Great Falls Area Long Range Transportation Plan Available for Public Review

The Great Falls Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has released the 2024 Great Falls Area Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) for public review. The plan focuses on the broader Great Falls area and is intended to assist planning partners and the community in guiding transportation infrastructure investments based on system needs and anticipated developments over the next 20 years. Over 90 roadway network recommendations and improvement projects have been developed to improve the area’s transportation system and ensure roadways are safe and have sufficient capacity to accommodate existing and future travel demands through the year 2045. Additionally, nearly 170 individual non-motorized recommendations, including shared use paths, sidewalks, bike facilities, and spot improvements, are also included in the LRTP to support development of a safe, connected, and efficient multimodal transportation network. The preliminary recommendations were identified through public involvement efforts in May of 2023 and May of 2024, as well as a detailed analysis of existing and projected conditions within the community. The draft plan and accompanying appendices can be reviewed on the plan website (www.greatfallstransplan.com). The Great Falls Area LRTP is intended to be a collaborative effort among the MPO, City of Great Falls, Cascade County, Great Falls Transit District, the Montana Department of Transportation, stakeholders, and the public. Thus, community input is a very important part of the process. The public is encouraged to participate and share concerns, thoughts, and other feedback with the project team to help refine the final Plan. The deadline for public comments is Monday, September 23, 2024 at 5:00 PM. Following the public review period, the planning team will review and consider all public comments and address feedback as appropriate. The revised plan will be presented to the Great Falls Technical Advisory Committee, Policy Coordinating Committee, and City and County Commissions for approval and adoption over the following weeks. Comments can be submitted at any time to the project manager, Scott Randall, via by phone at 406-447-5005, or by mail at 3147 Saddle Drive, Helena, MT 59601. For more information about the project, visit www.greatfallstransplan.com.