The City Club Missoula meeting held on July 18, 2025, focused on addressing local traffic concerns and urban development strategies in Missoula. The discussions highlighted the challenges of managing increasing traffic volumes while accommodating the city's growth.

The meeting began with a discussion on Reserve Street, where officials noted that most traffic is local, with less than 20% of trips being long-distance. This local traffic surge is attributed to rapid development in the area, leading to congestion that cannot be alleviated by building expressways or bypasses.

Margaret Parson raised concerns about Miller Creek, specifically the limited access points for residents. City officials confirmed that while there were past considerations for a new bridge to Blue Mountain Road, environmental challenges and costs halted those plans. Instead, improvements to Miller Creek Road are being prioritized, although no immediate solutions for additional access routes are available.

Diane Hellman inquired about traffic flow improvements on Mullen, particularly in light of the density initiative west of Reserve Street. Officials acknowledged long-range plans to widen Mullen but noted that funding for these improvements is not currently secured. The strategy includes connecting Mullen to Broadway to enhance traffic capacity and developing local services to reduce the need for residents to travel into town.

The conversation also touched on the potential for a new interchange between Reserve and Orange Street to ease traffic pressure on the Scott Street Bridge. While this plan is in the works, a timeline for its implementation remains uncertain.

Brandon Nas raised a question regarding the city's approach to reducing lane numbers on major roads despite projected population growth. City officials explained that this "rightsizing" approach is necessary due to limited space in the right-of-way. The focus is on enhancing traffic flow for local access and accommodating alternative transportation modes, such as biking, rather than simply increasing lane capacity.

In conclusion, the meeting underscored the city's ongoing efforts to manage traffic and urban development amid significant population growth. While plans for infrastructure improvements are in place, the challenges of funding and environmental considerations continue to shape the city's transportation strategies.