Goals & Objectives

What are the goals of the project?
The goal of this project is to update the existing Kalispell Area Transportation Plan. This existing Plan was originally developed in 1993 and was built upon prior transportation planning efforts. The intent of this project is to take an entirely fresh look at the condition of transportation issues in the Kalispell area.

This Transportation Plan Update is intended to facilitate achieving community goals and improve the transportation infrastructure and services within the Kalispell area to meet the needs of current and future residents. The Plan will address all modes of transportation in a balanced attempt to meet the current and future transportation needs of the greater Kalispell area, while complying with state and federal requirements. With this background in mind, the following “Draft Goals” have been developed to guide this Transportation Plan Update.

• Draft Goal #1:

  Provide a safe, efficient, accessible, and cost-effective transportation system that offers viable choices for moving people and goods throughout the community.

• Draft Goal #2:

  Make transit and non-motorized modes of transportation viable alternatives to the private automobile for travel in and around the community.

• Draft Goal #3:

  Provide an open public involvement process in the development of the transportation system and in the implementation of transportation improvements. Assure that community standards and values, such as aesthetics and neighborhood protection, are incorporated.

• Draft Goal #4:

  Provide a financially sustainable Transportation Plan that is actively used to guide the transportation decision-making process throughout the course of the next 20 years.

• Draft Goal #5:

  Maintain and, wherever possible, improve the conditional and operational level of service (LOS) of the existing transportation system as later defined in this Transportation Plan.

• Draft Goal #6:

  Identify and protect future road corridors for future developments and public lands.

What are the objectives of the project?

• Objective #1:

  Coordinate transportation planning with existing and future land use and community comprehensive plans.

• Objective #2:

  Improve regional transportation circulation and identify primary travel demands.

• Objective #3:

  Promote a safe, reliable transportation network.

• Objective #4:

  Identify improvement priorities, strategies and policies.

• Objective #5:

  Identify transportation system management (TSM) improvements such as signal synchronization, new signals, turning bays, one-way street designation, etc..

• Objective #6:

  Identify capital improvements, projected costs, funding sources and implementation process.

• Objective #7:

  Consider all ground transportation modes in the update including vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle, and transit.

• Objective #8:

  Provide suitable public involvement opportunities with appropriate Stakeholders.

• Objective #9:

  Develop project prioritization criteria.

Additionally, the Transportation Plan will incorporate the identified projects in the recently completed US Highway 93 Bypass Re-evaluation of the Environmental Impact Statement (REIS).