1.L.
Regular City Council Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 07/13/2020
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the the City Council at the July 13, 2020 Council meeting forward a recommendation of approval of the Inner Belt Loop Corridor Study to the Policy Coordinating Committee (PCC). The PCC is scheduled to take final action on the study at it's meeting on July 21, 2020.
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
The Billings Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) through a competitive process hired Sanderson Stewart to develop a corridor planning study of the future Inner Belt Loop corridor in Billings and Yellowstone County. The extent of the study area is from the Skyway Drive/West Wicks Lane intersection on the northeast to the Montana Highway 3/Zimmerman Trail intersection on the south terminus of the connection.
The Inner Belt Loop project has been discussed for almost 30 years as a way to provide a much-needed connection between the Billings Heights and West End. Formal work on this project began in 2005 with a planning study to identify the feasibility of a connection through northwest Billings and identify a preferred route. This study included substantial public participation opportunities that resulted in broad approval by the community. Additionally, this study is specifically related to the vision of the corridor and how it can function. Design of the roadway was started in 2009 with construction of Skyway Drive completed in 2014. The City has allocated in the current CIP $7 million toward construction of the road in 2022 with the remaining $7 million needed to complete the road in 2024. In addition, the City of Billings applied for a BUILD Grant in May for the amount of approximately $16.8 million to complete the construction of the Inner Belt Loop, Skyline Trail, and Stagecoach Trail. If awarded, the city will be able to save the additional $7 million to complete the roadway that was anticipated to be needed in 2024.
Announcement of the BUILD grant results is set for September 15.
The desired outcome of the study is to provide a vision for the corridor that balances the need to plan for new development that will inevitably occur around the roadway while ensuring a safe, connected community. The analysis and
recommendations in the plan were identified through extensive data analysis along with public and stakeholder involvement. The goal is to develop principals that are consistent with principals within the City of Billings Growth Policy.The Inner Belt Loop project has been discussed for almost 30 years as a way to provide a much-needed connection between the Billings Heights and West End. Formal work on this project began in 2005 with a planning study to identify the feasibility of a connection through northwest Billings and identify a preferred route. This study included substantial public participation opportunities that resulted in broad approval by the community. Additionally, this study is specifically related to the vision of the corridor and how it can function. Design of the roadway was started in 2009 with construction of Skyway Drive completed in 2014. The City has allocated in the current CIP $7 million toward construction of the road in 2022 with the remaining $7 million needed to complete the road in 2024. In addition, the City of Billings applied for a BUILD Grant in May for the amount of approximately $16.8 million to complete the construction of the Inner Belt Loop, Skyline Trail, and Stagecoach Trail. If awarded, the city will be able to save the additional $7 million to complete the roadway that was anticipated to be needed in 2024.
Announcement of the BUILD grant results is set for September 15.
The desired outcome of the study is to provide a vision for the corridor that balances the need to plan for new development that will inevitably occur around the roadway while ensuring a safe, connected community. The analysis and
Several recommendations were formed as an outcome from this study and include:
- Formalized intergovernmental agreement between the City and County to develop a coordinated approach to land use and development within the City or the County along the corridor.
- Application of development tools such as neighborhood planning; continued review and update to the Limits of Annexation Map; identify design standards within project Re:Code for appropriate zoning; and develop a plan for utility expansion, primarily water and sewer.
- Design considerations such as recommending that the current Right-of-Way width of 90 feet be expanded to 100 feet to provide flexibility in building setbacks, multi-use facilities, drainage, lighting, boulevard sidewalk and raised center median for access control.
- The study also identified options for roadway phasing if the city is not successful in the BUILD grant and local funding is split between years 2022 and 2024.
- Water and sewer infrastructure tools that will support development along the Inner Belt Loop that could include private property owner agreements, reimbursement agreements and Special Improvement or Rural Improvement Districts.
STAKEHOLDERS
The Inner Belt Loop Corridor Study process was overseen by a Project Oversight Committee (POC) comprised of City of Billings (Planning, Engineering, MET Transit), Yellowstone County, Montana Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and the Rimrock and Heights Neighborhood Task Forces. The POC met seven times over several months to help guide the process and ensure participation from community stakeholders. In addition to meetings, there was a project website that allowed for residents and interested persons to view information and submit comments and questions.
