Saltese
Saltese, MT · Traffic & Transit
KPAX
Southbound lanes of Kalispell Bypass reopened to traffic
railwayage.com
From Class I to Short Line and Back
Since 2020, Class I railroads have acquired more than 3,000 miles of trackage from short line and regional carrier—some of which they previously owned. On March 31, 2020, Montana’s Kalispell Branch resembled many of the more-than 600 short line and regional railroads across the United States: a scrappy, customer-focused operation using second-hand locomotives to move a handful of cars each day. But the next morning, on April 1, the Mission Mountain Railroad’s old MP15 locomotive was parked, and a pair of orange and black BNSF locomotives was making the 13-mile run to Kalispell.
kalispell.com
Lane Closure Two Mile Drive Bridge
Traffic on Two Mile Drive will be restricted to one lane at the bridge over the Bypass. Vehicles will alternate through the area under temporary traffic control. • Temporary traffic signals will be in place to guide vehicles safely through the one-lane section. • Drivers should expect brief delays, reduced...
masstransitmag.com
MT: Grant process chugs along for railway elimination funds
Whitefish Public Works Director Craig Workman and Spencer Dodge, HDR strategic project manager, last week discussed the Whitefish rail corridor crossing study, a required step for receiving the railway elimination grant. The Whitefish City Council approved a request by the city to apply for a railway crossing elimination grant from...
Whitefish Pilot
Whitefish’s transportation vision balances growth, walkability
The transportation element of Vision Whitefish 2045 will have to balance retaining character and infrastructure that supports density to uphold the vision of multimodality. Vision Whitefish 2045 is a 20-year update of Whitefish’s growth policy. The transportation element draws upon the 2022 Transportation Plan and the 2025 Safe Streets for All Action Plan to provide a snapshot of the existing transportation system and to envision key principles to inform future decisions. A key objective of the transportation element is to continue to develop a safe, balanced and well-integrated transportation system that provides easy access and enhances mobility for all modes of transportation. Another objective is to encourage compact and diverse systems, on the premise of retaining Whitefish’s walkability. “The city should prioritize connected compact infill development, positioning residential, institutional and commercial areas closer together,” the draft reads, in contrast to recent years of growing southward along U.S. 93. Other goals include improving north-south and east-west connectivity, increasing public transit, long-term sustainability, and recognizing the relationship between land use and transportation. “A land use plan should steer the transportation plan and associated infrastructure and not the other way around so that growth occurs in a concurrent manner,” the draft states. During
Whitefish Pilot
Grant process chugs along for railway elimination funds
Whitefish Public Works Director Craig Workman and Spencer Dodge, HDR strategic project manager, last week discussed the Whitefish rail corridor crossing study, a required step for receiving the railway elimination grant. The Whitefish City Council approved a request by the city to apply for a railway crossing elimination grant from the Federal Rail Administration in September 2022. The city was awarded the grant the following year and last year, the consulting agreement went to HDR, a firm specializing in engineering and environmental services. One major goal of the grant is to support potential elimination/replacement of at-grade crossings with accident and incident history located in close proximity to a BNSF Railway yard. “Largely what we’re focused on ... is State Park Road, Birch Point and Second Street,” Dodge said. “Those are the three infrastructure challenges that we have when it comes to crossings in the town.” Dodge said the purpose of the planning study, in part, is to show due diligence, which is something the Federal Rail Administration likes to see. It also allows the agency to have a hand in the project from the start. “Safety is FRA’s number one priority,” Dodge said. “So, we’re looking at safety and access.
Montana Updates
Brief US 93 Closure North of Lakeside Scheduled for November 12
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) will close US Highway 93 at mile marker 95, just north of Lakeside, for a second time. The closure will last about 30 minutes and is scheduled for Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 1 p.m. The closure is needed for public safety while a private contractor works nearby.
Montana Updates
Utility Maintenance Scheduled on 3rd Street West for November 12; Traffic Control in Place
Rocky Mountain Contractors will perform utility maintenance for Flathead Electric on 3rd Street West. The work will take place at the intersections with 1st Avenue West and 2nd Avenue West. Traffic control will be in place during the maintenance to keep the area safe.
Montana Updates
Southbound Lanes of Kalispell Bypass Reopen After Bridge Inspection
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) has reopened the southbound lanes of the Kalispell Bypass. The lanes were closed for an inspection of the Two Mile Drive bridge. The closure affected traffic between Three Mile Drive and US Highway 2. MDT closed the lanes to ensure public safety after a recent incident.
