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Paul residents and Granite County push MDOT for expedited speed-study on Highway 1
Summary
A petition and supporting letters seeking a speed-limit study for Montana Highway 1 through Paul, Montana, were transmitted to the Montana Department of Transportation. Residents and county officials described delays and sought an expedited review and traffic-calming measures including flashing speed signs.
Granite County commissioners and local residents pressed the Montana Department of Transportation (MDOT) to perform a speed-study on Highway 1 through Paul, Montana, after a citizen petition and school-district support were forwarded to MDOT.
Citizen Chuck Johnson told commissioners he filed a petition and collected 56 signatures supporting a change to speed-limit signage in and around Hall/Paul. Johnson said the county commission had earlier sent a letter on Feb. 18 asking MDOT to conduct a study and that Hall Elementary School District No. 8 submitted a supportive letter dated March 21. After some administrative confusion — MDOT staff initially reported they could not find the county’s letter — MDOT acknowledged receipt and assigned a traffic engineer, Aldo Vidya (Missoula office), to perform the study.
Johnson said MDOT’s staff indicated the study could be expedited; however department staff also warned studies can take 12–18 months because MDOT receives many requests. MDOT’s communications executive assistant, Joan Redeem, told Johnson the department may be able to speed the request and that local governments could pay for an expedited private study if the county wished to accelerate the timetable. Johnson asked the county to continue following up with MDOT and to consider local measures such as flashing speed signs while the formal study proceeds.
Why it matters: Residents say safety around the school and through town is at stake; a completed MDOT study would produce recommendations that the county would consider at a public hearing before any sign or limit change is finalized.
Next steps: Commissioners asked staff to maintain contact with MDOT and to press for follow-up; the county expects the MDOT engineer to contact local representatives and to provide recommended signage or speed-limit changes once the study is complete.