In addition to the POC, two public meetings were held to present preliminary and final findings on the study and to solicit feedback from thh community on the project. The first was held on November 6, 2019. Fifty-seven residents attended the first public meeting. Following an overview of the project given by Sanderson Stewart, the meeting was opened up to public comment. The vast majority of the public comments and questions centered around concern that the construction of the Inner Belt in its current location would add excessive traffic to Zimmerman Trail. The other main comment was that the Inner Belt Loop shouldn't connect at Zimmerman Trail but further west. It was explained to the participants that this study wasn't commissioned to determine an alignment for the roadway but to develop a vision for the corridor related to land development, access management, multi-modal safety and operations, corridor aesthetics and feasibility of public services. Sanderson Stewart encouraged those in attendance to continue to follow the process for additional information on traffic modeling outcomes that should be available by the second public meeting.
The second public meeting was held on March 5, 2020. Approximately forty-seven residents were in attendance. Sanderson Stewart provided an update to where the plan was in the process. The main update to those in attendance was the discussion of the traffic counts identified by the model on the current alignment. The model shows a slight increase in traffic based on both the baseline and aggressive growth projections. The baseline growth rate showed a 6% increase in traffic to Zimmerman Trail with the construction of the Inner Belt Loop. The aggressive growth rate showed a 5.2% increase in traffic to Zimmerman Trail with the construction of the Inner Belt Loop. Most comments and questions centered on the corridor vision and support for the recommendations identified in the study.
On June 23, the Planning Board received a presentation by DJ Clark of Sanderson Stewart on the corridor study components and recommendations. In addition to the presentation, the Planning Board conducted a public hearing to gather public input on the corridor study. Denny and Jan Rehberg spoke in favor of the project and study. There was no other further public testimony. There was no comments or questions from the Planning Board.
In addition to the POC, two public meetings were held to present preliminary and final findings on the study and to solicit feedback from thh community on the project. The first was held on November 6, 2019. Fifty-seven residents attended the first public meeting. Following an overview of the project given by Sanderson Stewart, the meeting was opened up to public comment. The vast majority of the public comments and questions centered around concern that the construction of the Inner Belt in its current location would add excessive traffic to Zimmerman Trail. The other main comment was that the Inner Belt Loop shouldn't connect at Zimmerman Trail but further west. It was explained to the participants that this study wasn't commissioned to determine an alignment for the roadway but to develop a vision for the corridor related to land development, access management, multi-modal safety and operations, corridor aesthetics and feasibility of public services. Sanderson Stewart encouraged those in attendance to continue to follow the process for additional information on traffic modeling outcomes that should be available by the second public meeting.
The second public meeting was held on March 5, 2020. Approximately forty-seven residents were in attendance. Sanderson Stewart provided an update to where the plan was in the process. The main update to those in attendance was the discussion of the traffic counts identified by the model on the current alignment. The model shows a slight increase in traffic based on both the baseline and aggressive growth projections. The baseline growth rate showed a 6% increase in traffic to Zimmerman Trail with the construction of the Inner Belt Loop. The aggressive growth rate showed a 5.2% increase in traffic to Zimmerman Trail with the construction of the Inner Belt Loop. Most comments and questions centered on the corridor vision and support for the recommendations identified in the study.
On June 23, the Planning Board received a presentation by DJ Clark of Sanderson Stewart on the corridor study components and recommendations. In addition to the presentation, the Planning Board conducted a public hearing to gather public input on the corridor study. Denny and Jan Rehberg spoke in favor of the project and study. There was no other further public testimony. There was no comments or questions from the Planning Board.
FISCAL EFFECTS
The contract for the Inner Belt Loop Corridor Study with Sanderson Stewart was budgeted at $100,000. The majority of the funding is through the Billings Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization's Federal PL (planning) funds. PL funds for this project required a 40% local match, which was provided through the Planning Division's FY19 and FY20 Council-approved budgets and 2020 Unified Planning Work Program, utilizing its County-Wide Planning Mill Levy revenues.
Although the study does not provide exact costs associated with corridor design elements, beyond the roadway and pathway elements that are already designed, or the expansion of services such as water and sewer, the study does provide general information on what costs to expect with development of the roadway.
Although the study does not provide exact costs associated with corridor design elements, beyond the roadway and pathway elements that are already designed, or the expansion of services such as water and sewer, the study does provide general information on what costs to expect with development of the roadway.