TRIP, a non-profit transportation research group based in Washington D.C., released a report last week called "Rural Connections: Challenges and Opportunities in America's Heartland". According to the report, one sixth of the nation's population living in rural America is facing a number of significant challenges including: inadequate capacity to handle growing levels of traffic and commerce, limited connectivity, inability to accommodate growing freight travel, deteriorating roads and a high traffic fatality rate. 

The report reveals that in North Dakota 17 percent of rural bridges were rated as structurally deficient and five percent as functionally obsolete. The report defines rural as all places and people living in areas outside of urban areas with a population of 5,000 or greater.

There is no denying that rural America has been lacking investment in transportation infrastructure. Rural transportation infrastructure is an even greater concern for communities surrounding the big oil hubs such as the City of Dickinson.

Improving and expanding the rural transportation system can serve as a secondary avenue to relieve some of Dickinson's growing traffic demand. Dickinson can adopt transportation policies that will improve rural transportation connectivity, safety and conditions by modernizing and extending key routes to accommodate personal and commercial travel, while at the same time bringing some relief to the already congested streets in town due to the heighten activity in the oil industry.  

Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport officials were asking for $60,000 for a hangar project during the Stark County Commission meeting on Tuesday this week. Commissioners were in support but pointed out that taking the next step is dependent on the capital available for the project.

According to the airport manager, Matt Remynse, there are more aircrafts based in Dickinson than ever before and the increase in the number of transient operators that house their planes has limited the amount of space in the hangars.  

The new hangar will be 100 feet by 120 feet for a cost of about $837,000. Stark County Development awarded a $150,000 grant and a $150,000 loan toward the project and the City of Dickinson is expected to fund $100,000. Remynse is also seeking $60,000 each from Billings, Dunn, Hettinger and Stark counties to cover the extra cost. 

Billings and Dunn counties have been positive in their response but are waiting on the availability of funds in their budgets. Hettinger county has opted not to award any money at the moment according to Remynse.     

  

A 300-acre rail hub near Dickinson will begin operating at the end of the month, according to Wichita, Kan.-based Lario Logistics LLC, which owns the facility. This is a pivotal achievement for the oil industry as the facility will help with truck traffic, said Stark County Commission Chairman Ken Zander. The facility is located west of Dickinson on 115th Street Southwest and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe mainline.

  

Stark County Zoning Board Members approved two workforce housing permits during a meeting in the Stark County Courthouse last week. Tim Priebe, general counsel for Fisher Sand & Gravel Co., approached the board for a permit that would allow employees and subcontractors to live in trailers near a gravel pit. 27 trailers and portable bathrooms have already been on site without prior approval. The permit is valid only for the duration of the construction season and it will not exceed three months, according to Priebe. 

The second permit was granted to a resident who had workers staying in recreational vehicles on his property. This permit is valid for 30 days and the vehicles must be removed after it expires.

After the public hearings, the board discussed the adoption of a crew housing ordinance similar to the city of Dickinson's. Board Chairman Russ Hoff mentioned the importance of collaboration between the city and county so they have a unified procedure of addressing temporary workforce housing permits. This way companies do not perceive one as more lenient than the other regarding the establishment of housing for workers.