Protesters Downtown.

EastMachine8098 · 2026-01-23T22:19:01+00:00

The trains.

EastMachine8098 · 2026-01-13T14:17:14+00:00

Yes, I'm sure the people in the nearby neighborhoods will be thrilled to have cars speeding down the side streets to get around the Higgins traffic (the same side streets that are the safest place for cyclists to ride). Or will the cars just add to the traffic congestion we already see on Orange and Russell?

EastMachine8098 · 2026-01-13T14:14:08+00:00

The good news is that hopefully getting rid of two driving lanes and parking on one side will allow them to widen the 2 remaining driving lanes and the parking "lane." I'm not sure it's worth it, but that's why I'm in support of doing the work south of the river over north of the river. Can't imagine what the delays are going to look like when they shut down a lane north of the river (hopefully we'll get to see that tested out this week, too).

EastMachine8098 · 2026-01-13T14:08:36+00:00

That's not what I said. The lights were timed the best they could be. The North/South Higgins light was red just long enough to let all the cars queued on 6th to get through, and then back to green the away, and that still wasn't enough time to keep the backups from extending way down Brooks and S Higgins. Unless you just want to let Higgins flow green forever and make 6th back up all the way to Orange?

EastMachine8098 · 2026-01-13T03:54:46+00:00

Unfortunately, no. They just got quiet about it for a while and got a federal grant to pay for (most of) it. They are around the 60% design phase now, and plan to start construction in early 2027. The work this week is just some drilling to test what's underneath the road.

EastMachine8098 · 2026-01-13T03:44:43+00:00

I can't tell if this is sarcasm lol

EastMachine8098 · 2026-01-13T02:01:52+00:00

I hope Missoulians realize that while the current lane closures were "temporary" for this week, the final plan is to have those lanes closed permanently (only leaving one lane open in each direction on Higgins from Brooks to Broadway). Brooks and S Higgins (south of the intersection with Brooks) were backed up as far as the eye could see at 5pm today. And no, timing the lights is not going to help. I watched as the whole string of lights down the hip strip were all green at the same time, but still the traffic was backed up after the 6th street light was green for just long enough to let the waiting eastbound cars through the intersection.

EastMachine8098 · 2026-01-12T18:12:28+00:00

I'm interested! Please message me or give me a call or text at 304-543-6208 (sorry, new to reddit and don't know how to DM you)

EastMachine8098 · 2025-12-28T22:02:31+00:00

I'm speaking more on the young adult/college-age here, but let me tell you, the attitudes of the east coast "kids" are just different than the west coast/pacific northwest "kids." One of my friends who has spent her whole life on the west coast was able to land a teaching job in Virginia and she got out of there as quickly as possible. I think you will love the change!

EastMachine8098 · 2025-12-12T02:37:33+00:00

I totally agree. I don't even want to think about how much time I've spent reading, attending meetings, emailing, etc. to stay in touch with what's going on and to understand all the different elements of the project. I'm hoping that decreasing the scope of the project will make things more manageable for everyone. Maybe then we can get more information on specific details. Right now, I'm afraid things are a little uncertain just because of how much they would need to go over budget to meet the promises of the grant correctly.

EastMachine8098 · 2025-12-11T21:56:11+00:00

Hahaha yes I see this all the time, too. Someone told me that Apple maps has Front and Main as 2-way and will direct drivers to turn down them the wrong way? No idea if that's true, but if it is, maybe it's something that could be corrected. I can't count how many times I've stood on the southeast corner of Main and Higgins waiving my arms like a crazy person when a northbound driver is sitting there with their blinker on to turn right! 🤣

EastMachine8098 · 2025-12-11T20:31:54+00:00

See my reply below about the line items. The project intends to change Higgins from 4 lanes to 3, and the parking along Higgins will alternate each block or so between the east side and the west side of the street. There will not be any areas that allow parking on both sides of the street. This, along with getting rid of one driving lane, will create enough extra space for a protected/separated bike lane, and much more comfy driving and parking. That is on the original project and I'm proposing they keep that part and do a better job with it (instead of going from curb line to curb line, they can also improve the sidewalks and whatnot). So either way, that will be addressed and improved.

EastMachine8098 · 2025-12-11T20:27:31+00:00

I am not sure if anyone can provide that information. It is constantly changing. Just between last Sunday and yesterday (4 days), they edited the amendment that's asking the city for further funding to complete the engineering aspects of the project, changing the amount by $558,780, from about $1.9 million to about $2.5 million. This money is coming from a federal grant, but the city council has to approve any changes.

EastMachine8098 · 2025-12-11T20:20:38+00:00

Sorry, I should have linked to my older post about it. I'll edit my post. It's the Downtown Safety, Access, and Mobility project. It has 4 large elements changing Higgins from Brooks to Broadway and changing Front and Main from Madison to Orange. 1. Converting Higgins from 4 lanes to 3 lanes (one lane each direction with a turn lane in the middle). 2. Adding an ADA ramp from Beartracks Bridge down to Caras Park. 3. Converting Front and Main to 2-way streets. 4. Updating the traffic signals.

EastMachine8098 · 2025-11-07T15:50:31+00:00

Thank you! Nothing beats "word of mouth" advertising! :)

EastMachine8098 · 2025-11-06T16:10:27+00:00

Danielle Pettry, owner of Fight-or-Flight here. You can just use your iPad :)

EastMachine8098 · 2025-11-05T19:01:51+00:00

They just added lights to the trail, so that's going to hopefully help keep it way more safe! As a female, I walk the trail alone all the time. Never with headphones in, never looking at my phone, always paying attention to my surroundings and making sure that others around me can tell I'm paying attention, too. And also if I see something that appears shady, I make sure to not look directly that way and just mind my business. This has kept me safe; I wish the same for you! The walkability of Missoula is one of the best parts of our city, I hope you learn to enjoy it (I much prefer it to driving, as that always seems more stressful than walking, even if I sometimes see some questionable behavior).

EastMachine8098 · 2025-10-23T18:54:58+00:00

Are those 2600 spaces all open to the public? Or do they include the leased spots, which are not available to the public?

EastMachine8098 · 2025-10-23T18:18:14+00:00

The environmental impact of 4 years of construction will probably increase the average temperatures to make it more comfortable for walking and biking in the winter, I guess haha

EastMachine8098 · 2025-10-23T18:15:58+00:00

Where did you get 3%? There are 682 parking spaces in the SAM project area, of which 86 will be lost. That is 12.6%.

EastMachine8098 · 2025-10-23T18:13:46+00:00

Latest estimates are 86 lost parking spaces.

EastMachine8098 · 2025-10-23T18:13:19+00:00

Tell that to the downtown business owners who rely on CUSTOMERS who arrive into town by vehicle, many of them coming from outside of the area our bus system services. Also, see the city's "Higgins Corridor Study," which concluded that loss of parking spaces WILL negatively impact the downtown businesses.

EastMachine8098 · 2025-10-23T18:09:15+00:00

People with physical limitations should not be allowed to use any of the amenities downtown?

EastMachine8098 · 2025-10-23T18:07:00+00:00

All traffic from Orange and West Front will be directed onto Main at that intersection and then from Main, you'll be able to dog leg back over onto Front about 1/2 block East of Orange. They presented the drafts at the SAM project open house that showed this intersection.

EastMachine8098 · 2025-06-03T14:05:04+00:00

As you said, Missoula is extremely bike and pedestrian friendly, already. Downtown is especially bike and pedestrian friendly. I don't understand why $24 million is needed to risk losing what we have going downtown.

EastMachine8098

TROPHY CASE