The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is responsible for coordinating regional transportation planning and allocating federal funds to eligible projects. MPO sponsorship is required for local projects seeking federal funding through programs such as the Surface Transportation Program - Urban (STPU) and the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program. Sponsorship ensures the project meets federal eligibility requirements and allows it to compete for funding.

In March 2023, the Policy Coordinating Committee (PCC) approved a request to the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) to add Grand Avenue (from 41st Street West to 62nd Street West) and 62nd Street West (from Grand Avenue to just north of Rimrock Road) to the Urban Highway System. The MDT Highway Commission approved this request in April 2023, making the project eligible for federal funding. The PCC includes the Mayor of Billings, the Chair of the Yellowstone County Commission, the President of the Yellowstone County Planning Board, and the MDT District Administrator.

Currently, portions of Grand Avenue remain a two-lane county road in a growing area lacking sidewalks and other multi-modal infrastructure. Increased traffic and the inability to separate left-turning vehicles present safety concerns. The project proposes upgrading Grand Avenue to city arterial standards, including a three-lane roadway, a multi-use path on one side, and a sidewalk on the other. The construction of this project will address several Safe Routes to School projects identified in the Phase 2 plan. Additional improvements include MET improvements for future transit service in the area, streetlights, a new traffic signal at 56th Street West, and stormwater infrastructure to manage roadway runoff and local development drainage. The addition of Grand Avenue to the federal funding priority list will allow the City of Billings to reconstruct Grand Avenue into a city standard arterial roadway.
 

The MPO’s transportation planning process includes multiple opportunities for public input. The Planning Board, serving as the MPO, held a public hearing to collect feedback. Additional public comment opportunities will be available at Billings City Council, the Yellowstone County Commission, and PCC meetings.
To date, the following other meetings in the MPO process have occured:

• On March 13th, the Technical Advisory Committee (internal meeting of TAC members, including City Public Works/Engineering, City MET Transit, City-County Planning Division/MPO staff, Yellowstone County Public Works, MDT, FHWA) met and recommended approval for the Grand Avenue project to be prioritized for federal funding. This recommendation is now being forwarded to the governing bodies for consideration.
• On March 25^th, the Planning Board conducted a public hearing regarding the request to add Grand Avenue to the local federal funding priority. During the public hearing, no testimony was presented. The Planning Board on a unanimous vote is forwarding a recommendation for approval of the addition of Grand Avenue to the Federal funding priority list. This recommendation will be forwarded to the PCC for final action scheduled for April 15, 2025. 

The Grand Avenue project is eligible for federal funding through Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) and Surface Transportation Program-Urban (STPU) programs. No direct impact on City or County budgets is anticipated, however, required developer contribution funding through the subdivision process is available as local contribution.