The Downtown Billings Partnership (DBP) Board has re-reviewed this TIF funding request from the Historic Montana Avenue Association (HMAA) in coordination with the City of Billings Public Works Department, Montana Department of Transportation and the Downtown Billings Alliance, and recommends the City Council approve up to $15,000 from Downtown Urban Renewal tax increment finance district funds to upgrade (1) pedestrian crossing along Montana Avenue with pedestrian-activated, rectangular, rapid flashing beacons (RRFB). Actual expenditure will be based upon 100% of the actual costs incurred for the pedestrian crossing installation.
 

The application was vetted by DBP and City staff, and the project funding recommendation was presented to the DBP Board at its meeting on November 19, 2021. The DBP Board made its recommendation to City Council to fund the project at that meeting. The project is planned as an initial pilot project to increase the safety of pedestrians crossing Montana Avenue and prepare for a larger street reconfiguration project of Montana Avenue in the next few years in coordination with the City and MDT. The future project would follow the recommendations of the City's 2019/2020 Downtown Traffic Study by reducing the travel lanes to two, reconfiguring parking, improving crosswalks, including adding additional rapid flashing beacon crossings, and looking to add a bike lane. Currently, Montana Avenue businesses and visitors are dealing with vehicles traveling at high rates of speed, three lanes of traffic to cross, and unlit crossing zones for pedestrians. HMAA Members in support of this project include the Billings Depot, Griffin Development, Computers Unlimited, The Marble Table, First Montana Title, Dickey’s BBQ, Buchanan Capital, Liberty & Vine, and BarMT.

The DBP Board and HMAA support the project and found it was a very strong match for accessing urban renewal funds because:

• It adds an important piece of public safety infrastructure to the Montana Avenue Corridor
• It may reduce the rate of vehicle speeds when pedestrians want to cross
• It will improve walkability for the Montana Avenue district
• It provides a greater sense of safety for visitors and Billings residents on Montana Avenue
• It aligns with Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design practices promoting safe environments
• It may reduce the threat of vehicle accidents along Montana Avenue 
• The application aligns with elements/goals of the DBA Strategic Plan (may be viewed through this link https://downtownbillings.com/about/about-the-dba/), City TIF Policy, MCA, and the North 27th
• It conforms to the 27th Street District Urban Renewal Plan.

The DBP Board and HMAA is recommending 100% TIF funding towards this safety improvement because it is purely public infrastructure and traffic/pedestrian safety related. If this request is approved by the Council, its outcome will benefit the public where pedestrians feel safer, accidents may be reduced, and businesses can continue to thrive. 

 

City Council may:

• Approve the recommendation from the DBP Board for the expenditure of these TIF funds consistent with some elements/goals of the DBA Strategic Plan, North 27th Street Urban Renewal Plan, City TIF Policy and MCA, or;
• Modify the recommendation from the DBP Board for the expenditure of these TIF funds before taking action, or;
• Disapprove the recommendation from the DBP Board for the expenditure of these TIF funds. If the Council chooses not to approve this TIF application, the HMAA, DBP and City will have to find other sources of funds to install this pedestrian safety infrastructure.

In July of 2020, the City sold TIF bonds ($2,038,253) to fund improvements to the Parking Garages, the one-way to two-way street conversions for North 29th and North 30th, and other eligible City improvements downtown. As a result of the City receiving bids that were better than expected, and the Engineering division managing significant savings on the street project, there is approximately $177K remaining from the bond sale to be used on eligible City improvements downtown. Staff is recommending that a portion of these funds be used to purchase and install the crossing signal, not to exceed $15,000. The estimate includes parts, labor, and installation.