This page offers updates to Northside Missoula Housing, Transportation, and Park Improvements. There have been some large construction projects in recent years with more changes coming in the future. Planning documents that inform these projects are listed at the bottom of the page.

Thank you for attending the most recent neighborhood update on these projects on January 23, 2024, at the Burns St. Community Center!

• View the recording of the January 23, 2024 Northside Housing and Transportation neighborhood update on YouTube.

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Infrastructure

Northside Pedestrian Bridge Renovation and Temporary Closure

The bridge is temporarily closed due to safety considerations. Significant fractures have been discovered in the bridge decking and supports. The bridge is an indispensable transportation connection for Northside residents; re-opening it is a top priority for the City.

July 2024 Northside Pedestrian Bridge Project Update

The project remains on budget and is still expected to reopen in late July, weather permitting. Spring and early summer's wet, cool weather has caused roughly a 15-day delay in painting and coating work.

Current progress

• Electrical work is 95% complete, including new wiring and LED lighting
• Painting is 70% complete, focusing on exterior concrete walls and interior details
• Drainage system nearing completion
• Water service replacement finished

Ongoing work includes

• Graffiti removal and additional painting
• Security fencing modifications
• Coordination with BNSF
• Metal barrier repairs
• Concrete slab removal and topsoil import in the park
• Various improvements for connectivity and security

The intersection of N. 1st St W and Grand Ave. will remain closed until the bridge reopens. Sidewalk and curb work near the North tower is almost complete, with street repaving to follow in good weather.

Parks and Recreation plans to solicit bids for park improvements near the North Tower, including irrigation, sod, and benches. This work may begin after the bridge reopens, pending contractor availability.

If you have questions about the project, contact David Selvage, Associate Director, Park Systems & Services, 406-552-6252, or via email.

Scott Street Transportation Project: Phillips to Otis St

The City is currently in the design phase of a project to enhance safety, mobility, and accessibility along Scott St. Following recommendations from the North Reserve Scott Street Master Plan and in coordination with the developer-initiated changes along the Ravara site, this project will:

• Complete missing and repair broken sidewalks on both sides of the street
• Add buffers to the bike lanes over the bridge
• Construct shared use path on the west side of the street from Turner-north
• Install roundabouts at the intersections with Phillips and Turner
• Maintain on-street parking on the east side of the street (Ravara project adds some parking on the west side)
• Minimize lane widths to calm traffic and discourage cut-through truck traffic
• Shared Use Path on west side of bridge

This project will be broken into phases. The first phase will likely include the roundabout at Phillips, non-motorized facility enhancements over the bridge to Turner, and quick build intersection improvements at the Rodgers intersection. The second phase will likely include the continuation of the shared use path from Ravara to Otis, reconstruction of the Rodgers intersection, additional sidewalk repair/replacement, and curb extensions at side street intersections. The roundabout at Turner will likely be constructed when the street network extends west of Scott St through what is currently the City shops.

Project Status: Awaiting Phase 1 Design Drawings from Consultant, Phase 1 construction anticipated to begin in Fiscal Year 2025.

For recent transportation improvements on Scott Street, visit Public Works & Mobility's Transportation Projects web page.

Site Work at the Scott Street Development

July, 2024:

Construction on the Scott St-Ravara housing project is advancing along Scott St in the Northside Neighborhood. The contractor is connecting sewer and water main lines to existing lines in Scott St. This is resulting in intermittent closures of Scott St this week. Detours are in place, and residents can expect to see continued activity in the next few weeks. Residents commuting along Scott St can expect to see reader board signs with closure and detour information posted at least 3 days prior to work beginning.

The next detour/closure: July 15-20, 2024: This will occur near the intersection of Scott and Palmer Streets at the north end of White Pine Park. This closure and detour is expected to begin on Monday, July 15, and likely last through Friday, July 19. Traffic will be redirected to Turner Street and routed from Dickens to Charlo Street. This temporary detour will occur in the area of the Turner Street curb and sidewalk project. The contractor has been asked to minimize work in the driving lanes to avoid traffic conflicts and congestion, to the extent possible. Signs will be posted, notifying of the closure, at least 3 days prior.

Thank you for your patience as additional streets and utilities are connecting in your neighborhood!

