Bozeman Receives Funding to Improve, Create Shared Use Paths Around City

BOZEMAN — The City of Bozeman, in partnership with the Montana Department of Transportation, recently began work on two projects after being awarded Federal Highway Transportation Alternatives (TA) funding. In the first project, the City will add new 10’ wide shared use pathways on East Valley Center Road between Catron and Catamount Streets, North 19th Avenue between Baxter Lane and Rawhide Ridge Road, and Flanders Mill Road between Sunstone Street and Durston Road. The second project involves pavement preservation on several existing separated shared use paths along Oak Street, North 19th Avenue, and Huffine Lane/Main Street. City Engineering Staff will complete design for both projects, reducing reliance on outside consultants and stretching the funding further.

“This funding will help us more quickly address a need we hear from many residents – safer, separated paths for bicyclists and pedestrians,” Transportation & Engineering Director Nicholas Ross stated. “We’ve been working hard planning and designing for these projects, and now we get to make them a reality without relying solely on local taxpayer dollars.”

The new shared use paths will fill gaps in missing sections of the City’s transportation network, helping to safely route pedestrians and cyclists throughout the City. The pavement maintenance project will help to prolong the useful life of the existing shared use pathways. When pavement preservation projects such as these are done, it prevents the need for costlier reconstructions of pathways further down the line.

“MDT is glad that the City of Bozeman applied for and was successful in receiving this funding,” said Dave Holien, MDT Transportation Alternatives Engineer. “These are highly needed projects and will provide much needed safety and connectivity improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists.”

For more information on either of these two projects, call Kellen Gamradt, PE at 406-582-2283.