Share your feedback for the 21st St. Underpass Study!

The second round of public outreach is now open for the Billings Metropolitan Planning Organization’s 21^st St. Underpass Study. The 21st Street underpass is one of two grade-separated railroad under crossings that link downtown Billings to the industrial and residential areas south of the railroad. The 21st Street crossing is unique because it is the only grade-separated crossing that serves the central downtown area — making it one of the critical railroad crossings in Billings. However, there are significant limitations to the current use of the 21st Street underpass including a lack of clearance for large vehicles. 

The first round of public outreach asked respondents questions related to their use of the underpass and their concern with the underpass. Based on technical analysis and public input, the project team developed four planning level alternatives for the underpass. The second round of public outreach describes four alternatives for the underpass and asks for feedback on each. The alternatives include: 

• No Build (i.e., no change from the current underpass)
• Minor Improvements with Over height Vehicle Warning System
• Increasing the Clearance to 11.5’ with Roadway Modifications
• Increase Clearance to 13.5’ with Bridge Replacement 

The survey will be open through January 18, 2026. The results will help inform the final report. To take the survey, please visit https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/6daab93b38dc4067ba70b82fc821e1ae 

Share your feedback for the Safe Routes to School Education Campaign! 

The City of Billings has a survey that will inform a subject close to many residents’ hearts - Safe Routes to School. The City of Billings has funding from a federal grant to develop and execute a Safe Routes to School education campaign that seeks to educate community members on safe travel behaviors and encourage more students to walk, bike, and roll to school. The campaign will focus on behavioral changes to make it safer for students to get to school, with a focus on elementary schools.

The City is seeking feedback from parents/guardians, school staff, students, and the general community on the safety issues they believe are most important to address in the campaign and on how to address them. The campaign is planned to last for a couple of years and could consist of television ads, social media posts, and more, depending on the feedback from the community.

Because everyone brings an important and different perspective to this complex issue, the project team has developed four different surveys: one for caregivers (parents/guardians), one for school professionals, one for students, and one for community members. All surveys can be accessed at the link below. To provide the most relevant feedback, please take the survey that best fits your role.

To take the survey, please visit: https://www.billingsmt.gov/3270/56627/Safe-Routes-to-School-Education-Campaign