Commissioners approve Billings-area planning work program after narrowing complete-streets language
August 08, 2023 | Yellowstone, Montana
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The Yellowstone County Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 8 approved the Billings Urban Area Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for Federal Fiscal Year 2024 after removing references to applying a complete-streets policy outside the City of Billings.
Scott Walker, planning staff, said the document is the metropolitan planning organization's annual work program and budget and includes 12 standard work elements. He told the board that “2 and a half percent of PL funds must be set aside for complete street planning,” a new federal requirement that this year amounts to about $37,000 of the program budget.
Walker described the UPWP funding picture as roughly $1.4 million in federal PL funds, about $260,000 in planning fees, approximately $170,000 from county-generated fees and a county mill contribution of about $595,000, for a program total near $2.4 million. He said Yellowstone’s federal allocation took an estimated $500,000 hit because two other Montana metropolitan areas recently qualified as MPOs.
The board agreed to remove language that would apply a complete-streets policy outside Billings’ city limits, with staff noting the county has not adopted such a policy. Commissioners were told staff can add disclaimers on projects that encompass both city and county areas. Rusty, transit staff, outlined priorities in the transit portion of the UPWP, including a proposed $150,000 transit sustainability and governance study, a paratransit eligibility review, bus-stop master planning and consolidating rider-facing smartphone apps.
The motion to approve the UPWP, as amended, carried by voice vote.
The UPWP will advance to the Planning and Community Commission for recommendation and then to federal review ahead of the Oct. 1 start of the fiscal year.
Scott Walker, planning staff, said the document is the metropolitan planning organization's annual work program and budget and includes 12 standard work elements. He told the board that “2 and a half percent of PL funds must be set aside for complete street planning,” a new federal requirement that this year amounts to about $37,000 of the program budget.
Walker described the UPWP funding picture as roughly $1.4 million in federal PL funds, about $260,000 in planning fees, approximately $170,000 from county-generated fees and a county mill contribution of about $595,000, for a program total near $2.4 million. He said Yellowstone’s federal allocation took an estimated $500,000 hit because two other Montana metropolitan areas recently qualified as MPOs.
The board agreed to remove language that would apply a complete-streets policy outside Billings’ city limits, with staff noting the county has not adopted such a policy. Commissioners were told staff can add disclaimers on projects that encompass both city and county areas. Rusty, transit staff, outlined priorities in the transit portion of the UPWP, including a proposed $150,000 transit sustainability and governance study, a paratransit eligibility review, bus-stop master planning and consolidating rider-facing smartphone apps.
The motion to approve the UPWP, as amended, carried by voice vote.
The UPWP will advance to the Planning and Community Commission for recommendation and then to federal review ahead of the Oct. 1 start of the fiscal year.
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