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County hears progress report on Billings-area pedestrian and bicycle master plan
Summary
County planning staff and Alta Planning and Design presented a progress report on a rebranded pedestrian–bicycle master plan, previewing a recommended 'high-comfort' spine network, outreach plans and a July 10 pop-up demonstration protected lane. Commissioners were not asked to act.
Billings-area planning staff presented a progress report on the Yellowstone County Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan on June 25, outlining a shift in approach to prioritize a smaller set of "high comfort" routes intended to serve people of all ages and abilities.
Elise, a member of county planning staff, introduced the update and said the document is a planning-level guide not intended to obligate jurisdictions or local funds. Consultant Mac Krzyzaj, project manager with Alta Planning and Design, told commissioners the plan reframes the 2017 bikeway plan to emphasize sidewalks and walking as well as bicycling and focuses on safety, health and sustainable implementation.
"The goal is to not force people to walk or bike, but to give them the choice should they want or need to, if they can't rely on a car," Krzyzaj said. He described an audit of work since 2017, noting new facilities and strong coordination with City Public Works on pavement-preservation projects.
Krzyzaj outlined the plan's new network approach: a spine of high-comfort routes intended to have low exposure to motor-vehicle traffic, plus a supplemental bikeway network for more confident cyclists. He said high comfort does not always require a protected bike lane and can include low-traffic neighborhood streets.
Public outreach is planned in two phases. Krzyzaj summarized Phase 1 (November 2023–January 2024) results showing most respondents walk or bike for recreation and that separation from cars, wider sidewalks and lower-traffic environments were top priorities. He said Phase 2 outreach will run about four weeks, and the county will hold an in-person pop-up and demonstration project on July 10 that will include a temporary protected bike lane on Poly Drive adjacent to Veterans Park and intercept surveys.
Krzyzaj described a new two-lens prioritization method combining project benefit and project readiness to place recommended projects into four buckets ranging from short-term high priority to lower-priority visionary projects. He said staff hopes to return with a draft plan for review in September or October.
Planning staff noted coordination with Monica Plucker on county routes. Commissioners had no questions at the close of the briefing; no action was requested at this meeting.
