Mountain Line Plans for the Future of Missoula’s Bus System

This article is courtesy of www.makeitmissoula.com

Do you need a bus route in your neighborhood?  More frequent bus service?  Sunday service?  More transportation options?  The Missoula Urban Transportation District, operators of the popular Mountain Line Missoula bus system, want the community’s input on both short and long term improvements needed for its public transportation system.

To receive input, the Transportation District invites community residents to attend one of the following three workshops (each workshop will run the same exercises):

• October 26th from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the University of Montana, University Center Room 332
• October 26th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Southgate Mall in the Community Room
• October 27th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Downtown in the Park Ballroom

The workshops will provide needed comment to develop the Transportation District’s short and long range of emphasis in the planning include improved Missoula bus service to complement the community’s vision of a highly walkable and transit‐friendly urban core, commuter service to and from surrounding communities, the initial planning for the urban streetcar envisioned in the Missoula Downtown Master Plan, and needed public transportation amenities and infrastructure.

In addition to the initial public workshops, the Transportation District’s outreach will also involve several focus groups, online and intercept surveys, and involvement from a Regional Coordinating Committee.

After the development of multiple alternatives, the Transportation District will conduct a subsequent round of public workshops in early 2012.  The input from these workshops will assist in the development of a preferred alternative to be considered for approval by the Transportation District.

“Public involvement is a high priority in this planning process,” says Board Chairman Don MacArthur.  “With planning efforts result in an even more livable Missoula  transportation system.”

For more information on the Missoula Urban Transportation District’s planning efforts, please call 406‐543‐8386.