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Bozeman transportation director reports on contracts, big grants and slowdown in impact-fee revenue
Summary
Director Nick Ross updated the Transportation Advisory Board on a new LRTP consultant selection, pending federal grant agreements for roughly $25 million, several capital projects moving to bid with competitive results, and a sharp shortfall in projected impact-fee collections so far this fiscal year.
Director Nick Ross presented operational and capital updates to the Transportation Advisory Board on March 26, reporting contract selections, grant-status uncertainty and changing revenue projections.
Ross said the Metropolitan Planning Organization selected Nelson Nygaard and Associates to prepare the city’s long-range transportation plan and that contracting was underway. He told the board the city and Montana Department of Transportation continue to press for federal guidance on about $25,000,000 in grants awarded in recent years; “we are patiently waiting for federal guidance and feedback on about $25,000,000 worth of grants we had secured,” Ross said.
Staff also released an RFP for the Safe Streets for All action-plan element, received three respondents and planned to recommend a selection to the city manager for a brief pause to confirm grant-availability before proceeding. Ross said he would “strongly suggest we carry out, as the city, at least the action plan, the safety plan component” even if demonstration-project funding proved unavailable.
Capital projects and procurement
Ross said the city has seen stronger competition on construction bids: the annual street maintenance contract drew five bidders and a friction-seal maintenance contract returned prices about 10% under the engineer’s estimate. A utility lift-station and main extension for the newly annexed Riverside community came in roughly $500,000 under estimate. Planned work this summer includes significant mill-and-overlay on South Nineteenth Street from Maine to Katy, and North Nineteenth from the interstate to Maine, plus curb-ramp upgrades and signal work.
Budget and revenues
Ross warned of a sharp shortfall in impact-fee receipts: at about 70% of the fiscal year complete, the city had collected only 23% of projected impact-fee revenue. He said that signals a likely slowdown in development and that the capital planning season this summer and fall will include difficult choices. The city is operating under a biennial budget process; Ross noted savings on fuel and equipment repair and said he had requested additional winter-maintenance support, with a parking-management work session with city commission set for April 22.
Project design updates
Design progress reported included 60% design for the Fowler Avenue connection (Sandell consultant), work on College Avenue streetscape (Eighth to Eleventh), and an upcoming final-design contract approval for the North 27th (Baxter to Cattail) project with property acquisition largely complete.
Why it matters: the grant and contract progress affects whether planned safety demonstration projects will proceed; the low impact-fee receipts could affect both capacity projects and maintenance funding, with consequences for development timelines and capital-program priorities.
Board response and next steps
Board members thanked staff for the updates. Ross said staff will continue contracting and engagement for the LRTP and Safe Streets work, prepare for the April 22 commission work session on winter parking management, and bring capital-planning options to the board during the summer budget process.
Ending: Ross asked board members to expect more detailed budget choices and public engagement as the capital-plan season approaches.
