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URA funds pilot intersection treatments to slow traffic, improve walkability; members debate timing and quorum
Summary
The Urban Renewal Agency approved direct funding for a temporary downtown intersection pilot to test planter/seat treatments aimed at slowing traffic and improving pedestrian safety, authorizing up to $46,856.96 for materials and installation; members debated data collection, reuse, deployment timing and whether to delay for quorum clarity.
The Livingston Urban Renewal Agency approved a direct funding request of up to $46,856.96 to purchase and install temporary intersection treatments — planters, seating and similar devices — as a pilot to slow vehicle turns and increase pedestrian and bicycle safety in the downtown core.
Miss Severson, who introduced the project on behalf of city planning, said the pilot follows recommendations in the downtown master plan and will install temporary, reusable treatments in late June and remove them in September for evaluation. "This is a pilot project... the focus on increasing safety of cars, for bikes, pedestrians, slowing down cars moving through certain areas of downtown," Severson said, describing consultant-led walk audits and re-use of materials across the URA area.
The agency contracted Western Transportation Institute (WTI) to design the pilot. City planning staff said WTI will return a report after the pilot that includes outreach results and an assessment of effectiveness. Staff told members the technical study portion (consultant work and surveys) was paid from a planning budget and the URA request covers physical materials and shipping.
Members raised technical and fiscal questions: whether the items would be vandalized or struck by vehicles, what pre- and post-installation data (counts, yield rates, radar/vehicle speed) would be collected, whether materials could be reused, and whether the city or public works would handle installation. One member suggested phasing installations one intersection at a time to collect sequential data; planning staff warned single short deployments produce unreliable results and recommended a multi-week season-long pilot to gather meaningful feedback.
Several members noted potential quorum ambiguity and abstentions: two members identified conflicts or planned to recuse themselves because of employer ties to Montana State University (WTI is affiliated with Montana State). Staff read bylaws indicating a majority of commissioners present constitutes a quorum; the agency proceeded with a motion and approved the funding request by voice vote.
The motion approved the city’s request to fund intersection safety and mobility improvements to implement the downtown master plan, not to exceed $46,856.96, and directed staff and the city manager to manage eligible procurement and installation. Staff will coordinate with public works on placement, truck-turning radii, maintenance, and post-pilot evaluation.
