United States Department of Transportation
i
Impact of Canadian Economic Development on Northern Montana Highways Phase II, Ports of Wild Horse and Morgan Highway Corridors
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2014-10-01
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[PDF-7.25 MB]
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Abstract:The purpose of this study is to determine whether highway infrastructure in Montana is adequate to support future expected growth in traffic resulting from economic development in Canada, and a number of potential changes in border operations, industry structure and freight-related policy. Historical data on cross-border traffic, empirical findings from existing research, interviews with selected industry representatives and subject matter experts, as well as professional judgment, were used to: i) provide an overview of the regional economy, highlighting threats and opportunities for future economic development and growth in international trade; ii) develop forecasts of cross-border commodity flows and commercial traffic under alternative scenarios and economic growth assumptions; iii) document existing conditions along two highway corridors connecting US 2 with the Canadian border, namely the S-232 corridor between US 2 and Wild Horse, and the US 191 corridor between US 2 and Morgan; and iv) assess whether existing highway infrastructure along these corridors was adequate to accommodate future expected traffic levels. A number of conclusions could be reached. First, it is anticipated that existing highway infrastructure in Montana will be adequate to handle the potential increase in overall traffic, as well as the potential increase of truck traffic for both corridors of interest. Second, should the existing pavement and geometric conditions be maintained, the expected increase in AADT and truck percentages should not degrade the weighted traffic operations below free-flow conditions (LOS A); although individual locations within the corridor may experience higher degradation in operations than the overall weighted average operations. Third, traffic operations along the highway segments immediately adjacent to the ports are expected to remain below free-flow conditions through 2032. Only under the most aggressive growth scenario would traffic conditions south of Wild Horse deteriorate below LOS A in the busiest hour, in 2028.
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