Moorhead Looks to Improve Safety on 40th Ave S Near Elementary School

City shares study results on reducing speed, adding roundabout, and other changes near S.G. Reinertsen Elementary

Feb. 24, 2026 at 7:11am

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The City of Moorhead, Minnesota is proposing several safety improvements to 40th Avenue South between 8th and 20th Streets, including reducing the speed limit, adding a roundabout at the 14th Street intersection, and modifying the drop-off area at nearby S.G. Reinertsen Elementary School. This follows the tragic death of a 9-year-old student who was struck and killed by a city vehicle at the 14th Street crossing in 2025.

Why it matters

The proposed changes aim to address ongoing safety concerns in this high-traffic area near the elementary school, where speeding and lack of compliance with traffic signals have been identified as key issues. Improving pedestrian and driver safety is a top priority for the city following the fatal accident.

The details

The city's study found that 40th Avenue South sees between 5,900 to 6,800 vehicles per day, with many drivers exceeding the current 40 mph speed limit. Officials want to lower the limit to 30 mph and install a roundabout at the 14th Street intersection, where less than half of drivers currently come to a full stop. Additional changes include adding school zone signs with flashing lights at the 14th and 16th Street drop-off areas, making the drop-off a one-way, and removing right turn lanes to improve safety.

  • In July 2025, 9-year-old Adam Amin was struck and killed by a city Mack truck at the 40th Avenue and 14th Street intersection.
  • Six months later, in January 2026, former Moorhead city employee Victor Port was charged with failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk and operating a vehicle without the proper license.
  • The city's traffic study was conducted in August 2025 and December 2025, observing traffic patterns and speeds along 40th Avenue South.

The players

Steve Moore

Moorhead Executive Director of Operations and Emergency Services, who presented the results of the city's traffic study to the Moorhead School Board.

Adam Amin

A 9-year-old student who was tragically struck and killed by a city vehicle at the 40th Avenue and 14th Street intersection in July 2025.

Victor Port

A former Moorhead city employee who was charged six months after the fatal accident with failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk and operating a vehicle without the proper license.

S.G. Reinertsen Elementary

The local elementary school located near the 40th Avenue South corridor that the city's proposed safety improvements aim to benefit.

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What they’re saying

“The main benefit to a roundabout is it does slow down people a lot at that intersection. We do think with improvements that it will be a good intersection for pedestrians as well.”

— Steve Moore, Moorhead Executive Director of Operations and Emergency Services

What’s next

The Moorhead City Council will review the traffic study findings and consider approving the proposed safety improvements, including the roundabout and reduced speed limit, at an upcoming meeting.

The takeaway

This tragic incident has prompted the City of Moorhead to prioritize pedestrian safety near schools, with a focus on addressing speeding, lack of driver compliance, and infrastructure changes to slow traffic and protect vulnerable road users. The proposed solutions aim to prevent future accidents and restore a sense of safety for families in the community.