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Helena advances Benton Avenue pedestrian and turn-lane designs; downtown roundabout proposal draws split public response
Summary
City staff presented a $400,000 design package for Benton Avenue pedestrian and turn-lane improvements and briefed the commission on 50% roundabout plans for a downtown five‑point intersection; the commission and public were divided over the larger roundabout proposal.
City staff presented final designs for pedestrian improvements and turn-lane modifications on Benton Avenue and briefed the commission on 50% designs for a proposed downtown roundabout at a five‑point intersection, prompting extensive public comment for and against the roundabout.
Director Kennedy described the Benton Avenue scope as turn-lane work and pedestrian upgrades that fit within the existing asphalt. The presentation showed a left-turn lane into Oakwood Lane, upgraded ADA ramps, curb and gutter extensions, and bolt-outs to shorten crossing distances; staff said the estimated cost is about $400,000 and that funds remain available. Staff said they could finalize design, advertise bid packages this winter and seek construction next summer.
On the downtown roundabout, city consultants presented 50% design plans and engineering analysis, and staff outlined steps to reach 90% plans and advertise bids in six to eight weeks after comments. Staff summarized safety benefits cited in the literature: lower speeds, fewer conflict points, pedestrian refuge islands, and reductions in total crashes and injury collisions.
Public comment and commissioners’ remarks split. Some speakers urged pausing the roundabout and investing instead in targeted pedestrian enhancements and education. Jacob Krzysovich, Helena chapter president of the National Federation of the Blind, said the blind and low-vision community prefers the current stop-controlled condition and that “roundabouts are extremely difficult for the blind and low vision community to navigate,” adding that the community relies on audible cues from stopped traffic.
Other speakers, including representatives of the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce, supported planning for a longer‑term solution that would accommodate future growth and called for evaluating impacts on businesses and a construction mitigation plan. Commissioners suggested both paths: several favored moving ahead quickly on the Benton safety improvements and requested more analysis, public outreach and written positions from the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) before committing to a multimillion‑dollar roundabout.
Staff clarified MDT has jurisdiction over the intersection and that any major change would require MDT approval. Staff also said roundabout construction approaches (full closure versus staged traffic maintenance) would shape construction duration and business impacts.
Next steps: finalize Benton designs for bidding and pursue further study and public engagement on the downtown intersection, including seeking MDT input in writing and cost/impact analyses for pedestrian enhancements as an alternative to an immediate roundabout.
