Transportation Plan - City of Williston

1.4 Freight System
Existing Truck Routes
US Highway 2/85 and ND State Highway 1804 are state designated truck routes which traverse
the city of Williston. US Highway 2/85 is a four-lane roadway which runs north/south along
2nd Avenue West and northeast/southwest along West Dakota Parkway. US Highway 2 is the
northern-most east/west highway in the US, spanning over 2,700 miles. US Highway 85 is also
known as the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway (TRE). It is part of the northern third of the Ports
to Plains Alliance, which is a proposed four-lane divided highway system that will promote
national and international trade and transportation through the Great Plains from Mexico to
Canada. ND State Highway 1804 is a two-lane facility which runs east/west along 2nd Street
West, before jogging one block south to 1st Street East, and then two blocks north to Broadway
East through the downtown area. Both routes (US Highways 2/85 and ND State Highway 1804)
are utilized extensively by local industries to move equipment and other shipments throughout
the region and beyond.
In addition to the state designated truck routes, the City of Williston has a locally designated
truck route which runs east/west on 26th Street East between US Highway 2/85 and East Dakota
Parkway and north/south on East Dakota Parkway, providing an easterly connection between US
Highway 2/85 and ND State Highway 1804. The existing truck routes within the City of
Williston are shown in Figure 11.
Railroad Service
A Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway mainline track runs east/west along Williston’s
southern boundary. This line caries approximately 40 trains per day and serves a major regional
grain elevator in Williston. There is also a spur line which services Williston’s industrial area,
east of the Little Muddy River. The existence of the BNSF line is important to the economic
development and prosperity of the area. Much of the city’s industry is located on or near the
tracks, allowing for movement of equipment, goods, and products by train and truck.
1.5 Bicycle and Pedestrian System
Bicycle and pedestrian systems play a critical role in any transportation network by providing
opportunities for alternative modes of travel such as bicycling and walking. They also provide a
primary source of transportation to recreational areas for leisure uses. The following is an outline
of the existing bicycle and pedestrian system within Williston. Based on the existing conditions
and identified gaps in the system, future bicycle and pedestrian system improvements have been
identified and are described in Chapter 5.
Sidewalks provide a safe way for pedestrians and bicyclists to navigate the city. Many of the
roadways in Williston, especially in the older, well-established areas of the city, have sidewalks
on both sides of the street. Other roadways have sidewalks on one side only or no sidewalks.
Where present, the condition of the sidewalks varies across the city.
Two thirds of the intersections with existing sidewalks have pedestrian ramps, but many do not
meet the current ADA standards. The city has completed an interim Sidewalk/ADA plan, and
will pursue federal aid funds for implementation. The city has a policy in place to pay for ADA
ramps if the adjacent property owner pays for sidewalk replacement. In addition, there are crossslope
issues that need to be resolved in some locations as some sidewalks are directly adjacent to
Williston Transportation Plan 23
August 2010