These improvements are identified in the North Reserve Scott Street Master Plan and will support Ravara Development, LLC’s planned mixed income, mixed use development. Current timeline:

Learn more about the Scott Street Development

Are you interested in future home ownership at the Scott Street-Ravara housing project? Reach out to Hannah Kosel at the North Missoula Community Development Corporation (NMCDC) at hannah@nmcdc.org(External link). Thank you!

Turner/Worden/N 5th Mobility Project

The City is constructing a Complete Streets project along Turner, Worden, and N 5^th to enhance safety, mobility, and accessibility for all users along the primary route from Scott St to Orange. Project elements include:

• Sidewalks on both sides
• Bike lanes
• On-street parallel parking on south side of Turner, west side of Worden
• ADA bus stops, alleys, driveways, intersections
• Traffic calming at Neighborhood Greenway intersections
• Reconfigured Worden/N 5th intersection

Project Status:

July 2024: City Council accepted the bid that came in under the Engineer’s estimate. Construction expected to be complete in mid-September. The City will be reconstructing the street section and doing striping and intersection markers after the contractor’s work is complete. The striping portion of the project will likely not be completed until late October.

Contractor will maintain two-way traffic on Turner & Worden unless it is impossible to maintain a 20 foot clear space for two-way traffic. Short periods with a detour on Turner and/or Worden could occur.

The Stoddard/Worden/N 5th St. intersection will be shut down with detouring during some period of construction. Construction and possible detours will be finalized once the schedule of construction is finalized. A neighborhood update will be planned after Council awards a construction contract. Property owners and tenants will be notified via mail with information about the contractor, start of construction, and more prior to commencement of the construction work.

Learn more about Right-of-Way Infrastructure Projects

Traffic Calming and Neighborhood Greenways

Through the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP), the City is developing a comprehensive traffic calming plan for the northside neighborhood and will prioritize implementation following the Turner/Worden construction project. The goal of this project is to reduce vehicle speeds and improve visibility along local streets while enhancing the Neighborhood Greenways – low volume, low speed local streets prioritized for people walking and biking.

The NTMP uses quick build techniques to improve safety, and the northside plan may include a combination of calming circles, stop signs, bulb outs, and/or speed humps. The Transportation Planning division will conduct outreach and engagement through the Office of Neighborhoods in fall 2024. Planned Northside Neighborhood Greenways include:

• Waverly: Turner to Defoe
• Cooley: Scott to Worden
  
• N 6th: Worden to Kennett
• Kennett: N 6th to N 5th
• Holmes: Charlo to Phillips
• N 1st: Worden to Ryman
• Ryman: N 1st to N 2nd

Learn more about the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program

White Pine Park

January 2024 Update: The City intends to replace White Pine Park with a new park at a nearby location in order to provide a park that is larger, with full amenities, and which is easier for residents to reach without crossing Scott Street. Parks and Recreation seeks to better serve Northside residents by developing a new, five-acre park in the vicinity of White Pine Park. The City has been diligently exploring purchasing and/or leasing land from a private party to realize this in Parks’ preferred location adjacent to the private cemetery at Otis and Scott Street. Conversations with the landowner have been promising; however, no agreement has yet been completed.Aerial of the Northside neighborhood and the potential location of White Pine Park

N 5th/6th Water Main Replacement Project

This project will replace approximately 2,200 feet of existing water main that has been identified as high priority replacement water main due to its material type and age. Lots of this water main was installed in 1923 or 1937. This project will reduce water system leakage and improve service. The work will take place in N 5th St W from Worden Ave to Wolf St, N 6th St W from Worden Ave to Kennett St and in Kennett St between N 5th St W and N 6th St W. In addition, there will be intersection improvements, including several bulb-outs, ADA ramps installed at intersections and damaged portions of the existing sidewalks will be replaced. Learn more about upcoming City water projects.

Project Status: Complete

N 2nd Water Main Replacement Project

This project will replace approximately 2,300 feet of existing kalamein water main from 1914. Kalamein is thick-walled galvanized steel piping commonly used around the turn of the 20th century. Missoula Water is focusing its replacement projects on kalamein pipe because of its tendency to leak as it ages, particularly at the joints and seams. In addition, Missoula Water’s Facility plan has identified this section of water main as being undersized. This project will improve service and reduces water system leakage. The work will take place in N 2nd St W from Orange Street to a connection with larger water mains 2,300 feet to the east. Learn more about upcoming City water projects.

