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Mountain Line, Missoula's bus system, is operated by its own board of directors and is not part of City of Missoula government. It benefits both organizations and our community to coordinate in transportation planning efforts and to host this project on the Engage Missoula platform.
Project Overview
The Missoula Urban Transportation District (MUTD), more familiarly known as Mountain Line, has launched the2024 Transit Strategic Plan with the goal of developing comprehensive recommendations for Missoula's public transit system to better serve riders, residents, and the broader community. This plan will cover numerousfacets of the agency, including service and operations, capital improvements, funding, climate and sustainability goals, equity objectives, and policy issues.
Building on the successes of the2018 Transit Strategic Plan and responding to evolving local, national, and global contexts, this new effort will determine MUTD’s course for the coming years.
Key elements of the plan include:
Evaluating service schedules and route design enhancements to improve efficiency, equity, and accessibility.
Assessing the passenger experience to improve comfort and convenience for riders.
Considering emerging technologies and ways new technologies could be incorporated into the transit system.
Reviewing local and regional transit policies and potential updates.
Analyzing COVID-19 impacts on public transit usage and challenges.
Land use and infrastructure analysis to determine effects on transit and opportunities for necessary infrastructure improvements.
Planning and implications of a new operations center.
Impacts of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on future service design.
Exploring alternative service delivery options.
About MUTD
Mountain Lineconnects Missoulians to the community through safe, sustainable, and innovative transportation solutions. Operated by the Missoula Urban Transportation District (MUTD) since 1976, Mountain Line provides zero-fare fixed-route bus and Paratransit service in and around Missoula seven days a week.
MUTD is a leader in adopting zero-emissions buses (ZEBs) in the United States, setting an example for other small urban transit networks. In February 2020, its Board of Directors committed to transitioning to a 100% zero-emissions fleet by 2035. More than 40% of the Mountain Line fleet is currently battery-electric, with four new electric buses arriving in 2024.
Mountain Line was recognized as the top public transit agency of its size in North America in 2021 by the American Public Transportation Association and named System of the Year in 2023 by the Montana Transit Association.
Further Reading
We will share project documents as they are completed. These documents are located under "Project Documents" in the sidebar.
The Existing Conditions Report provides a comprehensive overview of Missoula’s regional planning context, focusing on population and employment patterns. It evaluates the current state of the transportation network, including roadways, transit, and multimodal infrastructure. This report lays the groundwork for future recommendations and improvements in Missoula's regional planning and transportation systems.
The Executive Summary condenses the key findings of the Existing Conditions Report. It highlights important aspects of Missoula’s demographics, transit system performance, and multimodal transportation conditions, including roadways, bicycle, and pedestrian networks. This summary serves as a quick reference to the broader report’s insights, supporting the development of future plans and recommendations.
Mountain Line, Missoula's bus system, is operated by its own board of directors and is not part of City of Missoula government. It benefits both organizations and our community to coordinate in transportation planning efforts and to host this project on the Engage Missoula platform.
Project Overview
The Missoula Urban Transportation District (MUTD), more familiarly known as Mountain Line, has launched the2024 Transit Strategic Plan with the goal of developing comprehensive recommendations for Missoula's public transit system to better serve riders, residents, and the broader community. This plan will cover numerousfacets of the agency, including service and operations, capital improvements, funding, climate and sustainability goals, equity objectives, and policy issues.
Building on the successes of the2018 Transit Strategic Plan and responding to evolving local, national, and global contexts, this new effort will determine MUTD’s course for the coming years.
Key elements of the plan include:
Evaluating service schedules and route design enhancements to improve efficiency, equity, and accessibility.
Assessing the passenger experience to improve comfort and convenience for riders.
Considering emerging technologies and ways new technologies could be incorporated into the transit system.
Reviewing local and regional transit policies and potential updates.
Analyzing COVID-19 impacts on public transit usage and challenges.
Land use and infrastructure analysis to determine effects on transit and opportunities for necessary infrastructure improvements.
Planning and implications of a new operations center.
Impacts of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on future service design.
Exploring alternative service delivery options.
About MUTD
Mountain Lineconnects Missoulians to the community through safe, sustainable, and innovative transportation solutions. Operated by the Missoula Urban Transportation District (MUTD) since 1976, Mountain Line provides zero-fare fixed-route bus and Paratransit service in and around Missoula seven days a week.
