06-17-20 Technical Advisory Committee Agenda
Planning Department
201 1st Avenue East
Kalispell, MT 59901
Phone: (406) 758-7940
Fax: (406) 758-7739
www.kalispell.com/planning
KALISPELL TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Kalispell Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will meet on Wednesday June
17, 2020 starting at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers located at City Hall,
201 1st Ave E in Kalispell. A final agenda is provided below.
The agenda for the meeting will be:
A. Call to order and roll call
B. Approval of minutes of January 29, 2020 meeting
C. Comments from the Public
D. Old Business
- Use of urban funds on the Whitefish Stage project
E. New Business
- Status of the BUILD Grant
- Status of the 2006 Transportation Plan updates
- Consideration of new committee member Tom Schneider
Tom Schneider is the Transportation Manager for Eagle Transit. Eagle Transit has served
as Flathead County’s public transportation provider since the early 1980’s. Tom has been with
Flathead County since 2017 and began as the Glacier Park Lead of operations for the Glacier
Shuttle system. In 2018 he moved into the position of transportation manager. Tom Schneider
began working in Public Transportation 6 years ago as a driver for Community Transit in Everett
Washington. Before that he worked as a Traffic Control Supervisor for the HOV expansions
throughout the Seattle area in the 1990’s.
F. Set next meeting date
G. Adjournment
Kalispell Area Transportation Plan
Project Update
June 17th, 2020
Kalispell Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
Project Update
The update of the Kalispell Urban Area Transportation Plan, titled Move 2040, has been
ongoing since mid-September 2019. Over the past several months several elements of the
planning process have been initiated. What follows is a generalized update on key project
elements. If time and technology permits, we will provide a short PowerPoint slide show to the
TAC demonstrating various elements discussed herein.
Project Website
A project website was established in late 2019 to support development of the transportation
plan update: www.kalispellmove2040.com. Project information is added to the website as it
becomes available. Information about the planning process has been provided through a
series of videos posted on the Resources page.
Public Input
Phase I – Listening Sessions were held in February 2020 in which residents were tasked with
identifying issues and needs in the Kalispell Urban Area. These sessions were also coupled with
an online survey. The full Phase I public input summary report is available on the project
website as follows: https://kalispellmove2040.com/project-survey/.
Over the summer we are reaching out into the community to keep key stakeholder groups
updated on the development of the transportation plan update. The next phase of public
input will unfold once the alternatives analysis phase of the project is completed, which we
anticipate being early Fall.
Existing Conditions
A draft Existing Conditions Report is being completed and has been reviewed by the Study
Review Committee (SRC). The Existing Conditions Report should be available for public release
by the end of June once all SRC comments are addressed and will be posted to the project
Page 2 of 2
website. The Existing Conditions Report summarizes a range of existing transportation system
assets within the study area.
Projected Conditions
Working with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) a travel demand model has
been developed for the study area projecting traffic to the year 2040. We are currently
evaluating 2040 no build conditions. This analysis will set the stage for initiating alternatives
analysis to support development of the Transportation System Management (TSM) and Major
Street Network (MSN) elements of the transportation plan update. A projected conditions
memorandum will be developed in the next several weeks.
Alternatives Analysis
Based on projected 2040 conditions as well in tandem with the public comments an
alternatives analysis outline is currently being developed to assist with supporting development
of the transportation plan update. A rough alternatives analysis outline was shared with the
SRC in June and will be refined and approved shortly. The intent for the alternatives analysis is
to understand a range of potential project improvement needs to address projected
conditions.
Bicycle & Pedestrian System Analysis
A preliminary evaluation of a range of bicycle and pedestrian improvements has been
developed in draft format. These improvements were pulled directly from needs identified in
the Kalispell Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. The preliminary evaluation was shared with the SRC
in June. Based on SRC input additional analysis will take place over the next several weeks. The
results will be an overall evaluation and ranking of potential needed bicycle and pedestrian
needs and connections within the study area. The results of this analysis will be integrated in
the next phase of public input to gather public input and to assist with ranking and prioritizing
needed improvements.
Project Updates
TAC Members wanting to be apprised of periodic updates can sign up to be added to a
project contact list by going to the project website: https://kalispellmove2040.com/get‐involved/.
