Impact of Canadian Economic Development on Northern Montana Highways Phase II, Ports of Wild Horse and Morgan Highway Corridors

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 annual average daily traffic (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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• Summary URL:
  https://www.mdt.mt.gov/research/projects/mcs/canada_impact_nhwy.shtml
• Corporate Authors:

  HDR

  8403 Colesville Road, Suite 910
  Silver Spring, MD  United States  20910

  Montana Department of Transportation

  2701 Prospect Avenue
  P.O. Box 201001
  Helena, MT  United States  59620-1001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Gros, Stéphane
  • Lee, Jon
  • Goodman, Daniel
  • Park, Brian
  • Pumphrey, Melissa
  • Erickson, Tim
  • Johnson, Michael
• Publication Date: 2014-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Bibliography; Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 230p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Annual average daily traffic; Commodity flow; Economic development; Forecasting; Highway corridors; Highway operations; Infrastructure; International trade; Level of service; Ports of entry; Truck traffic
• Uncontrolled Terms: Traffic growth
• Geographic Terms: Canada; Montana; United States-Canada Border
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; I10: Economics and Administration; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01543113
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/MT-005/8197-002
• Contract Numbers: 8197-002
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Nov 5 2014 12:33PM