Several residents and local advocates used the public‑comment period on Dec. 8 to urge the Billings City Council to retain trail projects — including the Yellowjacket Trail and Stagecoach Trail — in the Capital Improvement Plan and to prioritize pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Marek Sevier (sic in transcript) and others described the current route to Airport Hill as dangerous and urged the council to continue development of a shared‑use path from the valley to the top of the hill. Jim Nichols and Steve Chandra cited economic and workforce arguments, saying connected trails and quality‑of‑life amenities help recruit and retain employees and that keeping trail projects in the CIP preserves grant eligibility and signals commitment to community planning.

Christy Drake, who identified planning‑department data, said listing projects in the Planning Department’s chapter of the CIP does not obligate funding but preserves the ability to pursue grants and partnerships; she cited a 2025 study documenting 151 people using an informal alignment on North 27th Street as evidence of demand.

Speakers noted private investment in feasibility studies and asked the council not to remove projects from the plan because doing so would reduce future funding opportunities. Several speakers asked that planning work continue so grant opportunities can be pursued.

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“The CIP identifies potential funding, not commitments,” Christy Drake said during public comment.

What happens next

Council later amended the CIP to move some trail construction work into out years while keeping planning and feasibility work in the near term. Advocates may continue to pursue grants and private‑public partnerships to advance trail construction.