2026 Fargo-Moorhead Metro Area-Wide Traffic Counts

Purpose of Request

Every five years Metro COG conducts and coordinates area-wide traffic counts for the purpose of developing a data set to which the regional travel demand model can be calibrated.  The travel demand model is then used to guide development of the Fargo-Moorhead Metro Transportation Plan (MTP).  These counts serve other purposes as well.  Each traffic count covers at least a 48-hour period with some counts being vehicle classification counts (heavy vehicle counts) while others are simply vehicle counts.

Project Background

Historically the Fargo-Moorhead area-wide traffic counts have been collected every five years using road-tube automated traffic counters on the moderate and low volume roadways while the higher volume roadways (such as urban interstate) have been collected using less intrusive devices. Though Metro COG tries to conduct the Fargo-Moorhead Metro area-wide traffic counts the same year as the North Dakota Department of Transportation’s (NDDOT’s) and the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s (MnDOT’s) counts, those agencys’ schedules do not always align. 

NDDOT counts the Fargo area every three years, with NDDOT’s most recent counts in 2024, except for the Interstates which are counted every year.  MnDOT counts certain roadways every two, four, six, or 12 years, depending on the roadway classification.  Therefore, the only 2026 NDDOT counts in the Fargo region will be on the Interstates, while MnDOT will be counting roughly 67 locations in Clay County, MN in 2026.  

Metro COG and Metro COG’s member jurisdictions desire counts at additional locations beyond those provided by the DOTs.  These counts will be used for transportation planning purposes such as corridor planning studies, regional traffic analysis, and more.  Metro COG also needs additional counts conducted at specific locations for use in accurately calibrating the base year of our travel demand model.  A consultant is being sought to conduct these additional counts for which Metro COG is responsible.  The Consultant will be responsible for collecting a minimum of 48-hour traffic count data at about 441 locations across the Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Area.