Challenge
For decades, downtown Billings, Montana, relied on a network of one-way streets that made navigating downtown and accessing local business less intuitive. To create a more connected and accessible downtown, the City sought to convert several streets to two-way operations while improving travel options for people walking and biking. However, implementing these changes required more than updating pavement markings and signage. The City needed to understand how the new traffic patterns would affect intersection operations and how to modify an aging traffic signal system.
Solution
On this project, Kittelson worked as a subconsultant to DOWL to support the downtown two-way conversion through traffic operations analysis and traffic signal design. We evaluated how the proposed conversions would affect intersection operations and identified the improvements needed to accommodate the new traffic patterns.
A significant portion of our work involved designing traffic signal modifications at 20 intersections. Integrating new signal equipment into the existing aging infrastructure presented unique challenges, particularly within the physical constraints of downtown intersections. Our team developed design solutions that accommodated the new traffic patterns while making use of existing infrastructure where feasible, helping manage project costs and avoid unnecessary replacements.
The Outcome
Turning Downtown Billings Around with a Two-Way Conversion
The completed project transformed downtown Billings streets from a network of one-way to two-way operations, creating a more connected and intuitive street network with improved access to local businesses and destinations. Alongside improvements for people walking and biking, the conversions support the City’s vision for a more accessible and welcoming downtown.
Kittelson’s traffic operations analysis and signal design work helped make this transformation possible, modernizing and adapting the existing signal infrastructure to support the new street network while balancing operational needs, infrastructure constraints, and project costs.
This project received the ITE Mountain District 2026 Transportation Achievement Award—Complete Streets, recognizing its contribution to a more accessible and connected downtown.
