Committee grills SB 510 over elected boards, service obligations and opt-out rules for urban transportation districts

Senator Willis Kurdy introduced Senate Bill 510, which proposes several changes to Montana’s urban transportation district (UTD) law, including: requiring UTDs to be governed by elected boards in some cases, clarifying the definition of "direct transit service," and preventing areas that do not receive service from being held responsible for district indebtedness after five years.

"If you're going to charge for service, then you should be able to provide the service," Senator Kurdy said, describing constituent complaints from his district about neighborhoods that have remained taxed but without transit service for years.

Multiple transit districts and local governments opposed the bill in detailed testimony. David Kack, coordinator for the Big Sky Transportation District, said the measure creates uncertainty for districts that cover multiple counties and for seasonal services: "Direct transportation service ... our service in Big Sky is very seasonal," he said, adding that an election requirement and an unclear definition of "direct service" could create practical problems.

Witnesses representing the Gallatin Valley, Mountain Line (Missoula), Great Falls Transit District and other districts warned elected-board requirements and opt-out rules would undermine planning,…