Billings MPO

Billings MPO
Name	Billings Metropolitan Planning Organization
Formation	1970s
Type	Metropolitan planning organization
Headquarters	Billings, Montana
Region served	Yellowstone County
Leader title	Executive Director

Billings MPO

The Billings MPO serves as the federally designated metropolitan planning organization for the Billings urbanized area, coordinating transportation planning among municipal, county, and regional actors while interfacing with federal and state agencies. It conducts long-range planning, short-range programming, air quality conformity, and project prioritization in collaboration with local jurisdictions, tribal governments, and modal stakeholders to advance mobility, safety, and fiscal stewardship.

Overview

The organization operates within the urbanized area surrounding Billings, Montana and coordinates with Yellowstone County, Montana, the City of Billings, and neighboring jurisdictions. It aligns metropolitan transportation planning with requirements from the United States Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Federal Transit Administration while implementing provisions of federal statutes such as the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act and earlier measures like the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. The MPO interfaces with the Montana Department of Transportation and regional entities such as the Yellowstone County Planning Board, local transit providers, and tribal authorities including the Crow Nation and Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation administrations. Its planning footprint interacts with regional initiatives tied to the Bighorn Mountains, the Yellowstone River, and corridors connecting to Interstate 90 and U.S. Route 87.

Governance and Membership

Governing structure includes voting and non-voting members drawn from elected officials and agency representatives. Voting membership typically comprises appointees from the City of Billings City Council, the Yellowstone County Commission, and the municipal leadership of jurisdictions such as Laurel, Montana and Lockwood, Montana where applicable. Non-voting seats include staff from the Montana Department of Transportation and regional transit operators like MET Transit. Technical advisory roles are filled by planners from entities including the Yellowstone County Planning Department, the City-County Planning Board, the Federal Highway Administration Montana Division, and representatives from metropolitan law enforcement and emergency management such as the Billings Fire Department and Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office. The MPO coordinates with planning partners including metropolitan commissions, tribal councils, utility districts, the Billings Chamber of Commerce, and academic institutions like Montana State University Billings.

Planning and Programs

Core documents include a long-range Metropolitan Transportation Plan that sets horizons for multimodal investments, a Transportation Improvement Program that schedules capital and maintenance projects, and performance-based planning tied to federal requirements. The MPO conducts modeling and analysis using travel demand models and GIS systems aligned with tools used by the Montana Department of Transportation and metropolitan counterparts such as the Missoula Metropolitan Planning Organization and Bozeman Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. Programs address roadway capacity, transit service, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, freight movement along corridors like Interstate 90 and U.S. Route 87, and environmental reviews aligned with the National Environmental Policy Act. The MPO coordinates safety planning with agencies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and air quality conformity with the Environmental Protection Agency when applicable.

Transportation Projects and Priorities

Project lists prioritize arterial improvements, intersection upgrades, transit capital purchases, and active transportation corridors. Notable projects often include rehabilitation of sections of Interstate 90 and upgrades to primary local connectors such as Montana Highway 3 and U.S. Route 87, enhancements to transit stops and fleet modernization with input from MET Transit, pedestrian safety enhancements near institutions like Montana State University Billings and regional medical centers, and freight-related improvements supporting rail access to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway network. Priorities reflect stakeholder input from the Billings Chamber of Commerce, regional freight interests, public safety agencies, and environmental advocates, and often coordinate with federal funding programs administered by the Federal Transit Administration and Federal Highway Administration.

Funding and Budget

Funding sources include federal formula allocations under programs administered by the Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Highway Administration, state matching funds from the Montana Department of Transportation, and local contributions from jurisdictions such as the City of Billings and Yellowstone County. Grant opportunities from federal discretionary programs like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provide capital for major corridors and transit investments. Budgetary decisions are made through the Transportation Improvement Program and in consultation with members representing entities such as the Billings Public Schools for safe routes projects, regional economic development organizations, and tribal partners who may secure funding through programs administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs or Indian Health Service for access improvements.

Public Involvement and Outreach

The MPO conducts public involvement through meetings of its policy board and technical advisory committees, public open houses, and targeted stakeholder workshops with organizations such as the Billings Metro Community Development Department, bicycle advocacy groups, business associations, and neighborhood councils. Outreach methods include public comment periods on the Metropolitan Transportation Plan and Transportation Improvement Program, virtual engagement platforms used by the City of Billings, and coordination with media outlets and civic groups like the Billings Gazette and the Billings Library for information dissemination. The MPO also engages youth and academic stakeholders via partnerships with Montana State University Billings and community organizations to integrate equity, access, and sustainability objectives into planning.

Category:Metropolitan planning organizations in the United States Category:Billings, Montana