Project Abstract

When the small town of Absarokee, Montana faced the prospect of needed safety improvements along its Woodard Avenue main street, citizens never imagined how much their town would improve as a result of the solution offered by their state transportation agency.

Re-printed from AASHTO's report on the Best Practices in Context Sensitive Solutions 2006 Competition.

When the small town of Absarokee, Montana faced the prospect of needed safety improvements along its Woodard Avenue main street, citizens never imagined how much their town would improve as a result of the solution offered by their state transportation agency.

Montana Department of Transportation's Woodard Avenue project was heralded in the local media as a "Small Town Makeover," and local officials said it "completely transformed the community," addressing long-standing safety concerns, giving citizens better access to businesses, and improving water infrastructure. The project made the town a better place to visit and a better place to live.

In the true spirit of CSS, the Montana DOT reached out to the Absarokee community and found not only that its transportation infrastructure was in need of repair, but also that the streets did not have efficient gutters or water drainage system. They also found the drinking water system to be inefficient. In fact, the town's aging water infrastructure contributed to a 40 percent loss of community drinking water.

To plan needed improvements in the absence of any city government, Montana DOT worked directly with the community members, the Absarokee Merchants Association, and the Stillwater County Commissioners Office.

Montana DOT particularly encouraged the community's input. Absarokee nominated five key community leaders as contacts for the project. The community leaders spoke on behalf of the community and were able to communicate to Montana DOT the wants and needs of many individuals.

Recognizing the serious need for water infrastructure improvements, Montana DOT found a way to incorporate these improvements into its roadway safety project. The agency replaced the town's drinking water system as part of the transportation project, installed gutters along the roadway, and constructed a storm drain system underneath it - saving the rural community from shouldering the cost of these infrastructure improvements. The project also included a settlement pond to ensure proper drainage and relieve the flooding that plagued the north side of town.

Safety Improvements
Safety issues were among the primary concerns to be addressed by the project. The primary safety concern of the community members was limited visibility at the intersection of Woodard Avenue and Stillwater Road. To address this concern, Montana DOT added parking restrictions at the intersection and incorporated the town's first traffic light to regulate traffic and prevent accidents.

The agency also included upgrades along sidewalks and storefronts to give persons with disabilities access to local businesses. The project included pedestrian-friendly sidewalks with bulb-outs and ramps, allowing pedestrians to see oncoming traffic and shortening the walking distance between intersections.

The Town Expresses Its Sense of Style
Absarokee is a small rural community with small-town values and a sense of civic pride, but it lacked attractive features that would increase tourism.

Based on the community's input, the project incorporated numerous aesthetic features that have added a sense of style to Absarokee, emphasizing its best features and bringing out its small-town character.

Woodard Avenue is now adorned with decorative period-style lighting, tree grates fashioned by local blacksmiths, curb bulbs, patterned concrete sidewalks at each intersection, and planters that incorporate benches. Seasonal decorations can be mounted in the flagpole holders or the banner arms of the period-style lights.

The entire community participated in implementing the improvements. At the local senior center, seniors were given the chance to pick out the color of concrete they would like to see on their sidewalks. Community children also participated, helping to plant trees and other foliage along the new roadway.

"I really thought this was going to be "plain Jane" but we asked for period lights, the planters, the benches, and the trees and the state agreed to everything," Rex Anderson, a community leader, said in an article published by the Billings Gazette.

Minimize Impacts, Maximize Benefits
Montana DOT worked to minimize impacts to the community during construction of the project through careful construction sequencing, coordination by the contractors, and providing construction schedules to the public at monthly meetings.

The project avoided impacts to the town's historic buildings and incorporated new period-style lighting. Citizens were proud that the town was able to retain its historic character.

According to Montana DOT officials, the town now has a clean, modernized look that still holds the small-town values that are so important to the community.

As the community started to see the results of the project, compliments starting rolling in. "It was a lot more elaborate than I imagined," John Simmons, a local blacksmith told the Gazette. "I don't know what we did so good to deserve it."

The final project was completed in April 2005, and was selected as the "Best Project - Small Urban or Rural" by AASHTO in the Best Practices in Context Sensitive Solutions 2006 Competition.

   Best Practices in Context Sensitive Solutions 2006 Competition