In October 2017, the City of Billings/Yellowstone County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) entered into a contract with Kittelson and Associates to complete the 2018 Billings Long Range Transportation Plan (BLRTP) update.  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 includes updates to current transportation conditions, forecasts future population impact on the transportation system, models future traffic volumes to 2040 and includes transportation project priorities.  The Plan complies with the Federal FAST-Act (Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act) requirements to ensure the community qualifies for Federal Transportation funds.

For this BLRTP, a Project Steering Committee was formed to assist staff and the consultant with transportation project review and consultations with stakeholder organizations. The steering committee included local representation from the Board of County Commissioners, City Council, City Engineering Division, Planning Division, MET Transit, and County Public Works. In addition, extensive coordination with the Montana Department of Transportation, Billings Department of Aviation and Transit, Bike/Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and City Public Works was conducted to ensure the most up to date information was included in the plan. The City Council received a presentation on the BLRTP at its October 15th work session.  The Council at the October 22nd meeting will take formal action on the plan and send a recommendation to the Policy Coordinating Committee (PCC).  The PCC will take final action on the BLRTP at its October 30, 2018, meeting.

The 2018 Billings Long Range Transportation Plan (BLRTP) update document is too large to attach to this memo. A link to the document is provided here for reference:
http://www.billingslrtp.com/system/images/2547/original/21353_Billings_Urban_Area_LRTP_v6.3_low_res.pdf

City Council may:

• Approve the 2018 Billings Long Range Transportation Plan and send a recommendation of approval to the Policy Coordinating Committee, or;
• Disapprove the 2018 Billings Long Range Transportation Plan and send a recommendation of disapproval to the Policy Coordinating Committee. Local, State and Federal approval of the 2018 Billings Long Range Transportation Plan is critical to ensure the community receives its share of federal transportation planning funds annually.

There will be no direct financial impact with review and adoption of the 2018 BLRTP update.  This plan acts as a guide to the development and implementation of multi-modal transportation system projects for the Billings Urban Area.  The projects within the plan are prioritized through community engagement and City/County review. 

Staff recommends the City Council approve and adopt the 2018 Billings Long Range Transportation Plan and forward the recommendation to the Policy Coordinating Committee.