Transportation in the Flathead Public Comment from Forward Montana7/9/26, 12:58 PM EXTERNAL Transportation in the Flathead -Aimee Brunckhorst - Outlook
& Outlook
EXTERNAL Transportation in the Flathead
From Isabella Brown <isabellabrown@forwardmontana.org>
Date Thu 7/9/2026 12:49 PM
To Kalispell Meetings Public Comment <publiccomment@kalispell.com>
Hello,
My name is Bella Brown, and I am reaching out as we begin building a community conversation
around transportation access, walkability, safe streets, and growth in the Flathead Valley.
We are not asking you to endorse a policy today; we are inviting you into a community
conversation about transportation access, walkability, and growth.
As the Flathead continues to grow, transportation has become one of the major issues shaping how
people live, work, and connect across the valley. Conversations around growth often include concerns
about traffic, parking, housing, and infrastructure. Those conversations matter, and they also highlight
the importance of thinking about how our communities are designed for the future.
Transportation connects directly to housing access, workforce needs, tourism, economic development,
public safety, and community connection. As our population continues to grow, understanding where
transportation challenges exist and where opportunities for improvement are possible will be
increasingly important.
We are bringing together people who experience transportation differently: people who walk, bike, use
transit, commute, run businesses, plan communities, and make policy decisions. The goal is not to start
with a solution, but to understand where the gaps are and build a more connected Flathead.
This summer, Forward Montana is hosting a transportation planning meeting on Monday, July 21
from 6-7 PM via Zoom to begin organizing a September community engagement project called:
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/obr-npan-cgr
Or dial: (US) +1 440-462-2873 PIN: 317 331 152#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/obr-npan-cgr?pin=8484419831990
Flathead Walks: An Amazing Race Transportation Challenge
The July meeting will be a planning conversation to help shape what this project looks like. We are
hoping to bring together community partners, local leaders, businesses, advocates, and residents to
brainstorm activities, identify opportunities for collaboration, and build out the week.
The September project will align with National Voter Registration Day, National Car Free Day, and
America Walks, creating a week of community events focused on experiencing transportation in the
Flathead from different perspectives.
The goal of Flathead Walks is to invite community members to explore how people move through the
valley by walking, biking, riding transit, carpooling, and other transportation options. Participants will
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7/9/26, 12:58 PM EXTERNAL Transportation in the Flathead -Aimee Brunckhorst - Outlook
be encouraged to document their experiences, including what is easy, what is challenging, and where
improvements could make transportation safer and more accessible.
We hope to gather community stories and lived experiences that can help inform future conversations
around transportation planning, including:
• Mountain Climber transit connections and service needs
• Sidewalk and pedestrian safety gaps
• Bike infrastructure and regional connections
• Highway 2 and US-93 challenges
• Connections between communities such as Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, and Evergreen
• How transportation affects housing, workforce access, and economic opportunity
We are also hoping to create opportunities for community members and local leaders to experience
transportation challenges firsthand. Some ideas we are exploring include:
• "Walk the Block" events with city council members, mayors, commissioners, and residents
• Downtown walks focused on local infrastructure and connectivity
• AARP walkability surveys to help communities gather additional data
• Community pit stops hosted by nonprofits, businesses, and local organizations
• Bike rides and community events highlighting transportation connections throughout the valley
We would love to include organizations and individuals who are interested in walkability, safe streets,
transportation planning, community development, workforce access, and creating stronger
connections across the Flathead.
If you are interested in joining the July 21 planning meeting, helping host a stop during Flathead
Walks, sharing resources, or connecting us with others who should be part of this conversation, we
would love to hear from you.
Please feel free to forward this invitation to anyone who may be interested in transportation,
walkability, biking, safe streets, community planning, or local economic development.
Thank you for the work you do in our communities. We hope to bring together a wide range of
perspectives and build a stronger understanding of what transportation needs look like across the
Flathead Valley.
Respectfully,
Isabella Brown
Flathead Lead Organizer
Forward Montana
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