Resource Database

Build a Better Burb (BBB) is an online publication dedicated to improving suburban design and planning. The articles on the site highlight bold ideas for improving housing, promoting regional planning, addressing parking and creating transit-oriented development.

The Formula Grants for Rural Areas program provides capital, planning, and operating assistance to states to support public transportation in rural areas with populations of less than 50,000, where many residents often rely on public transit to reach their destinations. The program also provides funding for state and national training and technical assistance through the Rural Transportation Assistance Program. Eligible activities include planning, capital, operating, job access and reverse commute projects, and the acquisition of public transportation services.

The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) provides funding for programs and projects defined as transportation alternatives, including on- and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure projects for improving non-driver access to public transportation and enhanced mobility, community improvement activities, and environmental mitigation; recreational trail projects; safe routes to school projects; and projects for planning, designing, or constructing boulevards and other roadways largely in the right-of-way of former divided highways

Liberty County Transit provides transportation in the Town of Chester every week day (except holidays) from 9:00am to 5:00pm. It also operates on Sundays from 8:30am to 12:30pm. Transportation is also available every week day to and from the Town of Joplin. Transportation is available to Great Falls every Wednesday for medical, shopping and connections with other modes of transportation. The bus will also make transportation available on the other days of the week as necessary to Shelby, Havre, Fort Benton and Big Sandy.

The MDT Rural Transit Assistance Program utilizes funds are used to support non-urbanized transit activities in four categories: training, technical assistance, research and related support services. Eligible recipients of these funds include all Montana rural transit providers receiving federal transit grants. Funds are also available to Montana's public transit operators in small urbanized areas such as Billings, Missoula and Great Falls, as long as the activities are primarily designed and delivered to benefit non-urbanized transit providers. This program is 100 percent federally funded.

The Community Transportation Enhancement Program (CTEP) is a Montana program that funds transportation related projects designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of Montana's intermodal transportation system. Assistance and financial support is availabe for projects concerning pedestrian and bike trails, scenic easements, historic and archaeological sites, historic highway programs, and landscaping and community beautification projects.

The National Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP) hosts a website that provides training materials, technical assistance, web-based applications, reports, best practices, research, peer-assistance for rural and tribal transit providers and state RTAP programs, all regarding rural and tribal transit needs.

New Mobility West (NMW) provides training, tools and resources to help improve transportation systems. NMW peovides links to various recources including: funding sources for bike and pedestrian related projects, main street help, and guidence concerning how to engage local, state, and national transportation agencies.

NCM Transit is operated by Opportunity Link, Inc. and was established in partnership with North Central Montana area organizations including local and tribal government agencies, social service organizations and educational institutions. North Central Montana Transit provides a reliable public transportation system serving the communities of Hill and Blaine counties.

This guidebook created by Texas A&M University presents strategies and resources for the successful development and implementation of rural transportation projects. This reference will assist metropolitan planning organization (MPO) planning practitioners, engineers, administrators, city officials and transportation planning partners to address specific rural transportation needs.