MDT seeks input on future of 93 in downtown

The Montana Department of Transportation is creating a study with possible options for improvements to U.S. Highway 93 downtown through Whitefish and is holding an open house this week to gather input.

The goal of the Downtown Whitefish Highway Study is to find ways to improve traffic flow and safety of the highway with maintaining the city’s unique character and economy, according to MDT. Those involved in the project plan to look at past designs and create a plan that addresses safety and operational concerns over the next 20 years.

MDT, along with the City of Whitefish, is holding a public open house on the study on Thursday, March 5 from 3-7 p.m. at City Hall in Council Chambers.

Bob Vosen, Missoula District Administrator with MDT, said the goal of the open house is to hear from the Whitefish community regarding where to focus first and why.

“The community of Whitefish has worked hard to make its downtown something very special,” Vosen said, in a prepared release. “The increasing traffic volumes in this corridor are a significant concern — both from the standpoint of preserving community character and ensuring safety for all users.”

The study is expected to recommend improvements for the highway from the intersection with 13th Street northward along Spokane Avenue to Second Street and west to Baker Avenue. The study will also consider improvements on Baker from Second to 13th, and existing or new east-west links between Baker and Spokane.

Completion of the study is expected by the end of 2020. If a viable solution is identified through the study, the project will then move forward into the nomination and funding phase.

A second public meeting is anticipated in October to get feedback on proposed corridor improvements.

MDT points out that Whitefish has experienced significant growth in traffic volumes over the last two decades, and the highway serves as the primary travel route through the city. Improvements to the corridor, including intersection modifications, are needed to improve capacity and operations of the highway, MDT notes, and additional modifications may be necessary to accommodate truck traffic as well as bike and pedestrian users.

Numerous state and local plans have looked at the U.S. 93 corridor through downtown.

MDT in 1994 developed the U.S. Highway 93 Somers to Whitefish West Environmental Impact Statement to reduce congestion on the highway. It identified a preferred alternative for highway 93 through downtown.

In 2010, MDT and the city began work on the Whitefish Urban Corridor Study at the same time with the Whitefish Transportation Plan.

The city’s Downtown Master Plan, revised in 2018, outlines the city’s vision for Spokane Avenue and Baker Avenue.

The plan for Spokane from Third to Sixth streets calls for two driving lanes, removing on-street parking and adding a protected bike path on the east side away from traffic while keeping sidewalks on both sides of the road.

From Second to Third streets on Spokane, the plan calls for a bike path between the northbound driving lane and the sidewalk.

For Baker, the plan calls for two southbound lanes and one northbound lane from Second Street south to the Whitefish River. This section would include sidewalks on both sides of the street and a designated bike lane. On-street parking would only be allowed on the east side of the road.

For more information, call 406-261-7665 during regular business hours or visit https://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/downtownwhitefish/