Belgrade City Council Workshop on 2026 Transportation Master Plan – September 9, 2026

The Belgrade City Council held a workshop on September 9, 2026, to discuss the draft 2026 Transportation Master Plan (TMP). The meeting included a presentation by consultant Dan Collie of Farron Pierce, followed by extensive council questions and discussion. No public comments were offered. The plan is expected to return for final adoption in October 2026.

Discussion Items

• Presentation of the 2026 Transportation Master Plan:

  • Greg Trent, Assistant City Manager, introduced the plan, noting it has been three years in development, with coordination among city master plans (parks, land use, utilities) and population estimates provided by the state. The plan has been reviewed by city directors and MDT.
  • Dan Collie presented key aspects: the plan builds on the 2018 Long-Range Transportation Plan, covers all modes (auto, pedestrian, bicycle, transit), and aligns with new regional partners (Gallatin Valley MPO, Urban Transportation District). Community engagement included a February 2024 open house, virtual meetings, and a survey with a high response rate.
  • The plan establishes a vision, 10 goals, and a prioritized project list across four categories: roadway projects, intersection projects, bike/pedestrian projects, and priority crossing improvements. Projects are ranked high, medium, or low tiers as a guide, not a fixed schedule. Annual monitoring and updates are recommended.
  • Immediate next steps: adoption, incorporation into other planning processes, advancing high-priority projects (e.g., JackRabbit at BNSF rail crossing), and continued engagement with MDT and MPO.

• Council Questions and Comments:

  • Council members raised several topics:
    • Surprise at strong community interest in cycling infrastructure, especially across I-90 and to Bozeman.
    • Concern about parking regulations for multifamily developments increasing on-street congestion; Collie suggested parking maximums and alternative modes as incremental solutions.
    • Discussion of motorized bicycles and e-bikes: legal status on sidewalks vs. roads; a council member noted the need for regulation and enforcement capability, with staff to bring policy ideas. The city manager observed that many neighborhoods lack sidewalks, making bike/pedestrian infrastructure a funding challenge.
    • Connectivity to the new pump bike track was highlighted, along with a suggestion to acquire road-painting equipment for bike lane striping (discussions with Bozeman and county stalled due to budget caution).
    • Safety concerns about children on e-scooters and e-bikes; a council member suggested education campaigns and potential youth certification, similar to hunter safety.
    • Need for better sidewalk connectivity for pedestrians; a council member emphasized walking to schools and stores, noting that cycling is seasonal.
    • Traffic calming: Collie noted that vertical measures (speed humps) conflict with snow removal; council members advocated for designating parking/snow storage in street standards (60-foot width) without widening, and for avoiding problematic designs like narrow medians or mini-roundabouts seen in some developments.
    • Lighting standards: Collie acknowledged the trade-offs between safety and resident preferences; not included in the plan but important for safety.
    • Intersection blocking by parked vehicles in denser housing areas, and the need for creative solutions.
    • The Weaver Road corridor was specifically noted as a proactive planning need for future four-laning, despite likely being years away.
    • Council member expressed support for calling out a potential northwest interchange near Weaver, noting positive public feedback, but also recognizing that growth would follow such infrastructure.
    • Update on the Cruiser project (JackRabbit to Dry Creek): still in right-of-way acquisition; MDT has re-approved plans after several reviews; the traffic signal portion may go to bid this year, with the roundabout later.
    • I-90 corridor study: expected early 2028, per MPO board update from Mayor.

Key Outcomes

• No formal actions were taken; this was a workshop for discussion and feedback.
• Staff will incorporate council feedback (e.g., snow storage designation in street diagrams, traffic calming guidance, avoidance of problematic designs) into the final plan.
• The plan is scheduled to return to the council in October 2026 for a final adoption vote.
• Staff will prepare policy ideas regarding e-bike regulations and enforcement for future discussion.
• Continued coordination with MDT, MPO, and Gallatin County on corridor studies and equipment sharing.