Mountain Line will continue to offer free rides when air quality conditions warrant it.  Federal regulations for air particulate levels have recently changed, and the stages of air quality, from best to worst are as follows:  Good, Moderate, Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, Unhealthy, Very Unhealthy and Hazardous.  These categories will be announced for averages in 24 hour, 8 hour and 1 hour periods.  Mountain Line will operate under the 8 hour period average only.

Here’s how the free rides on unhealthy air quality days program will work:

The air quality rating is updated twice each day by the Missoula City-County Health Department, at approximately 9:00am and 4:00pm.  When the air quality is rated Unhealthy or worse, for an 8 hour period, bus transportation will be free of charge.

FY 2011-2015 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

The Missoula Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) will accept comments until August 17, 2010 on the DRAFT Fiscal Year (FY) 2011-2015 Missoula Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

Public comment will also be accepted at the following meetings:

• Transportation Policy Coordinating Committee – Tuesday, July 20, 2010, 1:30 P.M., City Council Chambers, 140 West Pine, Missoula.
• Open House and Public Meeting, Monday, August 9, 2010 from 5:30 to 7:00 PM at the Jack Reidy Room, City Council Chambers, 140 West Pine, Missoula.
• Transportation Technical Advisory Committee – Thursday, August 5, 2010, 10:00 A.M., City Council Chambers, 140 West Pine, Missoula
• Transportation Policy Coordinating Committee – Tuesday, August 17, 2010, 1:30 P.M., City Council Chambers, 140 West Pine, Missoula.

The FY 2011-2015 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) contains transportation projects within the Missoula urban area during the fiscal years 2011 – 2015.

If you have any questions or comments relating to these documents, or if you wish to request a copy of the Missoula DRAFT FY 2011-2015 TIP, please contact Ann Cundy at 258-4931 or acundy@co.missoula.mt.us. A copy is also available on the web at http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/Transportation. If anyone needs special assistance reviewing this material, Missoula County will provide auxiliary aids and services.

Public comments will be heard by the Specialized Transportation Advisory Committee on December 18, 2008 at 10:30 am at Summit Independent Living Center, 700 SW Higgins Avenue, Missoula, MT.   Written comments can be submitted to Mountain Line at 1221 Shakespeare Street, Missoula, MT 59802 or via email to smillar@mountainline.com until January 12, 2008.

The MUTD Board will consider plan adoption at the January 28, 2009 Board meeting, 12:00 pm, City Council Conference Room, 140 West Pine Street, Missoula.

click here to review the 2011 Coordination Plan