. The questions will ask respondents when they travel and where they travel in the Capital City.

"We'll be asking them very basic questions," Sloboden said. "This will help us establish the desires of the Lincoln residents and help us understand the proper routes to concentrate on," which could include existing roads or a possible new alignment.

SEH will also be doing travel time studies, asking stakeholder volunteers to keep track of the time it takes them to get where they're going from Lincoln. The City of Lincoln has done surveys that SEH plans to incorporate into its study, though Sloboden noted the surveys did show some bias.

A Web site providing information on the study, as well as a way to provide comments, is up an running at www.sehinc.com/online/lincoln-rdwy/index.htm. The SEH survey of Lincoln residents will be sent out in the next citywide mailing, which usually follows the monthly city council meeting. The next meeting is set for Sept. 1.

"By the time we get to the draft report we should have a good consensus on what the outcome of the study will be," Sloboden said.

In other activity the MPO policy board:

3 Heard an update on the URS Highway 83 Corridor study from engineer Bill Troe. The board also approved a URS request to expand the study from 84th Avenue to 110th Avenue.

3 Approved the final School Safety Study report conducted by Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson Inc.

(Staff writer Gordon Weixel can be reached at (701) 250-8255 or at gordon.weixel@bismarcktribune.com)