Higgins Avenue Corridor Plan: Brooks to Broadway

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The City of Missoula applied for a large federal Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant in February 2023. This grant would provide significant federal funding to Missoula to enhance safety and mobility in the Downtown area. Projects included in this grant compile multiple projects into the Downtown Safety–Access–Mobility (Downtown SAM) overarching project:

Receiving this federal funding would help fulfill long-term safety and mobility improvements in Downtown Missoula that are included in the Downtown Master Plan. We want to share the current status of these projects and invite your feedback and input. Join Mayor Hess and City staff on Tuesday, May 9, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Wilma, 131 S Higgins Ave. We welcome you to learn more and engage with the City's current planning stage with the Downtown SAM projects. For in-depth information, please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) in the Documents section. We appreciate your time and interest in working with City staff to create creative solutions to safety and mobility in Downtown!


Click the orange Story Map below to learn more about the preferred concept design. The blue preliminary concept Story Map explores various designs that were considered in development of the preferred concept.

Project Background:

The City of Missoula and the Missoula Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), in collaboration with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), are studying Higgins Avenue between Brooks Street and Broadway Street to develop a corridor plan. The plan will evaluate design options to improve safety and access for people driving, biking, walking, and riding the bus. The goal is to create a modern transportation system that enhances the economic vitality of the corridor and serves as a gateway to downtown Missoula.

During the course of this study, the project team will engage with residents and business owners to understand their needs and desired outcomes for this corridor. In doing so, this study aims to design a street that meets the community’s growing needs and fulfills the intention of the Downtown Master Plan.

Through prior outreach and planning efforts, the Missoula community has advocated for increased access to all modes of travel. The Downtown Master Plan recommends transforming Higgins Avenue into a fully multi-modal street, which is essential for the economic, physical, and social health of the entire city.

Taking this into consideration, the Higgins Corridor Study will develop a design that:

  • Considers the needs of all users, including people biking, walking, driving, and riding the bus, freight operators, and others.
  • Improves safety for all users.
  • Provides multi-modal access suitable for all ages and abilities.
  • Increases access to businesses on the corridor and Downtown Missoula.

We believe the preferred concept accomplishes these goals. To learn more about this project, see the full plan set, and take the survey please visit our Virtual Open House.



The City of Missoula attempts to provide accommodations for any known disability that may interfere with a person participating in any service, program, or activity. For further information, call (406) 552-6670

The City of Missoula applied for a large federal Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant in February 2023. This grant would provide significant federal funding to Missoula to enhance safety and mobility in the Downtown area. Projects included in this grant compile multiple projects into the Downtown Safety–Access–Mobility (Downtown SAM) overarching project:

Receiving this federal funding would help fulfill long-term safety and mobility improvements in Downtown Missoula that are included in the Downtown Master Plan. We want to share the current status of these projects and invite your feedback and input. Join Mayor Hess and City staff on Tuesday, May 9, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Wilma, 131 S Higgins Ave. We welcome you to learn more and engage with the City's current planning stage with the Downtown SAM projects. For in-depth information, please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) in the Documents section. We appreciate your time and interest in working with City staff to create creative solutions to safety and mobility in Downtown!


Click the orange Story Map below to learn more about the preferred concept design. The blue preliminary concept Story Map explores various designs that were considered in development of the preferred concept.

Project Background:

The City of Missoula and the Missoula Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), in collaboration with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), are studying Higgins Avenue between Brooks Street and Broadway Street to develop a corridor plan. The plan will evaluate design options to improve safety and access for people driving, biking, walking, and riding the bus. The goal is to create a modern transportation system that enhances the economic vitality of the corridor and serves as a gateway to downtown Missoula.

During the course of this study, the project team will engage with residents and business owners to understand their needs and desired outcomes for this corridor. In doing so, this study aims to design a street that meets the community’s growing needs and fulfills the intention of the Downtown Master Plan.

Through prior outreach and planning efforts, the Missoula community has advocated for increased access to all modes of travel. The Downtown Master Plan recommends transforming Higgins Avenue into a fully multi-modal street, which is essential for the economic, physical, and social health of the entire city.

Taking this into consideration, the Higgins Corridor Study will develop a design that:

  • Considers the needs of all users, including people biking, walking, driving, and riding the bus, freight operators, and others.
  • Improves safety for all users.
  • Provides multi-modal access suitable for all ages and abilities.
  • Increases access to businesses on the corridor and Downtown Missoula.

We believe the preferred concept accomplishes these goals. To learn more about this project, see the full plan set, and take the survey please visit our Virtual Open House.



The City of Missoula attempts to provide accommodations for any known disability that may interfere with a person participating in any service, program, or activity. For further information, call (406) 552-6670

Questions

Do you have any additional questions about this project?

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    How do you intend to pay for this. Is it a voted property tax or an special assessment that does not require a vote.

    MBroso asked over 1 year ago

    Thank you for your question. The funding for the project will depend on a few variables. First, we don’t know what the cost will be, since each design has very different requirements for new or modified infrastructure. South side Concept A would only require re-striping and would be very inexpensive, whereas Concept C would require modifications to curbs, protected bike lanes, and installation of a transit station, all of which add cost.

    Once we know the cost, we can explore funding but the most likely would be from expanded federal aid that was part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Some local funding is expected, but that will most likely come from our existing transportation budgets funded through tax increment financing, road district, or gas taxes. No increased property taxes or special improvement districts are being contemplated at this time.

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    What are handicap ideas?bus you would have to wait in cold or heat

    Min asked almost 2 years ago

    This is a great question. The primary goal of this project is to increase safety and accessibility for all users. One aspect of this goal will include reviewing ways to improve pedestrian walkways, crossings, and intersections, with a particular focus on how those improvements can provide additional access along and across the corridor for individuals with disabilities. 

    We are also taking a close look at public transit on the Higgins Avenue corridor. We are working with Mountain Line to explore ways to improve bus stops and accommodate all of the folks who use public transportation to access this area. Some of these improvements may include bus shelters, signage, ADA access, and other amenities to support transit use in a variety of conditions. 

    Thank you for your time and interest in this project.


Page last updated: 26 Apr 2023, 03:49 PM