Summer of 2015 is in full swing, opening the doors to various recreational opportunities and bringing lots of improvements to cyclists and pedestrians throughout the Billings area. Below is a list of City projects funded primarily through CTEP (Community Transportation Enhancements Program), Tax Increment Finance District Funding and other sources. According to Jeff Butts, Bicycle and Pedestrian coordinator with the City of Billings, the following projects are scheduled to be completed this summer, several of which will provide an improved ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) access through construction of 5-foot wide sidewalk:

 

• Calhoun Drive will have missing or broken sections of existing sidewalk, curb and gutter replaced and bike lane striping added between the Underpass Ave and King Ave East.

 

• 19^th and Colton. This project will include construction of a sidewalk on the north side of Parkhill Dr to link the existing sidewalk which currently terminates at the pullout area adjacent to the canal with that on the east side of 19^thSt West, thus providing a continuous safe access to the Rosepark Elementary School.

 

• Jackson Street is scheduled to get a new sidewalk on the west side from Byrd Street to State Avenue, replacing missing and broken sections. The existing school crossing at Orchard Elementary School will be upgraded as well.

Other projects will focus on improving access to the local parks by providing multi-use paths in the following areas:

 

• Skyway Drive to Governor’s Boulevard new trail will consist of 1.1 miles of paved surface.

 

• The Shiloh Conservation Area trail, which currently terminates at 44^th Street West, will add a paved 0.24-mile long separated pathway to King Ave W. This trail will provide access to the Conservation area and other existing side paths, benefitting the traveling public by providing a place for people to walk, ride a bicycle or use a mobility aid.

 

• Swords Park outlet to 6^th Ave North segment now has a new paved trail. This bypass now provides a connection from the west side of the trail near Applebee’s in the Heights to the sidewalk on 6^th North.

 

• Poly Drive. Bike lanes will be striped from Virginia Lane to the 13^th St West and tie into the existing bike lanes between the 13^th St W and the 32^nd St W. The west side of Poly near Arrowhead Elementary school is also being retrofitted for sidewalks and bike lanes from 38^th West to Rheberg.

 

• Ponderosa Elementary School’s pathway now includes a new segment from where the existing trail currently ends at the King Green’s drive to the school.

The following improvement projects will benefit the users looking for an improved and safer access to the Billings schools:

 

• Arrowhead Elementary School will get a paved pathway to the Shiloh Rd.

 

• Medicine Crow Middle School will become connected to the Kiwanis trail with a new trail segment