Transportation Planning

This Section participates in and coordinates the transportation planning process for the Great Falls urban area. This process is primarily cooperative and includes the Planning Board, the City of Great Falls, Cascade County, Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Great Falls Transit District, and other local, State, and Federal agencies interested in transportation.

Some of the major work activities, projects and products of the Transportation Planning Section include:

• “One-Way Conversion Study – Conclusions.” (262k PDF)
  • A Discussion Paper Regarding the Conversion of Downtown One-Way Streets Back to Two-Way Streets (1045k PDF)
• Public Participation Plan (60k PDF) - this document guides public participation for planning efforts undertaken by the Planning Department.
• School Safety Plan
• Transportation Plan
• Community Transportation Enhancement Program (CTEP)
• River's Edge Trail
• Traffic Counts (43k PDF)
• Traffic Count Location Map (225k PDF)
• Transportation project priorities from the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
  • Transportation Improvement Program FFY 2007 - FFY 2011 (165k PDF)
• Roadway functional classifications
• U. S. Census and local demographic estimates
• Overview of roadway projects projected for construction in Great Falls between 2003 and 2006 (using Federal & State funds)
• Annual Listing of Obligated Projects (12k PDF)* for the Great Falls Metropolitan Area *2007 List posted 12/18/2007
• South Arterial Feasibility Study

  The Great Falls Arterial Feasibility Study project analyzes the development of a new arterial route within the Great Falls urban area connecting Interstate 15 west of Great Falls with US Highway 87/89 east of Great Falls. The arterial would be a part of the Camino Real International Trade Corridor (National Highway System High Priority Corridor 27), one of 40 international trade corridors designated by the Federal government that links Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The study evaluated a range of alternatives from a 2-lane rural highway facility to a 4-lane controlled access freeway facility within two separate study corridors.

  This feasibility study compares the anticipated benefits (travel time savings and accident reductions) to the estimated costs (construction, operation, and maintenance) of the facility within a discrete period of time. These comparisons of benefit to cost, commonly known as a benefit-cost ratio, are developed through an economic analysis and discounted to present-day dollars, providing a useful tool for local planners and decision makers.

  The Executive Summary (733k PDF) is available on-line, while printed copies of the entire Study may be obtained from the Planning Office.

LINKS