Federal regulations require that Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) review and update their Transportation Plan every 3-4 years. The current 2005 Transportation Plan falls into this category. The Billings Urban Area Transportation Plan has gone through periodic updates and re-writes since 1961. This current 2009 update re-evaluates and affirms the current roadway network, parking, transit, bike pedestrian facilities and freight movement. The Plan also verifies current regional, community-wide, and neighborhood issues and needs associated with the transportation system, as well as future travel demand out to the year 2035. Proposed short range and long range transportation system improvements and funding sources for these projects are presented, as well. Only minor changes to the 2005 Transportation Plan’s background information and project list have been made.

This update is being presented to Council for review of the project goals, all federally funded transportation planning projects, and the functional classification map. The Council is expected to review the draft plan and make a recommendation to the Policy Coordinating Committee (PCC). The PCC is the final approving local authority for transportation-related documents within the Billings Urban Area.  Council Member Ed Ulledalen serves as Council’s first representative on the PCC. The PCC is composed of four members; the Billings City Council, the Chair of the Yellowstone County Commission, the President of the Yellowstone County Board of Planning, and the District Administrator, Billings District, of the Montana Department of Transportation. The Council is expected to make a recommendation to the PCC at this meeting. The PCC is scheduled to meet May 18 to take final action on the 2009 Billings Urban Area Transportation Plan Update.

The City Council may:
1. Recommend approval of the plan to the Policy Coordinating Committee.
2. Recommend denial of the plan to the Policy Coordinating Committee.

There should be no direct financial impact from the adoption of this plan. However, the plan should assist with transportation project identification, prioritization for the Billings Urban Area.

In March of 2009, the City of Billings Planning Division entered into a contract with Cambridge Systematics, Inc. to complete an update to the Billings Urban Area Transportation Plan. The Plan addresses transportation planning across the City of Billings and portions of Yellowstone County outside the city limits. The Plan addresses transportation project priorities, motorized and non-motorized transportation planning goals, and provides current and future estimates of traffic impacts to the community’s transportation system.

This plan update includes updates to current transportation conditions, forecasts future population impact on the transportation system, models future traffic volumes to 2035, and includes transportation project priorities. The update also will ensure that the plan complies with the Federal SAFTEA-LU (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users) requirements to ensure the Billings MPO qualifies for Federal Transportation funds.

For the plan update, a steering committee was formed to assist staff and the consultant with transportation project review and consultations with stakeholder organizations. In addition, extensive coordination with the Montana Department of Transportation, MET Transit, Airport Division, Bike/Pedestrian Advisory Committee, City Engineering, and County Public Works was conducted to ensure the most up to date information was included in the plan. Finally, staff worked with the Planning Board, City Council, and the Board of County Commissioners to identify potential long and short range transportation projects to be included in the plan.

On March 11, 2010, the Planning Division conducted a public meeting to gather input on the plan draft. Approximately 37 community members attended the meeting to hear an overview of the plan update and to ask questions or offer comments. Many of those comments and questions will be addressed in the plan update. A 45-day public comment period started on March 11, 2010, and ran until April 24 to align with the review of the Plan by the Planning Board, Board of County Commissioners and City Council before the PCC takes final action in May.

The Planning Board at its March 23, 2010, meeting conducted a public hearing on the plan to receive public comment. Due to the 45-day public comment period running until April 24, 2010, the Planning Board will make a recommendation to the Policy Coordinating Committee at its regular meeting on April 27, 2010. This will provide time for any additional comments received on the plan to be provided to the Planning Board for consideration before it takes action on April 27. The Board of County Commissioners is scheduled to consider a recommendation to PCC on the transportation plan at its meeting on May 11, 2010. The Policy Coordinating Committee will consider adoption of the plan at its regular meeting scheduled for May 18, 2010.

The Billings Urban Area Transportation Plan embodies several elements identified in the 2008 Yellowstone County and City of Billings Growth Policy in regards to Transportation, Open Space, Community Health, and Recreation Elements.  The elements are discussed further within the plan update.