The Billings Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) requested proposals from qualified firms to develop a Downtown Billings Traffic Study: Alternative Prioritization and Public Preference Plan (Preference Plan). The goal of this project was to the take the identified transportation network alternatives completed in the Downtown Traffic Study, completed by the City of Billings Engineering Division, and execute a robust and creative public outreach process to develop an implementation and project prioritization strategy. The Planning Board reviewed the Preference Plan and conducted a public hearing on the plan at its January 12 meeting. The Board is expected to complete a final review of the Plan at this meeting and make a recommendation to the Policy Coordinating Committee (PCC).

The MPO through a competitive process hired Dowl to develop a Downtown Billings Traffic Study: Alternative Prioritization and Public Preference Plan (Preference Plan).
 
The Preference Plan project was prompted by the Downtown Billings Traffic Study (DBTS) completed for the City of Billings Engineering Division by Kittelson and Associates and Dowl in 2019. The Preference Plan solicited public feedback and prioritization preference of the feasible transportation network alternatives vetted in the DBTS. The vetted alternatives presented to the public are:

• One-Way to Two-Way Conversions: North and South
  • This segment of the survey included six questions, five offering feasible options on 33rd, 34th, and 35thStreets; 26th, 29th, and 31st Streets; 30th and 32nd Streets; 25th Street; and 25th Street at the MET Transfer Center; and one offering an option for participants to comment.
  • Of the 2,167 survey answers provided to this line of questions, 65% were in favor of a conversion.
  • 116 comments were made offering feedback related to traffic flow, the need for bike lanes, parking concerns/need, and safety.
• One-Way to Two-Way Conversion: East and West (1st Avenue N and 2nd Avenue N)
  • This segment of the survey included two questions, one asking about the conversion from one-way to two-way and one offering an option for participants to comment.
  • Of the 442 survey answers provided to this line of questions, 61% were in favor of a conversion.
  • 65 comments were made offering feedback; recurring themes included economic impact, concern over construction expense and possible congestion, and the need for bicyclist and pedestrian safety.
• Road Diet: Montana Avenue (Division Street to 18th Street)
  • This segment of the survey included four questions, three asking about possible road diet options between30th-35th Street, 27th-30th Street, and one offering an option for participants to comment.
  • Of the 1,326 survey answers provided to this line of questioning, 60% were in favor of a conversion.
  • 94 comments were made offering feedback; recurring themes included varying opinions on the need for bike facilities and concerns over congestion, traffic speed and pedestrian safety on the east end of Montana Avenue, and loss of parking spaces.
• Road Diet: 6th Avenue N (Main Street to North 13th Street)
  • This segment of the survey included three questions, two asking about possible road diet options between 10thStreet and main Street, and 13th Street and 10th Street, and one offering an option for participants to comment.
  • Of the 2,167 survey answers provided to this line of questioning, 66% were in favor of a conversion.
  • 61 comments were made offering feedback; recurring themes included concerns about congestion and commute time. Others emphasized the need for a connection for bicyclists between the Heights and Downtown and bike/pedestrian safety. References to the East Billings Urban Renewal District (EBURD)Master Plan, 5th Avenue N project, and the Inner Belt Loop integration were also made.
• Road Diet: 13th Street (Between 6th Avenue North and 1st Avenue North)
  • This segment of the survey included three questions, two asking about possible road diet options between 4thAvenue N and 6th Avenue N, and 1st Avenue N, and one offering an option for participants to comment.
  • Of the 875 survey answers provided to this line of questioning, 60% were in favor of a conversion.
  • 29 comments were made offering feedback; recurring themes included the need for bicycle and pedestrian safety, traffic flow and BIRD development. Others questioned the need for bike lanes in the industrial area of town and related expense. Again, integration with the East Billings Urban Renewal District (EBURD) Master Plan and 5th Avenue N projects were recommended.
• Seasonal Closure: Broadway Avenue
  • This segment of the survey included two questions, one asking about a seasonal closure and one offering an option for participants to comment.
  • Of the 441 survey answers provided to this line of questions, 64% were in favor of a seasonal closure.
  • 603 comments were made offering feedback; recurring themes included business access, economic vitality, and activity in downtown. Some participants expressed a desire to see a full closure, while others were concerned about the impact to traffic flow and parking spaces.

Overall, members of the public and stakeholder groups who were engaged with the project provided passionate, thoughtful feedback. Citizens are deeply engaged in the community and downtown; hopeful that improvements would increase economic vitality and spur development; and concerned about accessibility, walkability and bike-ability.

STAKEHOLDERS
At the January 12 meeting, the Planning Board received a presentation from Dowl on elements of the Preference Plan. The board also conducted a public hearing to gather public testimony regarding the plan, no public participated in the hearing. The Planning Board made several comments about how pleased they were with the plan and the results. One question was asked in regard to how this planning study fits in with all the other planning and engineering studies occurring in the downtown? Some of these include the N 27th Railroad Crossing Study, Exposition/1st Avenue North, MetraPark Master Plan, and N 5th Corridor Study. Many of the MPO's consultants work as the lead or a sub-consultant on these projects, the benefit is that the awareness of other studies occurring can help influence the outcomes or direction of the studies. MPO staff also works to ensure communication and coordination across various studies and projects since they are involved in all of them at different levels.

The contract for the Downtown Billings Traffic Study: alternative Prioritization and Public Preference Plan with Dowl was budgeted at $50,000. The majority of the funding is through the MPO's Federal PL (planning) funds. PL funds for this project required 40% local match, which was planned for and provided through the Planning Division's adopted FY20 budget.

Although this study does not provide exact costs associated with preferred alternatives, the Downtown Billings Traffic Study completed by Kittelson & Associates in 2019 provided planning level cost estimates for selected elements. Decisions about what conversions might be done first, timing and allocation of funds, are all elements that may happen next using this Preference Plan's findings.

Staff recommends that the Planning Board forward a recommendation of approval of the Preference Plan to the PCC. The PCC is scheduled to take final action on the plan at its meeting on February 16, 2021.