The Policy Coordinating Committee (PCC) is being asked to provide a recommendation to the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) on an amendment to the Billings Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) to ensure a road project in downtown may move forward. This project is a conversion of North 29th Street and North 30th Street from one-way to two way traffic between Montana Avenue and 6th Avenue North. 

Since the Montana Department of Transportation identifies North 30th Street as an Urban Route and the project also intersects with other State routes, action by the Montana Transportation Commission is required to approve City construction on these roadways. To complete this approval at the State level, the Billings Metropolitan Planning Organization must amend its Billings Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) to ensure these roadway projects are properly identified in the Plan.

The Yellowstone County Board of Planning, Billings City Council and Yellowstone County Board of County Commissioners have recommended approval of the amendment to the PCC.

Further background for this Agenda Item will be given by staff in a presentation at the PCC Meeting.

Approval of the LRTP amendment by the PCC will be the last step in the local approval process that will lead to review and action by the Transportation Commission in June. Approval by the Commission will allow the City to have the option to bond for approximately $1.9 million in TIF dollars to complete the one-way to two-way conversion. The process to bond the project will be a separate action the City Council will consider at meetings in May and June.

Staff recommends the PCC forward a recommendation of approval to the Montana Department of Transportation for the amendment of the 2018 Transportation Plan that would include the conversion of 29th and 30th streets in downtown Billings from one way to two way traffic from 6th Avenue North to Montana Avenue.