MONTANA MEDIA ADVISORY

NEW REPORT EXAMINES CONDITION & FUNDING NEEDS OF MONTANA’S TRANSPORTATION NETWORK & IDENTIFIES STATE’S TOP 20 TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES

Local speakers join national research group for virtual news conference to release report examining
Montana road and bridge conditions, safety, reliability, and funding.

WHEN:

Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. MST
Virtual news conference Click Here for Zoom Web Conference
Or iPhone one-tap: US: +13092053325,,83327760862#
Or Telephone: +1 309 205 3325
Report available on TRIP website at 10:00 a.m. MST.

WHAT:

Despite additional state and federal transportation investment, some segments of Montana’s transportation system are deteriorated, lack some desirable roadway safety features or do not have the level of reliability needed to fully support economic development, particularly on routes that are relied upon by the state’s growing energy extraction industry or its tourism industry. This is according to a new report from TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit based in Washington, DC, which looks at the condition and use of Montana’s system of roads, highways and bridges and provides information on the state’s top 20 transportation challenges and the improvements needed to address them.

Local speakers will join TRIP at a virtual news conference on Wednesday to highlight the report’s findings. The report, “Keep Moving Montana Forward: Progress and Challenges in Achieving a 21st Century Transportation System,” examines road and bridge conditions, congestion and reliability, economic development, highway safety, the impact of COVID-19 on vehicle travel trends and transportation funding in the state. The report also lists the 20 transportation projects throughout the state that the Montana Transportation Department has identified as its top challenges.

A link to a video containing TRIP spokesperson comments on the report’s findings will also be posted on the TRIP website at 10:00 a.m. MST on January 18.

WHO:

Montana Department of Transportation Director Malcolm “Mack” Long

Darryl James, Executive Director, The Montana Infrastructure Coalition

Rocky Moretti, Director of Policy & Research, TRIP

CONTACT:

Rocky Moretti – TRIP | 202.262.0714 (cell)

Carolyn Bonifas Kelly – TRIP | 703.801.9212 (cell)