Whitefish Safe Streets for All

RPA assisted the City of Whitefish in completing a Safety Action Plan identifying the most significant transportation safety concerns in the community. The plan outlined implementation steps for projects and strategies to address those issues and ultimately reduce fatalities and serious injuries within the City limits.

Key Project Elements

Project Description

The City of Whitefish was awarded funds from the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary grant program to complete an Action Plan identifying the most significant transportation safety concerns in the community with implementation steps for projects and strategies to address those issues in addition to reducing fatalities and serious injuries within the City limits. RPA assisted the City in developing an Action Plan, which aims to address the safety needs of all users, though it places increased emphasis on non-motorist safety, in alignment with community priorities and values.

In support of the plan, RPA facilitated Task Force meetings, a walk audit, stakeholder meetings, City Council coordination, and a variety of public outreach including the Walk N Roll event, website postings and an online commenting map, and two in-person public meetings.

RPA conducted baseline data analysis for crashes occurring within the Whitefish City limits from 2018 to 2022, including crash characteristics, demographic details, and identification of a High Injury Network (HIN). After facilitating selection of focus areas and setting leadership commitment and goals for the plan, RPA identified a series of broad-based strategies associated with each of the four focus areas. Strategies involve the E’s of Transportation Safety (Education, Enforcement, Engineering, and EMS) and follow the Safe Systems Approach with specific attention on safe road users, vehicles, road, and speeds. Example actions range from educational campaigns to investments in infrastructure projects, new technologies, maintenance practices, policies, enforcement, and training, strategies are intended to address safety from numerous angles.

Additionally, RPA identified specific projects, programs, and policies to proactively address identified transportation safety concerns from all angles, including infrastructure improvements, programs focused on safe behaviors, and operational improvements. RPA also developed planning-level cost estimates for each of the project recommendations. Lastly, RPA developed a prioritization process and outlined steps necessary for future implementation efforts.

Project Details​

Client

City of Whitefish

Location

Whitefish, Montana

Public Outreach

Project Website

Lincoln Road – Montana Avenue to 1-15

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) initiated this project to improve the congested Lincoln Road Interchange six miles north of Helena, Montana on Interstate 15 (I-15). RPA provided holistic professional civil engineering and land surveying services spanning from preliminary traffic engineering analysis and concept development through final design and construction assistance.

Problem

The north valley outside of Helena has experienced rapid growth due to development activity and changes in land use. Construction of the Custer Interchange six miles to the south also resulted in unanticipated changes to traffic patterns and operations at the Lincoln Interchange. Traffic performance deteriorated as traffic volumes increased. This area has experienced vehicle congestion during the peak hours and is expected to experience increased growth in the coming years due to continued development. If remained unchanged, increasing vehicle delay and safety issues were likely to compound. A successful solution was needed to accommodate peak traffic while not unduly delaying motorists during less congested times of the day.

Solution

RPA completed a traffic engineering study to identify and evaluate potential options to improve safety and operations for the Lincoln Road corridor between North Montana Avenue and I-15. The alternatives were intended to be implementable in the short-term and did not include full reconstruction of the Lincoln Interchange or the Lincoln Road corridor. Potential barriers and constraints to project development were also identified to evaluate the feasibility of alternatives. The preferred alternative included single-lane roundabouts at the Lincoln Road intersections with Montana Avenue and the I-15 northbound off-ramp, an additional southbound on-ramp lane, and left-turn lane onto the southbound on-ramp.

Key Project Elements

Project Details​

Client

Montana Department of Transportation (MDT)

Location

Lewis & Clark County, Montana

Great Falls Long Range Transportation Plan

Project Description

RPA has assisted the Great Falls MPO in completing and updating its long-range transportation plan over the past two decades. Most recently, our team developed a comprehensive new LRTP focusing on compliance with new federal regulations while developing a comprehensive vision for the multimodal transportation network over the next 20 years. The plan was developed through a collaborative approach with county, state, and city staff, elected officials, and local residents to provide a blueprint for guiding transportation investments based on system needs and associated decision-making principles. The LRTP provides a comprehensive and integrated strategy for transportation infrastructure and service improvements within the Great Falls area to improve transportation safety and efficiency for all roadway users.

Project Details​

Client

City of Great Falls

Location

Great Falls, Montana

Public Outreach

Project Website

Idaho 55 / Banks Lowman Road Intersection Study

RPA conducted a comprehensive evaluation of traffic and safety conditions at the intersection of State Highway 55 and Banks Lowman Road north of Boise, Idaho. After evaluating existing and projected conditions and multiple improvements, a traffic signal was identified as the preferred alternative for the intersection based on its operational performance under future growth scenarios.

