Gallatin Valley MPO TTAC Meeting - August 13, 2026: Initial Review of Long Range Transportation Plan Fiscally Constrained Project List

Note: The agenda and transcript indicate the meeting occurred on August 12, 2026, but the provided date for this summary is August 13, 2026. The summary uses the specified date.

The Gallatin Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization's Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC) met to conduct an initial review of the draft fiscally constrained project list for the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). The consultant team from Nelson\Nygaard presented revenue projections, funding source eligibility, and a draft list of projects. Committee members discussed project prioritization, costs, and the status of local projects. No formal votes were taken on the new business item; the meeting concluded with a request for written feedback by August 21, 2026.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of July 8, 2026 Meeting Minutes: The committee approved the minutes from the July 8, 2026 TTAC meeting. Motion by Sunshine Ross, seconded by Levi Ewan. Carried 8-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were offered during the meeting.

Discussion Items

• Initial Review of the Fiscally Constrained Project List:
  • Nelson\Nygaard consultant presented the financial outlook, noting total projected revenues of $486.83 million from federal, state, and local sources over the plan horizon. Approximately $128 million in discretionary funds are available for LRTP-eligible projects, though $112 million of that is tied to FTA funds or fuel tax revenues reserved for operations and maintenance by local jurisdictions.
  • The draft fiscally constrained list includes projects totaling about $330 million (adjusted for inflation). Projects were allocated based on committed funding, readiness, scoring, public workshop votes, and regional connectivity. High-cost or feasibility-challenged projects were placed on an illustrative list.
  • Committee Feedback:
    • Levi Ewan (Gallatin County) asked whether a recently awarded SS4A grant (approximately $14 million for a roundabout, shared-use path, and intersection improvements) was reflected. Staff confirmed partial inclusion and committed to adjusting the list.
    • Belgrade representative (Jason) noted that Belgrade's near-term projects are largely committed and requested further review of funding allocations.
    • Beth Clarkson (City of Bozeman) asked about including MACI (Macy) funding for street sweeper purchases; staff agreed to investigate.
    • Sunshine Ross inquired about the $6.5 million in 5307 FTA funds listed for downtown transfer station improvements, noting that such funds currently are not available. The consultant stated it was a potential source, not a guarantee.
    • Discussion on fuel tax revenue usage: Gallatin County confirmed all fuel tax funds are reserved for operations and maintenance, potentially requiring removal of capital projects from the recommended list.
• Travel Demand Model Update:
  • Chris (Nelson\Nygaard) presented volume-to-capacity maps for 2022 base year and 2050 future (without project interventions), showing significant congestion increases without additional capacity. A map with 45 capacity-expansion projects (the full universe) indicated that the collection of projects reduces but does not eliminate future congestion.
  • Committee members asked about model assumptions and capacity limits. The model diverts trips to alternative routes but does not impose hard capacity ceilings; operational modeling is expected in future corridor studies. Staff noted that some committed projects under construction were not depicted on the map and will be corrected.
• Next Steps:
  • Nelson\Nygaard will incorporate feedback received by August 21, 2026. A final model run will be completed for the fiscally constrained list. The draft LRTP document is expected in fall 2026. The September TTAC meeting may be cancelled to allow staff to focus on the plan.

Key Outcomes

• No votes on the fiscally constrained project list – discussion only.
• Directive: Committee members and partners (MDT, local agencies) must submit consolidated feedback on the draft project list, cost estimates, and revenue assumptions by the end of next week (August 21, 2026) to Nelson\Nygaard and MPO staff.
• Next Meeting: Tentatively cancelled for September; the next formal review of the revised list and draft LRTP is anticipated in October 2026.