MUTD is a leader in adopting zero-emissions buses (ZEBs) in the United States, setting an example for other small urban transit networks. In February 2020, its Board of Directors committed to transitioning to a 100% zero-emissions fleet by 2035. More than 40% of the Mountain Line fleet is currently battery-electric, with four new electric buses arriving in 2024.
Mountain Line was recognized as the top public transit agency of its size in North America in 2021 by the American Public Transportation Association and named System of the Year in 2023 by the Montana Transit Association.
Further Reading
We will share project documents as they are completed. These documents are located under "Project Documents" in the sidebar.
The Existing Conditions Report provides a comprehensive overview of Missoula’s regional planning context, focusing on population and employment patterns. It evaluates the current state of the transportation network, including roadways, transit, and multimodal infrastructure. This report lays the groundwork for future recommendations and improvements in Missoula's regional planning and transportation systems.
The Executive Summary condenses the key findings of the Existing Conditions Report. It highlights important aspects of Missoula’s demographics, transit system performance, and multimodal transportation conditions, including roadways, bicycle, and pedestrian networks. This summary serves as a quick reference to the broader report’s insights, supporting the development of future plans and recommendations.
Your involvement is important to this planning process, and we want to hear from you. Please take a moment to share your questions, feedback, and ideas about Missoula’s public transit. Comments will appear on this page with your user name.
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I am just getting information on some of the proposed Mountain Line transportation plans. I noted that route 12 and 9 are on the docket to be eliminated. I am on route 12. Although I do not use this route frequently I have always planned to use it more as I age in place. Often when a route is removed it takes an act of Congress to get it back. In addition, I have a son with developmental disabilities that uses this route to come visit me. Lastly, I will still be expected to pay the taxes towards the servicer that I will no longer get. For these reasons I disagree with any plan that would eliminate route 12.
Susan56
6 days ago
I am a former board member of Mountain Line and live in the Lower Miller Creek area. I wish to ask for your support for a loop route to be added up Upper Miller Creek, across Christian Drive and then by the fire station come back down Lower Miller Creek road hourly to and from WalMart. It can be a smaller bus but we really need service up here. Microtransit could be a consideration but reliant bus service on regular intervals is what we need. Multi-family housing exists up here along that route I suggested. It does not need to be zero fare either. We are willing to be an outer zone and pay some for the ability. Thank you. Doug Odegaard
dodegaard
3 months ago
Thank you for supporting the strategic planning process to ensure that the Mountain Line Bus System in Missoula can service as many residents as possible. I live in the Linda Vista neighborhood (Miller Creek) and am an avid bus rider. Unfortunately, the closest bus stop to me is the southside Walmart, which is more than a 2.5-mile walk from my house. I am not the only person in this large southside--and growing--area who would welcome and needs bus service in the Miller Creek and Linda Vista areas. Thank you for including this area in the strategic planning process and during implementation of service expansion.
I am just getting information on some of the proposed Mountain Line transportation plans. I noted that route 12 and 9 are on the docket to be eliminated. I am on route 12. Although I do not use this route frequently I have always planned to use it more as I age in place. Often when a route is removed it takes an act of Congress to get it back. In addition, I have a son with developmental disabilities that uses this route to come visit me. Lastly, I will still be expected to pay the taxes towards the servicer that I will no longer get. For these reasons I disagree with any plan that would eliminate route 12.
I am a former board member of Mountain Line and live in the Lower Miller Creek area. I wish to ask for your support for a loop route to be added up Upper Miller Creek, across Christian Drive and then by the fire station come back down Lower Miller Creek road hourly to and from WalMart. It can be a smaller bus but we really need service up here. Microtransit could be a consideration but reliant bus service on regular intervals is what we need. Multi-family housing exists up here along that route I suggested. It does not need to be zero fare either. We are willing to be an outer zone and pay some for the ability. Thank you. Doug Odegaard
Thank you for supporting the strategic planning process to ensure that the Mountain Line Bus System in Missoula can service as many residents as possible. I live in the Linda Vista neighborhood (Miller Creek) and am an avid bus rider. Unfortunately, the closest bus stop to me is the southside Walmart, which is more than a 2.5-mile walk from my house. I am not the only person in this large southside--and growing--area who would welcome and needs bus service in the Miller Creek and Linda Vista areas. Thank you for including this area in the strategic planning process and during implementation of service expansion.
Removed by moderator.