The Planning Division is presenting to the Planning Board the Billings Area Bikeway + Trails Master Plan Update with the intent to have the Board make a recommendation to the Policy Coordinating Committee (PCC).  The Planning Board is scheduled to receive a formal presentation on the content of the plan and continue with a public hearing that was opened during the March 14, 2017 Planning Board meeting.  The public will be invited to provide comment and testimony during this public hearing.  The Planning Board recommendation will be forwarded to the PCC for its April 25, 2017 meeting.  

The Billings area has a long history planning and implementing dedicated active transportation facilities. The first planning effort that focused on active transportation, the BikeNET Plan, provided numerous recommendations to improve bicycle and trail facilities in the community and shape a culture that supported walking and bicycling. This plan, which was adopted in 1996, expedited the implementation of miles of trails and on-street bikeways. In 2004, this plan was updated as the The Heritage Trail Plan for Greater Billings, and this plan was subsequently updated in 2011 as the Billings Area Bikeway and Trails Master Plan.  This plan expanded upon the scope of the Heritage plan, including a more focused emphasis on planning on-street bikeways to facilitate commuter bicycle travel. Numerous other planning efforts have been conducted, which have also included recommendations to improve bicycle and pedestrian conditions at the County, City, and neighborhood levels. 

The plan update includes the communities Vision, Goals and Objectives, Existing Conditions, Needs Assessment, Recommendations and Implementation Strategies.  Significant efforts were made to gather public input during the development of this plan, including four stakeholder focus group meetings, two public meetings, an online input map and an online survey.

The development of the study was managed by a project steering committee comprised of representatives from Planning, City Parks and Recreation Department, City Engineering Division, County Public Works Department, Montana Department of Transportation, and representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, the Bike/Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Billings TrailNet, RiverStone Health, the Lockwood Pedestrian Safety District, and the Billings City Administrator. 

Copies of the Bikeway + Trails Master Plan are located at the following link:  http://www.billingstrails.com/documents--graphics.html

There should be no direct financial impact from the adoption of the plan. However, it will assist with future implementation of planning, funding, and prioritization of bike and pedestrian projects and programs for the Billings Urban Area. There are financial implications to implementation of the Plan, which the City Council will be asked to consider going forward through programs and projects.
 

Staff recommends that the Planning Board recommend approval of the Billings Area Bikeway + Trails Master Plan and forward this recommendation for consideration to the PCC meeting on April 25.