Discovering Transit in Montana

Despite a strong showing from the business community at last week’s Envision Missoula meeting, Missoulians were overwhelmingly in support of increasing density and transit within our community. This goes to show that when we zoom out and examine the bigger picture, most everyone agrees that we need less congestion and air pollution, achieved through more transit. It’s on the micro-level of specific projects where many people don’t agree.  Unfortunately, this list of projects is an integral part of the process.

Some background: creating a long range transportation plan is a federally mandated process that ultimately results in the dispersal of federal money for transportation projects. The LRTP includes a list of specific projects in order of priority with funding levels needed for each project in the plan. In the past, this has been a dream list of oversized roadways all around town. The reconstruction of Russell Street is a project that will cost tens of millions of dollars, and will likely be pretty high on the list this time around. But, as always, there is a shrinking pot of money for an ever-larger list of projects. This year, it would be most wise to include increased transit service at the top of the list of projects.

By including transit projects that can receive funding in the LRTP, Mountain Line can expand their service as funds become available, rather than being put on the back burner so our roads can get more and more bloated.  Mountain Line and transit advocates should focus on the following priorities as the list of projects is developed:

1. Increased mid-day service on all routes.  All routes should run ever 60 minutes at minimum all day long.  Popular routes should run at least every 30 minutes throughout the entire day.
2. Night-time bus service on popular routes.  Routes with demand for night service should run until at least 11:00 or midnight to accommodate night-shift workers as well as people shopping and socializing around town.
3. Increased peak-hour service on all routes.  15-minute service during commute hours will relieve full buses, and present riding the bus as a more attractive option to commuters.
4. Sunday service.  Service on Sunday will never be full of riders, but is an essential social service for people who cannot or choose not to drive themselves.
5. Service to new areas.  The Bitterroot, Clinton/Turah, Polson/Plains… these outlying communities have unmet transportation needs, too.

Certain community members may balk at these suggestions, but my response to Joe Real Estate who just ‘needs his SUV’: more people on public transportation means more room for you in your gas-guzzling abomination. Everybody wins.