Kalispell Urban TAC –Transportation Plan Update
June 17, 2020
Public Engagement
www.kalispellmove2040.com
Phase I –Listening Sessions
February 2020
Full summary report online
Online Survey + Social Media
Current Efforts:
Outreach to Key Stakeholders
Phase II following Alternatives Analysis
Table Exercises –Issues, Needs & Ideas …
Work in “groups”
Identify Issues/Needs
Call out Big Ideas
Table Exercises –Goals & Performance Areas
Prioritize Goal Areas
Up to seven (7)
Prioritize Performance Areas
Up to five (5)
Goal Priorities
Performance Areas
System Issues
Big Ideas
Social PinPoint –Online Survey Tool
Growth Allocation -Framework
Boundary Assumptions Infrastructure Considerations Allocations
Background Research & Trends Lines;
2019 Kalispell Wastewater Study;
Initial Growth & Distribution Assumptions
SRC #3 (December);
Methodology Discussion & Feedback
Coordination with MDT;
Reviewed Preliminary Inputs & Allocations
Kalispell Staff Review (planning & public works);
Detailed feedback on initial allocations
Evergreen Water/Sewer District Staff;
Discuss growth trends and ongoing infrastructure planning
Coordination and Consultation
Households
2017 2040 Change Annual %
Kalispell 12,831 19,836 7,005 2.5%
Evergreen 3,356 5,028 1,672 2.3%
Balance of Study Area 1,392 1,970 578 1.9%
Total 17,579 26,834 9,255 2.4%
Growth Allocation
Household Growth 2018-2040
Employment Growth 2018-2040
Growth Allocation
Employment
Employment 2017 2040 Change Annual %
Kalispell 22,072 32,031 9,959 2.1%
Evergreen 3,999 5,022 1,023 1.2%
Balance of
Study Area 1,361 2,057 696 2.3%
Total 27,432 39,110 11,678 1.9%
Background Report -Draft
Report/documentation of all existing
conditions data
MDT provided comments as of
6/8/2020
Will review more significant comments
Once element fully updated, release
to project webpage.
2017 vs. 2040EC –Areawide
2017 vs. 2040EC –Inset
Projected Conditions
Detailed Evaluation between 2017 and 2040EC
Compare change in VMT & VHT
Evaluate change in % of links congested
ID some “hot spots”
Grow existing intersection operations to year 2040
Grow intersections based on delta between 2017 and 2040 models for each intersection
Outline the full impact of No Build
Set stage for Alternatives Analysis Phase
Alternatives Analysis -Overview
Three Phase Approach
Phase I -Area Wide –Travel Demand Model (TDM)
Phase II -Corridor Management (use TDM outputs)
Phase III -Needs Scan & Project Identification
Develop TSM and MSN Lists
Area Wide Modeling (tentative outline)
1) 4 Lane 93A/Kalispell Bypass (KBP)
Purpose –Evaluate systemwide impacts of four lane section along Highway 93A/KBP. While not a committed project, long range planning should consider the four lanes fully in place for purposes of identifying other project needs.
2) Main Street /Highway 93
Purpose –Evaluate options for Main Street/Highway 93 to assist with establishing a planning level recommendation for a preferred section through downtown.
3) Convert 1st Avenue E and W to One Way
Purpose –Evaluate one-way operations to assist with traffic management strategy related to future options for Main Street/Highway 93.
4) N-S Connectivity Improvements Downtown
Purpose –Evaluate better connections between Idaho and West Center (1st, 2nd, 3rd 4th and 8th)
Area Wide Modeling (tentative outline)
5) LaSalle Extension (Highway 2 to Conrad Rd)
Purpose –Improve north-south system connectivity. Concept evaluated in 2010 Transportation Plan.
6) Whitefish Stage/7th Ave Extension (Highway 2 to Woodland Dr/Center St)
Purpose –Model Frequently mentioned by the public as a future need; may serve to improve system connectivity.
7) Willow Glen (three-lane/minor arterial)
Purpose –Frequently mentioned by the public as a future need; may serve to improve system connectivity.
Area Wide Modeling (tentative outline)
8) Evergreen/Grandview Connection (minor arterial from Whitefish Stage to Farm to Market)
Purpose –Potential connection could serve to improve east-west connectivity.
9) Rose Crossing (Helena Flats to US 93 –Minor Arterial)
Purpose –Frequently mentioned by the public as a future need; may serve to improve system connectivity.
10) West Reserve (improvements at Whitefish Stage)
Purpose –Serve to model proposed (yet uncommitted) improvements proposed for the intersection of Whitefish Stage and West Reserve. Test a range of long-term options assist with development of project identification.
Corridor Management
Main Street/ Highway 93 –Downtown
Purpose -Explore planning levels options for conversion to 3-lane; or improvement of existing 4-lane section to meet projected multimodal transportation demands.
1st Avenue W and E /Additional North/South Management in the Downtown/Core Area
Purpose -Explore planning level options to support conversion of Main Street/Highway 93 to 3-lane through improved North/South Corridor operations
West Reserve
Purpose Evaluate and refine a more specific planning level recommendation for future improvements along West Reserve based on area wide alternatives analysis.
Growth/Urbanizing Corridors
Purpose –functional class and system preservation.
Highway 93 –Grandview/Four Mile Dr to Birch Grove
Purpose -Evaluate options for corridor management plan to support projected growth along the corridor.