Bozeman MPO Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC) Meeting - July 9, 2026

The TTAC met in a hybrid format to discuss coordination with emergency services for the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), review and recommend the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for FFY 2027, and examine updates on LRTP project scoring and travel demand modeling. The committee approved the June meeting minutes and recommended adoption of the UPWP with minor modifications.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of June Meeting Minutes: Moved by Sunshine Ross, seconded. Roll call vote: all present members voted in favor. Minutes approved without changes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were offered during the general public comment period.

Discussion Items

• Emergency Management Coordination for LRTP: Kevin Larson, Operations and Training Manager for Gallatin County Emergency Management, presented an overview of emergency preparedness, response, and coordination structures. He described the county's duty officer program, the Everbridge community notification system, and mutual aid agreements. The discussion covered hazards such as wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and major transportation disruptions (e.g., the I-90 Bozeman Pass closure). The MPO seeks to incorporate emergency coordination into LRTP Objective 4 (strengthen coordination, cooperation, and preparedness among transportation partners). No formal action was taken.
• Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for FFY 2027: Jeff Butts, MPO Manager, presented the final UPWP, detailing a total allocation of $600,000 from federal (PL and FTA funds), state, and local sources. The program funds two staff positions, the LRTP, the Valley Trail Loop study, data collection, public involvement, and transit planning. Rent and indirect costs were discussed, with acknowledgement of high costs and ongoing efforts to reduce them. Beth Clarkson from MDT outlined minor regulatory compliance tweaks, including clarifying language to tie the Valley Trail Loop to transportation, updating funding tables to include local contributions, and adjusting text in the TIP section. No changes to overall funding or work items were proposed.
• LRTP Project Scoring and Travel Demand Modeling: Consultants from Nelson Nygaard (Zach, Bethany, Chris) provided an update. Bethany explained the GIS-based scoring methodology using R scripts and ArcGIS Pro, with criteria such as access to essential services, multimodal improvements, and crash corridors. Updated project descriptions from cities and the county allowed some projects to gain points (e.g., inclusion of bike lanes, sidewalks). Chris presented results from the travel demand model (calibrated to 2022), showing volume-to-capacity ratios for existing and future (2050) conditions. Two alternatives were modeled: capacity projects on existing roads and new connections (both from tier 1 and tier 2 scored projects). The combined model run is underway. Members discussed that the scoring tends to favor projects in population centers over regional connectivity projects. Levi from Gallatin County expressed concern that county projects scored low due to missing multimodal attributes, and that the scoring criteria were duplicative. The committee agreed to send feedback within two weeks and requested the slide deck and Excel file for review.

Key Outcomes

• UPWP Recommendation: The committee unanimously passed a motion to recommend that the Transportation Policy Coordinating Committee (TPCC) adopt the FFY 2027 UPWP and authorize MPO staff to make minor regulatory modifications as needed.
• LRTP Next Steps: Consultants will incorporate feedback on project descriptions and scoring, run a combined model alternative, and present a fiscally constrained project list at the next TTAC meeting in August. The draft LRTP is expected in September, with adoption by TPCC in November/December 2026.