MPO to Host Open Houses for Long Range Transportation Plan
Published on February 13, 2026
Greater Helena Area, MT – The Greater Helena Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is inviting community members to participate in the next phase of the region’s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) update, with upcoming open houses, a virtual open house, and a transit survey designed to gather public feedback.
Earlier this year, the MPO conducted initial outreach to hear community ideas, visions for the future, and transportation priorities. Since then, the MPO has been analyzing growth trends, safety conditions, and transit needs across the Greater Helena Area. This next phase of outreach focuses on sharing what has been learned so far and asking the public to help confirm direction and identify gaps before moving forward.
“The Long Range Transportation Plan guides transportation investments and policies for the region over the next 20-plus years,” said Ty Weingartner, MPO Manager. “Public input is a very critical part of this process, especially as we refine priorities and begin looking ahead to future improvements.”
As part of this effort, the MPO is:
- Sharing findings and proposed recommendations for the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (CSAP), which focuses on reducing severe and fatal crashes through targeted, data-driven strategies.
- Evaluating how projected growth may affect future transportation needs, and seeking input on how to accommodate those needs
- Expanding planning efforts to include a Transit Development Plan, which will evaluate current transit services and future demand
The MPO will host in-person open houses where attendees can review information on growth, safety, and transit, provide feedback on key priorities, and share input to help guide next steps.
Helena
Helena Civic Center Ballroom (340 Neill Avenue)
Tuesday, February 24, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Lewis & Clark County
West Valley Fire Rescue - Station 1 (1165 Forestvale Road)
Wednesday, February 25, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
The MPO is also hosting a virtual open house from February 16 through March 20, which will include a summary of the information provided at the in-person events and additional interactive learning opportunities. The virtual open house will be live on February 16 and can be accessed at greaterhelenampo.com/LRTP.
In addition, the MPO is launching a transit survey, open until March 20th, to better understand how transit works today and how it could better serve the community in the future. The survey will help inform the Transit Development Plan and ensure transit planning reflects local needs and remains eligible for federal funding.
More information, including links to the virtual open house and survey, are available at: greaterhelenampo.com/LRTP
About the Greater Helena Area MPO
The Greater Helena Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is responsible for coordinating transportation planning and investment decisions in the region. The MPO works with local jurisdictions, state and federal partners, and the public to develop plans that support safe, efficient, and multimodal transportation systems.
Greater Helena Area MPO partner agencies include the City of Helena, City of East Helena, Lewis and Clark County, and MDT.
Community input is an important part of the planning process. Community members are encouraged to participate and to share information about the open houses and survey with colleagues, neighbors, and community networks.
Comments may be submitted at the in-person open house events, online at greaterhelenampo.com/LRTP/PUBLIC-ENGAGEMENT, or by contacting Ty Weingartner, MPO Manager, at 406-447-8406 or tweingartner@helenamt.gov.
Lewis and Clark County, the City of Helena, and the City of East Helena are committed to providing access to persons with disabilities for their meetings, in compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Montana Human Rights Act. The County and Cities will not exclude persons with disabilities from participation at their meetings or otherwise deny them the County or Cities’ services, programs, or activities. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations to attend the open houses should contact Ty Weingartner, MPO Manager, at 406-447-8406, tweingartner@helenamt.gov, or Montana Relay Service at 1-800-253-4091 or 711. Requests should be made as soon as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange for the requested accommodation.
###