The Missoula City Council Public Works Committee approved a resolution on June 10, 2026 supporting advancement into final design and implementation of the federally funded Downtown Safety, Access and Mobility (SAM) Project. This bundled effort covers Higgins Avenue multimodal improvements from Brooks to Broadway, the Front and Main two‑way conversion, Riverfront Trail upgrades and connectivity, and signal optimization at 23 intersections, with strong emphasis on ADA accessibility, protected bike lanes, safety, and circulation for vehicles, pedestrians, and transit (Mountain Line). The project is currently 4–9 million dollars over the original budget, and staff are working through design refinements, material substitutions, and additional funding sources such as TIF, gas tax, the road district, and possible Missoula Redevelopment Agency contributions for lighting. Traffic engineering consultants DJ&A and Kittelson Associates are already engaged for planning and modeling, but final scope, phasing, and construction approach will depend on forthcoming bids and confirmed funding, leaving room for additional design support, value‑engineering, construction management, and specialty systems (signals, ADA, wayfinding, parking technology). Vendors who can help the city close the funding gap, optimize the design, or provide cost‑effective implementation solutions for multimodal corridors and downtown streetscape should be positioning now as the base project is finalized.

Project is funded by a Federal RAISE Grant with strict scope requirements, including protected bike ...