Commission approves Park Street flashing beacons; curb-extension plan draws community pushback

The Livingston City Commission approved a contract with Askin Construction to install rapid-flashing beacons at two un-signalized pedestrian crossings on Park Street, approving a construction contract after extensive public comment and questions about a proposed curb extension at the Park–Main intersection.

Project and funding: City staff said the Park Street pedestrian-improvement project is funded partly by a state allocation from House Bill 355 (the State Local Infrastructure Partnership Act), private donations and a small city contribution. The total project budget listed in the staff packet was about $190,376; staff said roughly 10 percent of that comes from the city and a donor contribution of about $28,001.69 paid for equipment.

Design and safety rationale: Public-works staff and the city manager said the rapid-flashing beacons are intended to improve pedestrian safety at two high-use crossings (Main & Park and Park & Geyser). Staff stressed the beacons shorten pedestrian crossing distances and make pedestrians more visible to drivers. "Rapid flashing beacons were called for" in the city’s Trails and Active Transportation Plan, a staff memo noted.

Contested curb extension: The controversy at the meeting centered on a proposed curb extension on the north side of the Park–Main intersection. Several residents and business owners raised technical and safety concerns: the local emergency preparedness representative said high winds, snow and truck traffic could make the narrowed turn radius hazardous for delivery and oversized vehicles; other commenters — including a longtime downtown business owner — said state plow operators and local MDT maintenance staff had warned that curb extensions would complicate snow clearing. A state representative told the commission the Montana Department of Transportation had reviewed and approved the bid set and the director had signed off on the design after staff-level discussion.

Staff response and commission discussion: Public-works director Shannon Holmes and City Manager Grant Gager said MDT participated in the design review and that the approved curb extension is similar in width to an existing curb alignment at the depot one block away. Holmes said the design team worked to minimize snow-removal issues and that the north-side extension would not reduce the lane width below MDT standards. Commissioners acknowledged strong public concern about process and transparency and, in response, pulled the item from consent to allow a fuller public discussion before the vote.

Public comment: Speakers varied from neighborhood and downtown business representatives urging more outreach to transportation-planning professionals who said the flashers would improve pedestrian safety. One commenter observed, "I don't think anyone here is saying that there shouldn't be lights... The bullout is where most people are having issues," summarizing many oral remarks at the meeting.

Vote and next steps: The commission approved the owner–contractor agreement (agreement 20231) with Askin Construction and authorized the chair and city manager to sign. Staff said construction drawings will be made available and staff will continue coordination with MDT and community stakeholders as work proceeds.

Why it matters: The project addresses a documented safety concern but exposed friction between regional engineering decisions, local maintenance realities and expectations about public notice and design transparency.