Project Status: Complete

Housing

Several housing projects are planned or underway, including market rate and income qualified for sale and for rent units, consistent with the North Reserve-Scott Street Master Plan and other adopted City plans and policies. Below are details of recent housing projects, including how much Tax Increment Financing (TIF) was used for public infrastructure improvements.

Villagio Apartments

• In progress – completion of the first building expected in early 2023
• 200 income-qualified apartments
• $1,339,178 of TIF investment for:
  • Sidewalk/curb/gutter
  • Public trail, water and sanitary sewer main line extensions
  • Power line stabilization
  • Large retaining wall that maximizes use of the property

Learn more about the Villagio Apartments

Scott Street-Ravara Development

May 24, 2024 Update: Construction has begun at the site! Vertical construction of the Community Land Trust homes will begin in June 2024.

Scott St-Ravara project, May 2024 Otis St Apartments

• Broke ground in September 2022
• Creation of 39 market rate apartments
• $315,100 TIF investments for:
  • Remove dilapidated buildings
  • Extend public infrastructure including street, curb/gutter/sidewalk, water and sewer mains and street trees

Scott Street Village - Completed

• All three phases are in final completion stage
• Creation of 142 mixed housing
• $686,896 of TIF investment for:
  • Further extend water, sanitary sewer, gas and power transmission main lines
  • Deconstruction of remaining industrial buildings
  • Completion of streets/sidewalk/curb/gutter

Planning Documents

A Place to Call Home: Meeting Missoula’s Housing Needs

The Missoula City Council adopted a comprehensive city-wide Housing Policy, entitled "A Place to Call Home: Meeting Missoula’s Housing Needs" on June 24, 2019. Housing Policy aims to create a cohesive policy and program approach in the city to minimize barriers and provide financial incentives where possible to promote the production and preservation of diverse, healthy, and safe homes that all Missoulians can afford.

Bicycle Facilities Master Plan

The Bicycle Facilities Master Plan (BFMP) establishes a detailed strategy and project list for improving bicycling in Missoula and is the guiding document for bikeway implementation. It supports the vision and the goals of both the Long Range Transportation Plan and the Missoula Active Transportation Plan while providing greater detail for achieving a more connected bikeway network that increases access and minimizes stress for Missoula Residents.

City of Missoula's Strategic Framework

City of Missoula Strategic Plan 2024-2026: Outlines the principals and goals the City will prioritize in budgeting through fiscal year 2023.

Long Range Transportation Plan

Missoula’s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) establishes regional transportation goals and provides a project list and investment strategies to support a growing and changing Missoula. Updated approximately every 4 years, the LRTP coordinates transportation projects and programs carried out by various partners across the region to ensure our system is comprehensive and coordinated as needs and priorities shift over time.

Pedestrian Facilities Master Plan

The Pedestrian Facilities Master Plan (PFMP) presents a strategy for providing a connected, safe, and accessible pedestrian network for users of all ages and abilities within the Missoula urban area. The plan includes a detailed assessment of Missoula’s existing pedestrian network and anticipated needs, as well as evaluation of project prioritization processes and funding recommendations. In addition to planning for future infrastructure improvements, the PFMP serves as an asset management plan for pedestrian facilities such as sidewalks, curb ramps, and crossing safety improvements.

North Reserve-Scott Street Urban Renewal District (URD) :

• Adopted in 2014 to help support redevelopment of the area, in alignment with the goals of the NRSS URD Plan (and later) the master plan.
• Phased implementation, until the district closes (likely in 2045)
• Projects planned or underway:
  • Street extensions to Charlo, Shakespeare, Palmer; improvements on Scott Street
  • Likely investments in park expansion in the neighborhood
  • Public/private partnerships that add or retain jobs and/or housing of all types
  • Likely investments to improve Grant Creek Road, other key transportation corridor

North Reserve-Scott Street Master Plan

Conceptual, road map to guide development, prioritize URD investments in transportation infrastructure, housing, businesses, and other land uses Guides public and private investment in the urban renewal district

North Reserve-Scott Street Master Plan Concept Map, Updated August 2021