City to pilot temporary curb extensions, planters and painted crosswalk art in downtown as part of master‑plan work

Planning staff briefed the commission on a pilot streetscape and traffic‑calming project tied to the city’s downtown master plan. The pilot will install temporary curb extensions (a.k.a. bulb‑outs), flexible delineators, painted surface treatments, planters and benches at two downtown intersections to test pedestrian safety and place‑making approaches.

Jennifer Severson, planning director, said the pilot focuses on two intersections: Second & Callender (near the post office and bank) and Clark & Main (near shops and restaurants). Each intersection would get curb extensions on the corners — eight curb extensions total for the two intersections — with painted surface markings, planters (pollinator species), removable benches and flexible posts to highlight pedestrian space. The work is funded through the Urban Renewal Agency (URA) and was designed with technical input from the Western Transportation Institute (WTI), which led a community walk audit.

Why it matters: curb extensions reduce the crossing distance for pedestrians, bring pedestrians into the drivers’ field of view, and can slow vehicle turning speeds. The treatments are temporary: staff aims to install them late July or early August and remove or store them before winter to avoid conflicts with snow removal. WTI will measure feedback and produce a report recommending whether permanent improvements are warranted or whether the temporary approach should be repeated in future years.

Key features and schedule

- Locations: Second & Callender; Clark & Main (URA area). - Elements: painted surface treatments, planters (self‑watering boxes), benches, flexible posts, and stencils or ground art (staff will work with Project 49 and local art classes on designs). - Purpose: traffic calming, pedestrian visibility, placemaking and to test community acceptance and maintenance needs. - Implementation: WTI will install temporary treatments; planters were on order and delivered to the city; the pilot will remain in place through fall and be removed before snow operations begin. - Evaluation: DNRC/WTI will collect public feedback via QR codes and a survey and prepare a summary for the commission; materials are reusable for future pilot locations.

Related network work

Planning staff noted the Lewis Street “Crosstown Bikeway” work that complements the pilot by identifying sharrows and bike route signage, and the potential to use tree plantings and pollinator landscaping to improve comfort and shade on active‑transport corridors.

Rail crossing and pedestrian beacon discussion

Commissioners also discussed longer‑term mobility items tied to downtown safety. City manager Greg Gager reported that Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) staff had expressed concern about bulb‑out curb extensions at the Park/Main intersection for a proposed rapid‑flashing beacon project, and that staff will seek a conversation at a higher level at MDT. Commissioners urged staff to press MDT for flexibility, citing a past pedestrian collision near the same intersection and the need for visibility improvements.

Public art and maintenance

Staff said painted ground art will be considered for community design input and that street paint in a snow‑plow environment will require periodic touch-ups. Planters are intended to use pollinator‑friendly species; staff will coordinate winter storage and eventual landscape reuse for plants that outgrow containers.

Ending note

The pilot is intended to be a low‑cost, testable step that lets the city learn how curb extensions, planters and public art affect pedestrian safety and downtown character before considering permanent curb reconstruction.