Ethan Master Transportation Plan Study

Welcome to the Ethan Master Transportation Plan web page! The Town of Ethan, along with the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT), is sponsoring the development of this planning study. The study will examine current transportation issues and needs Ethan faces and decide how best to address them. All transportation modes will be studied, including roadways, transit, pedestrian and bicycle facilities. When completed, the study will outline recommended improvements and provide a plan for implementing them. The goal is to create a safe and efficient transportation plan that will serve Town of Ethan moving forward.

About the Study

The study will contain three main phases to be completed over the summer of 2026:

The first phase will inventory and analyze existing and future conditions and identify the problems and needs.
The second phase will develop strategies, alternatives and potential solutions to address the problems and fulfill the needs. Because of limited budgets for transportation infrastructure maintenance and constructions, costs will be considered when developing alternatives. Addressing major problems identified as most important to the community and the transportation system will increase the impact of this study.
The third and final phase will select alternatives for further study and prioritize them based on planned investments for the Town of Ethan.

Study Area

The study area includes the Town of Ethan and 411th Avenue, North of town limits.

Map of Study Area (Link to attached map)

Public Involvement

An important component if this master transportation planning study is your input. We want to know about your travel patterns, your destinations and the challenges you face getting there. Hearing from the community at large is integral to the success of the planning recommendations. Ethan is your home, and nobody knows it as well as you. As the study progresses, we will need your input on the potential alternatives we develop for improving our area’s transportation network.

The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) has a long history of public involvement in the development of transportation plans and projects. The 2021 passage of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) required a public involvement process. In accordance with the Department’s public involvement plan document, the Ethan Master Transportation Plan Study strives to keep the public involved with the study as much as possible.

Online Survey

The online survey (linked below) is available for the public to provide input to the study. The survey will remain open through July 13th, 2026.

(Available soon)

Public Meetings

Public meetings for the study will be scheduled to collect input, provide information and answer questions. These meetings are a great opportunity to hear from the community of Ethan and gain insight that will be valuable to SDDOT’s study.

First Public Meeting- June 29th, 2026 (Information available soon.)

Stakeholder Group Meetings

Civil entities and certain business types often have aspects that can have unique impacts to a city’s transportation system that can be more thoroughly discussed outside of the public meeting format. As such, stakeholder groups consisting of representatives from the business, civic elements, and various demographics of the population withing Ethan will be invited to a set of stakeholder meetings that will be held throughout the study period.