This is a discussion item and does not require council action at this time.

Public Works is providing an update to City Council regarding Montana Avenue between North 27th Street and North 21st Street. The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) will be completing a pavement preservation (chip seal) project in 2027. The City has been coordinating with MDT on pavement marking options for the roadway.

Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) will complete a pavement preservation (chip seal) project on Montana Avenue, which is anticipated to be bid later this year and constructed in 2027. Montana Avenue is an NHS non-interstate route and is within MDT's jurisdiction, however, the section of Montana Avenue between North 27th Street and North 21st Street has previously been studied by the City of Billings for potential traffic-calming interventions. This update will be focused on Montana Avenue east of North 27th Street.

History:
Montana Avenue serves as a critical commuter connection between the west end, the heights, and communities east of Billings, along with 1st Avenue North, 4th Avenue North, and 6th Avenue North. Montana Avenue differs in character from the other one-way commuter streets downtown.  Many businesses front the roadway and Montana Avenue tends to have more pedestrian activity. Traffic-calming has been discussed on Montana Avenue since at least 2004, at which time a study was completed by the City to evaluate potential traffic-calming measures. The 2004 study identified a preferred alternative, which included a "road diet" on Montana Avenue east of N 27th Street (reduction in travel lanes, in this case from 3 to 2). The preferred alternative also included curb extensions to narrow the width of the pavement and back-in angle parking to utilize the space gained from the reduction in the travel lane. MDT completed a study in 2017 to evaluate pedestrian and motorist safety. The 2017 study found the southern lane to be underutilized, and a road diet was investigated. However, concerns with the operation of the North 27th Street intersection were identified.

The City further studied the feasibility of a road diet in the 2019 Downtown Traffic Study and found a road diet to be feasible from a traffic operation standpoint. With the understanding that a pavement preservation project on Montana Avenue was upcoming, the City included design of a road diet in the scope of work for the Downtown Two-Way Restoration Project (WO 23-11). A more detailed traffic study was completed with WO 23-11, and the study found that Montana Avenue and the intersection of North 27th Street would operate with additional delay, but at acceptable levels with a road diet. Staff updated City Council on the progression of the Montana Avenue road diet during the Two-Way Restoration Project design update at the July 14th, 2023 work session.

Current Design Efforts:
The MDT project on Montana Avenue will include pavement preservation, repair of some sections of curb and sidewalk, repair or replacement of the concrete crosswalks, and new pavement markings. The City has been coordinating with MDT on signing and striping options that could be completed within the scope of the MDT project. The following options were considered:

• Road diet with back-in angle parking and parallel parking: This has been the preferred alternative from an operational standpoint, primarily for the ability to see oncoming traffic while pulling out of a back-in angle parking stall. This is particularly critical on a road like Montana Avenue with higher traffic volumes and operating speeds. Back-in angle parking was installed on North 29th Street and North 30th Street in 2021 in anticipation of adding back-in angle parking on Montana Avenue. However, based on feedback from downtown business owners, Council directed staff to remove the back-in angle parking with the 2025 two-way restoration project. Based on recent conversations with MDT, back-in angle parking is still an option that could be considered, but it is not preferred due to the lack of consistency with the rest of downtown. MDT would likely require back-in parking to be located on the south side of the roadway, further increasing pedestrian crossings of the travel lanes. Due to community feedback, location of the angle parking on the south side of the roadway, and the inconsistency with the rest of downtown, it is not recommended to pursue this option.
• Road diet with pull-in angle parking and parallel parking: Based on community feedback of back-in angle parking, pull-in angle parking was also considered on Montana Avenue. This alternative would include pull-in angle parking on the north side of the road and parallel parking on the south. Pull-in angle parking is not preferred operationally, primarily because of the inability of a driver to see oncoming road users while backing out of a parking stall. This is particularly problematic on Montana Avenue based on the characteristics of the roadway. Montana Avenue has around 10,000 Average Daily Traffic (ADT) and 85th percentile speeds between 31 and 38 mph. A typical street downtown with pull-in angle parking (2nd Avenue North, for comparison) has around 2,000 ADT and 85th percentile speed of 23 mph. Based on the roadway characteristics and the operational concerns, it is not recommended to pursue this option with a signing and striping solution alone. 
• Road diet with parallel parking on both sides of the roadway: This option would include removal of a travel lane but no addition of on-street parking. Without a use for the 12-feet of space created by the road diet, the two travel lanes may feel wider to a driver. Lanes that feel wider may not result in lower operating speeds, even with the reduction in a travel lane. It is not recommended to pursue this option with a signing and striping solution alone.
• Status quo: This option would leave the lane configuration and parking as-is but would include all the improvements MDT is already planning to complete. Note that Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) have been added to the crosswalks at North 26th through North 22nd Street, five in total, to enhance pedestrian visibility and increase driver awareness of the existing crosswalks. 

Based on the considerations noted above, it is recommended to support MDT's current pavement marking plan, leaving the lane configuration and parking as it is today. Other project options exist that would align more closely with the 2004 traffic-calming plan and could include curb extensions, sidewalk widening, and other improvements that do not fit within the scope of MDT's current project. More substantial improvements may better achieve the desired traffic-calming effects. Improvements to this scale are not currently funded. However, a CIP project specific to the road diet that would include more substantial improvements such as curb extensions and sidewalk widening, will be developed for future prioritization. 

There are no fiscal impacts currently being considered. 

No formal action will be taken. City Council may provide feedback to staff on the recommendations.