Key Project Elements

Project Description

The intersection of State Highway 55 and Banks Lowman Road is located approximately 41 miles north of Boise and provides access to a variety of recreational opportunities in the surrounding public lands. On weekends during the summer, the area experiences an influx of recreational traffic resulting in congestion and lengthy delays for vehicles along Banks Lowman Road. During busy days, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) has implemented temporary flagging control to help control and alleviate congestion. As traffic volumes continue to increase, however, the existing strategy is inadequate to meet the growing demands at the intersection.

After collecting traffic data and observing vehicle queuing and turning movements in the field, RPA used a multi-step approach to evaluate existing and projected traffic conditions, including both deterministic and microsimulation analyses. To address operational and safety conditions at the site, RPA analyzed multiple alternatives included maintaining the existing two-way stop control, implementing flagging control more frequently, installing a traffic signal, and installing a single-lane roundabout.

While the existing stop control and peak day flagging operation is viable in the short term, the configuration is not sustainable for the long-term. The flagging operation is shown to help alleviate existing congestion concerns, however, the option offers minor capacity increases and would need to be implemented more frequently during the peak season. Automated flagging control was identified as an interim solution while designs for a more permanent solution are developed. Based on the results of the evaluation process, a traffic signal was identified as the preferred alternative for the intersection. Compared to the other traffic control scenarios, the roundabout was shown to provide the lowest capacity and shortest anticipated life. Conversely, the traffic signal provides the greatest life of all alternatives and the best operational performance under future growth scenarios.

Project Details​

Client

Federal Highway Administration - Western Federal Lands (FHWA-WFL)

Location

Boise County, Idaho

Greater Triangle Area Transportation Plan

The Greater Triangle Area Transportation Plan was developed to guide transportation infrastructure investments based on system needs and anticipated developments over the next 20 years. The Plan included the areas between Four Corners, Belgrade, and Bozeman where recent suburban development has occurred or is anticipated to occur in the future. The comprehensive plan provides a vision for county officials, staff, and residents to work together to develop innovative approaches to plan and implement a transportation system that will serve the community’s citizens well into the future.

Project Description

Gallatin County has experienced significant growth over the past 40 years. The county has consistently outpaced the population growth of other Montana counties. This growth can be attributed to the evolving economies of the county’s largest cities, Bozeman and Belgrade, the continued expansion of Montana State University in Bozeman, and in-migration resulting from the high quality of life that the county offers. As Gallatin County continues to grow, it is important to understand growth trends to properly accommodate and prepare for the county’s current and future transportation needs.

The last regional county transportation plan was completed in 2007 with more recent updates completed for the urban areas of Bozeman and Belgrade. A new, comprehensive look at the transportation system in the growing suburban area was needed to understand system needs and investment opportunities over the next 20 years.

The Greater Triangle Area Transportation Plan (GTATP) provides a comprehensive and integrated strategy for transportation infrastructure and service improvements within the greater triangle area between Bozeman, Belgrade, Four Corners, and Gallatin Gateway. The GTATP focuses on strengthened roadway connections to facilitate safe and efficient travel between these quickly growing communities within the county. The plan addresses regional transportation issues, overall travel convenience, traffic safety, sustainability, funding, and multimodal connections. The GTATP includes recommendations for short-term improvements as well as long-term modifications and capital improvements to major roadways.

The GTATP serves as a guide for development of and investment in the region’s transportation system in a comprehensive manner. The GTATP was developed through a collaborative approach with county, state, and city staff, elected officials, and local residents. The plan provides a blueprint for guiding transportation infrastructure investments based on system needs and associated decision-making principles. The GTATP integrates previously completed planning efforts, includes detailed analysis of existing and projected transportation conditions, incorporates meaningful input from citizens and local officials, and provides a framework for future efforts within the context of state and federal rules, regulations, and funding allocations.

Project Details​

Client

Gallatin County

Location

Galatin County, Montana

US 93 Ninepipe Corridor Feasibility Study

RPA collaborated with a number of state and federal entities to create a feasibility assessment for a challenging stretch of US Highway 93 between RP 40.0 and 44.5. The study assessed geotechnical limitations, hydraulic considerations, wetland impacts, cultural influences, and right-of-way requirements to assess improvement possibilities in terms of impacts, construction costs, and feasibility. The study’s findings will be utilized to inform project development decisions and future environmental re-evaluations.

