Bozeman, Montana, and neighboring Belgrade have seen rapid recent growth, with a wave of new year-round residents and seasonal tourists. As both cities welcome more people on their streets, they are introducing structured traffic calming programs to keep neighborhood streets walkable and safe. 

While Bozeman expands a mature program that it fully took over from partners last year, Belgrade is building out its own community-led framework for the first time. 

Bozeman’s expanding seasonal traffic calming program

In 2017, the City of Bozeman partnered with community members and the Western Transportation Institute to plan and install quick-build traffic calming projects. The city began fully administering the program in 2025, partnering with neighborhood groups on installation and maintenance.

Bozeman’s traffic calming program sets out five objectives:

1. Provide a clear and transparent process to address citizen concerns regarding traffic on neighborhood streets.
2. Decrease the frequency and severity of crashes on neighborhood streets.
3. Reduce the speed of neighborhood vehicle traffic.
4. Discourage the use of neighborhood streets for cut-through vehicle traffic.
5. Encourage active transportation (walking, bicycling, rolling) in our neighborhoods.

Residents can request traffic calming on a local street using a traffic calming request form submitted online, via mail, or in person. As part of the application process, residents must gather supportive signatures from 50% of addresses within one block of the project. 

The City evaluates all applications submitted by a March deadline each year to prioritize projects. Because funds are limited, Bozeman uses a scoring system to choose projects. At least two of these three criteria must be met: 

• A correctable crash at the location in the last five years
• At least 1,000 motor vehicles per day, or the documented 85th percentile speed is 5+ miles per hour over the speed limit
• Proximity to hubs like schools and parks 

The City’s traffic calming toolkit includes pedestrian refuge islands, curb extensions, traffic circles, and splitter islands.

Bozeman is a true winter city, with an average of 86 inches of snow each year. So, the city’s program features seasonal traffic-calming devices. These are typically installed in the spring and removed by late October, before significant snowfall begins. While the seasonal or temporary devices may not be out all year, they play an important role in improving safety—and can lead to permanent changes on city streets. The City collects vehicle speed and volume data using a radar unit before and during the test and puts up informational signage with a survey for people to give feedback on the project. Permanent installations are considered if the seasonal installation demonstrably lowers vehicle speeds or prevents cut-through traffic.  

In 2025, projects resulted in a slight decrease in the 85th percentile speed, significantly decreased daily traffic, and increased compliance. Eleven of the projects will be reinstalled in 2026. In 2026, the city is funding seven new projects out of 20 applications on a $30,000 budget, incorporating neighborhood walk audits and asphalt art additions. 

Belgrade plans launch of formal program 

Belgrade, Montana, is preparing to launch its own formal traffic calming program. The City’s 2025 Safety Action Plan helped spark the impetus for the program, resulting in a new traffic calming toolbox of 18 treatments organized in four categories:

• Horizontal deflection: mini roundabouts, traffic circles, lateral shifts, chicanes, and realigned intersections.
• Vertical deflection: speed humps, speed cushions, raised crosswalks, and raised intersections. 
• Street width reduction: curb extensions/bulbouts, chokers, median islands, on-street parking, and bike lanes. 
• Routing restrictions: full closures, partial closures, diagonal diverters, and median barriers with forced turned islands.

The toolbox includes details on the benefits, typical applications, and design considerations for each treatment. Notably, winter maintenance considerations are noted for every tool. Many treatments require signage, flex posts, or landscape treatments that plow drivers will be able to see above accumulated snow.

Residents will be able to petition for project locations online. In addition to the traffic calming toolbox, Belgrade’s Safety Action Plan gives city employees criteria to evaluate and prioritize potential projects:

Table: Belgrade’s Assessment Criteria

Frameworks for resident traffic calming requests

Through Bozeman’s expanding program and Belgrade’s well-organized framework, both cities are establishing clear ways for city governments to solicit requests from community members, evaluate projects, and improve safety on neighborhood streets. 

Resources

Bozeman: 

• Bozeman Traffic Calming Website
• Bozeman Traffic Calming Request Form
• Pop-up Traffic Calming and Placemaking Primer
• Meet the Cities 2026 Poster: Bozeman 

Belgrade: 

• Belgrade 2025 Safety Action Plan
• Belgrade Traffic Calming Program Plans and Toolbox
• Meet the Cities 2026 Poster: Belgrade

NACTO:

• Urban Street Design Guide: Speed Reduction Mechanisms
• Urban Bikeway Design Guide: Vehicle Speed and Volume Management
• Urban Bikeway Design Guide: Clear Bikeways in All Weather Conditions