TPCC approves roughly $1.4 million in Transportation Alternatives awards for Bozeman urbanized area

The Bozeman MPO Transportation Policy Coordinating Committee on a motion approved awards of roughly $1.4 million in federal Transportation Alternatives (TA) funds for three projects within the Bozeman urbanized area: a Safe Routes to School program, ADA and transit-access upgrades, and sidewalk infill near the Bozeman Sports Park. The committee’s approval sends the recommendations to the state transportation commission for final authorization and allows contracting to begin this fall; construction or implementation is likely in 2026 or 2027 depending on contracting speed.

The TA program is a federally funded competitive program that pays for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and related programming. The three funded applications were: a Safe Routes to School program requesting about $60,000 in federal funds with a roughly $9,400 local match to run 48 events across eight elementary schools and provide a parent carpooling platform with partners including the City of Bozeman, the school district and the Western Transportation Institute; an ADA upgrades and transit-access package requesting $683,000 federal with roughly $105,000 local match to add curb ramps, accessible transit stops, two pedestrian refuge islands and several pedestrian hybrid beacons across multiple locations in Bozeman; and a sidewalk infill project requesting $651,000 federal with about $100,000 local match to construct roughly 2,520 linear feet (about one-half mile) of 6-foot sidewalk and an enhanced crossing connecting to the Bozeman Sports Park and nearby schools.

Jeff Butts, MPO staff presenting the awards, said the MPO received three applications in the call for projects and that all three applications were fundable within the MPO’s local TA allocation. He said Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) reviewed the applications for fatal flaws and that a scoring committee and TTAC recommended approval to the TPCC. The scoring committee consisted of a TTAC member from Belgrade, the City of Bozeman grants manager (to assist with financial risk oversight) and MPO staff; Cameron Eulley, Belgrade public works director, was identified as the Belgrade scoring member.

Commissioner McFarland said, “I accept all the findings in the presentation by Mr. Butts and the recommendation of the scoring committee in TTAC.” Commissioner Fisher said, “It is a little breathtaking how much some sidewalks and, you know, curb cuts cost, but, that's the world we're in today. I'm happy to support this.”

Committee members asked whether applicants would be required to cover cost overruns. MPO staff said no overage-agreement is currently in place; staff will follow up to determine whether agreements should be required at the MPO or state contracting stage. A question about whether Bozeman City commissioners who also sit on TPCC had a conflict was raised and staff said Bozeman’s city attorney indicated no conflict for those members given their MPO roles.

The motion, moved by Commissioner McFarland and seconded by Commissioner Fisher, was recorded as unanimous among voting members present: Mayor Cunningham (Aye), Commissioner Fisher (Aye), Neil Cardwell (Aye), Commissioner McFarland (Aye), Brandon Jones (proxy) (Aye) and Mark Nagy (Aye). The committee noted that final award authority rests with the state transportation commission and that contracting and implementation schedules would follow that body’s approval.

The projects and local matches are intended to improve walking, rolling and transit access across Bozeman’s urbanized area; specific work locations discussed included downtown intersections on Mendenhall, Grand and Fifth streets, hospital-area crossings, Baxter Lane and the corridor serving the Bozeman Sports Park. Staff said contracts could begin this fall and projects could be constructed as early as 2026 depending on contracting timelines.