Key Project Elements

Project Description

US Highway 93 (US 93) is an important highway corridor and supports local, regional, and nationwide transportation. The Ninepipe segment extends from Reference Post (RP) 40.0 to 44.5 south of Ronan, MT in Mission Valley. The corridor is situated in a highly sensitive ecological and cultural environment through federal and tribal lands designated for wildlife management, environmental protection, and cultural preservation. Improvements to the corridor are needed to address poor existing traffic operations, projected increases in traffic volumes, multiple safety concerns, and a lack of dedicated pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

Building from an alternative identified in previous environmental documentation, RPA worked collaboratively with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT), and multiple environmental resource agencies to identify a feasible reconstruction concept that would optimize benefits and reduce impacts. The study evaluated geotechnical constraints, hydraulic considerations, wetland impacts, cultural influences, and right-of-way needs to evaluate improvement options in terms of impacts, construction costs, and feasibility considerations. Findings from this study will be used to assist MDT in project development decisions and will support a future environmental re-evaluation.

Project Details​

Client

Montana Department of Transportation

Location

Montana

City of Helena Multimodal Traffic Study

Project Description

The study area is situated in the heart of Helena and provides access to the Downtown, Capitol, Helena College, and Helena Middle School. The area includes primary commercial, business, and residential districts and serves multiple transportation modes including passenger vehicles, freight, bicycles, pedestrians, transit, and rail. The study corridors and five-point intersections each have unique character, settings, and configurations, each with their own set of issues and needs. The two five-point intersections have non-standard layouts and geometrics. The configurations can cause driver confusion and have poor operating efficiency, particularly during peak hours. The study identified concerns regarding safety, a lack of suitable non-motorized infrastructure, undesirable aesthetics and lack of gateway signage, and access to commercial and residential areas.

The traffic study considered all previously completed planning efforts, assessed existing and projected transportation and environmental conditions, provided an in-depth analysis of feasible improvement options, and identified recommendations to be implemented over the next 20 years. Through a comprehensive evaluation of transportation and environmental conditions and a wide-ranging public and stakeholder outreach process, the traffic study identified a set of 16 recommendations to address multimodal safety, connectivity, access, mobility, aesthetics, wayfinding, and economic vitality for the adjacent areas. The recommended improvements offer a range of potential short- and long-term strategies to address areas of concern, including streetscaping enhancements, sidewalk improvements, ADA curb ramps, enhanced crosswalks, traffic signal timing adjustments, bike lane extensions, intersection realignment, a grade-separated rail crossing, trail extension, and intersection reconstruction.

Extensive public and stakeholder involvement occurred throughout the planning process. Before a study scope was developed, introductory visioning workshops were held with the community and key stakeholders to understand their concerns and needs prior to contract execution. During the plan development, our team held both in-person outreach activities (with small groups, and by appointment) and virtual opportunities. We developed presentation videos, high-quality graphic renderings, and other easy to understand public-facing materials. There was also extensive coordination with MDT, the Downtown Business Improvement District, two TIF districts, adjacent businesses, school district, and the City.

Project Details​

Client

City of Helena

Location

Helena, Montana

Missoula CTSP

Project Description

RPA was chosen to develop the Missoula Area Community Transportation Safety Plan (CTSP) for the Missoula MPO. The CTSP serves as a guide for addressing Missoula’s regional transportation issues, overall travel, and most importantly, traffic safety for all modes of transportation. Current safety concerns were addressed through innovative and practical strategies which incorporate the Four E’s of Safety (engineering, enforcement, education, and emergency services). The CTSP was developed in coordination with the Transportation Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) which is comprised of City, County, State, and non-government representatives with an acute interest in safety in the Missoula area. The effort also included extensive public and stakeholder outreach to understand transportation concerns and needs. The CTSP included a detailed analysis of past safety trends, considered effectiveness of previously employed safety strategies, incorporated meaningful input from citizens, stakeholders, and local officials, and provided a comprehensive implementation framework for achieving Missoula’s safety goals. The CTSP included an in-depth review of multiple years of crash data for the entire community to identify crash trends, clusters, and other safety concerns. Over 10,000 crashes were evaluated for this effort. The analysis resulted in a data-driven review of existing crash trends, high-risk behaviors, and crash clusters. Included in the CTSP are recommendations for short-, mid-, and long-term strategies for addressing transportation safety concerns in the Missoula area while considering sustainability, resource availability, and funding constraints.

Project Details​

Client

Missoula MPO

Location

Missoula, Montana