Large project to reconfigure downtown Missoula is over budget so far; tweaks necessary

A very large project to redesign the traffic infrastructure of downtown Missoula is over budget so far, although it's still in the design phase. That means some aspects of the project may get scaled back or delayed.

That's according to Ellen Buchanan, the director of the Missoula Redevelopment Agency.

The Downtown Safety, Accessibility and Mobility project, called Downtown SAM, calls for reducing a portion of Higgins Avenue from four lanes to three to add bike lanes, converting Front and Main streets from one-way to two-way traffic, improving the river trail, and optimizing the downtown traffic signals.

There were also originally plans for improved, safer bike lanes, a "switchback style" ramp from Beartracks Bridge down to Caras Park and changes to parking configurations. The work would encompass parts of the Hip Strip as well as portions of downtown north of the bridge.

It's not clear what aspects are being considered for elimination or delay just yet.

The work is being done as part of a $24 million federal grant the city won back in 2023.

"This is one of the realities of getting a grant several years ago, and now costs have changed," said city council member Mike Nugent, who is the council's ex-officio member of the MRA board. "Now they are in the design phase of that and getting more accurate costs and realizing what they can and can't afford with that grant. They have to look at what can fit into that and what can't."

Nugent said his biggest priority is to see people in all traffic modes flow well through downtown.

Buchanan told the MRA board that the Downtown SAM project leadership team has reviewed the designs, which are 60% done, and reviewed the most current cost estimates from Jackson Contractors.

"The project is still over budget in spite of reductions in scope as a result of the 30% design stage review," Buchanan said. "We have recommended further reductions in the project by identifying elements that can be done as part of later projects and that can be modified or removed from the scope without adversely impacting the grant funding. The project leadership team has directed the design team to work diligently with the general contractor to identify any remaining cost savings and has made a commitment to exploring additional funding that can be brought to the project."

The design team will be working on 90% of construction design with the reductions identified by the team.

"We will also be bidding some of the most important elements that are not currently in the base bid as alternates that can be added back to the scope if funding can be identified," Buchanan said.

The Downtown SAM working group will meet again on April 24 to discuss the current scope of the project.

"After the working group meeting, there will be an informational open house (on April 28) to share the current design of the various elements of the project and modifications necessitated by the budget constraints," Buchanan said.

The project has also gotten funding from the city, Mountain Line, the Missoula Downtown Foundation and the Business Improvement District. The Missoula Redevelopment Agency contributed some TIF funding.

“The design team has been advancing plans to the 60% design milestone incorporating the feedback that we’ve heard," said Megan McMeekin, a senior project manager with the city's Public Works and Mobility Department. "Our goal is to design a project that meets community needs to the extent possible while staying within the federal grant requirements and within the construction budget."

The project team hopes to break ground in October of this year, but there's quite a few permits that need to be secured before that can happen.

"The Downtown SAM project will create safer streets for walking, biking, driving and public transportation, improve access and circulation for downtown businesses, workers, residents and visitors, create inviting streetscapes and support economic investment downtown," according to a press release from the city on Thursday afternoon.

The public is invited to learn about the project's most recent design at the open house on Tuesday, April 28, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Florence Building's Governor's Room at 111 N. Higgins.

"After the public open house last fall, the design team considered feedback from the citizen working group, the public, technical review teams, the Montana Department of Transportation and the project leadership team as it moved forward with design details," said Ashley Warren, the communications specialist with the MRA. "Open house attendees will have the opportunity to ask project team members questions and provide feedback on design. McMeekin will give a brief presentation at 5:15 p.m., further explaining design progress."