Montana Updates
Temporary US 93 Closure Near Lakeside Scheduled for November 5
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) will close US Highway 93 at mile marker 95 near Lakeside, Montana, for about 30 minutes on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. The closure will begin at 1 p.m. and is needed for safety while a private contractor works on nearby private property.
Montana Updates
Traffic Alert for Residents: Appleway Dr Lane Closure and Turn Restrictions on November 5 for Hydrant Replacement
The City of Kalispell Public Works Department will replace a fire hydrant at the northwest corner of Appleway Dr and N Meridian Rd on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. Work is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and will affect local traffic.
kgez.com
East Oregon Street “Fix” Won’t Work
At Monday night’s Kalispell City Council work session, Council Members and City Staff discussed–what has become a “Shortcut”, East Oregon Street, is now an East-West Thoroughfare. Motorists have discovered East Oregon Street as an alternative to using West Reserve to get from Hwy 93 to Whitefish...
Whitefish Pilot
Meeting on transportation element of growth policy update
The Whitefish Planning Commission will have a meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. to discuss the transportation element of the city’s growth policy update, Vision Whitefish 2045. The transportation element outlines strategies and infrastructure to support the transportation network for safe, efficient and equitable movement of people and goods within and beyond the City of Whitefish. The Planning Commission will be taking public comment on minor revisions made to the public water, sewer and stormwater sections of the public facilities element at its Oct. 1 meeting. The growth policy, or community plan, will contain goals and policies for making decisions about future development, city programs and priorities. A growth policy is used as the basis for creating zoning regulations and is the "blueprint" for the future of the city. The city’s current growth policy was adopted in 2007. The meeting will be in the City Council Conference Room on the second floor of Whitefish City Hall, 418 E. Second Street, beginning at 6 p.m. To review the draft chapter prior to the meeting, please see the link at www.engagewhitefish.com. People are encouraged to subscribe to that website to keep updated on the progress of the plan or to
cowboystatedaily.com
Most Yellowstone Roads Closed After More Than 30 Crashes Sunday
All the roads in Yellowstone National Park south of Mammoth Hot Springs remained closed Monday due to "multiple weather-related traffic incidents,” park officials report. The skeleton staff still working during the government shutdown report they’ve been busy responding to "more than 30" incidents involving stalled, slipped, or damaged vehicles.
NBCMontana
Kalispell officials discuss temporary traffic safety measures on E. Oregon St.
KALISPELL, Mont. — The Kalispell City Council discussed a potential project that puts temporary traffic safety measures on East Oregon Street. The city applied for the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant in August 2024 for East Oregon Street and Fifth Avenue West as priority projects but only received funding for East Oregon Street.
Fairfield Sun Times
Crews to work on US 93 in downtown Whitefish, expect delays
WHITEFISH, Mont. – Crews are scheduled to work on US 93 in downtown Whitefish on October 27, weather permitting. Travelers should be prepared for a lane closure and reduced speeds through the work zone. Delays of up to 15 minutes are expected. Drivers are advised to watch for equipment...
NBCMontana
Northbound U.S. 93 blocked by crash near Ronan
MISSOULA, Mont. — Montana Department of Transportation is reporting a crash that is blocking northbound U.S. 93 near Ronan. The crash is reported to be 0.50 mile south of Junction Montana Secondary 211-Ronan. Emergency vehicles are in the area.
Whitefish Pilot
How a sock hop will save Whitefish’s Depot, again
In 1990, Stumptown Historical Society purchased the Whitefish Depot for $1 from BNSF Railway. More than three decades later, cries of “Save the Depot,” can once again be heard across town. Since the 1990 transaction and a commitment by the Historical Society to preserve the storied beauty, the Depot has seen a number of improvements. Most recently, the building received a fresh coat of paint in 2022. But now, the 1927 Tudor-style train station is in need of a new roof, with a price tag of about $150,000. The Historical Society’s funds are unique for a nonprofit. As owners of the Depot, the organization acts as a landlord. BNSF Railway pays rent for the building they once owned as over 60,000 passengers pass through each year. The rent, plus selling books and historical photos inside the Depot’s museum, brings in revenue for the Historical Society. The building’s preservation, however, is a costly endeavor and an enormous responsibility, said Jill Evans, director of the Historical Society. Standard maintenance costs about $50,000 a year, she said. “We need to ask the people of Whitefish to help us again,” she said. “Because it’s their building. It’s an iconic part of town.” A self-called