Local news- Press Release
Missoula County Montana - New podcast episode | What s Going On With All These Bridges 08 February 2024 ( news )
Missoula County , state Montana ( By Press Release office)
Feb 08,2024
| 11| 2
The Agenda ' s foray into transportation issues continues this week with Shane Stack , director of Missoula County Public Works , and Erik Dickson , county engineer .
With the recent closure of Maclay Bridge in Target Range , residents have a lot of questions about how we got here . The commissioners , Shane and Erik tackle those questions and much more in this episode .
Be sure to follow this project on Missoula County Voice
for more updates and information .
Click here to listen!
This episode has a lot of acronyms and engineering terms , so
here ' s a glossary for you ,
in alphabetical order:
BIP: The Bridge Improvement Program , a funding opportunity administered by the Federal Highway Administration .
Categorical exclusion , also called a CE or Cat Ex: A finding of a National Environmental Protection Act process that determines a project has no significant effect on the human environment . If a CE is granted , the project does not need an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement .
Creosote: A material derived from tar that is used to preserve wood .
EA: Environmental assessment . If a categorical exclusion does not apply to a project , then an environmental assessment must be developed before the project can move forward . This is a public document that provides sufficient evidence and analysis for determining whether the project meets the criteria for a Finding of No Significant Environmental Impact ( FONSI ) or if an Environmental Impact Statement ( EIS ) is needed .
Environmental Impact Statement ( EIS ) : Federal agencies prepare an Environmental Impact Statement if a project is determined to significantly affect the quality of the human environment . The regulatory requirements for an EIS are more detailed and rigorous than the requirements for an EA .
FHWA: The Federal Highway Administration , a division of the federal Department of Transportation .
FONSI document: Finding of No Significant Impact . A FONSI document is the decision document of an EA and is signed by the federal agency .
HDR: An engineering firm employed by both Missoula County and MDT to assist with bridge planning .
Load rating: The amount of weight a structure can safely carry . A load posted or load limited bridge is restricted by its load rating .
Local option gas tax: A voter - approved 2 - cent tax on gas sold within Missoula County . Revenue from this tax was specifically designated for road and bridge improvements . County residents approved this measure in 2020 , but the state repealed in 2021 .
MDT: Montana Department of Transportation , the state ' s transportation agency
NEPA: National Environmental Protection Act , passed in 1970 to promote and protect the environment .
No - rise [certification]: A state law that requires bridges or any project within a floodplain must raise the height of flood waters .
Off - System Bridge Program: ( External link )
Bridges in Montana that are not maintained by MDT . One of the many federal aid programs at MDT , this one funds the repair and replacement of locally owned bridges .
Pilings: The vertical posts in a body of water that support a bridge .
RAISE: The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant program , which the federal Department of Transportation administers .
Right of way acquisition: The process of obtaining property or easements for the use of public infrastructure .
Safe Streets for All: A federal grant program the Department of Transportation administers .
Click here to learn more about the Third & Clements project .
Scour critical: A bridge that has erosion or deterioration at the abutment ( where the bridge attaches to land ) or pier .
Section 106: Part of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 , Section 106 requires federal agencies to identify and assess the effects its actions may have on historic structures .
Senate Bill 536: A law the state legislature passed in 2023 that designated $100 million toward the reconstruction and repair of local bridges and roads .
Stringers: Steel beams that run lengthwise under the bridge to help support the part of a bridge that you drive over .
Two - span bridge: A bridge that has two sections ( spans ) .
About this podcast:
The Missoula County commissioners host "The Agenda" podcast , which aims to help county residents better understand how local government works and how it affects their lives . In each episode , the commissioners sit down with fellow staff , elected officials and community partners to discuss public sector projects and trending topics .
The podcast , formerly titled "Tip of the Spear , " received the 2022 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties .
The Communications Division at Missoula County produces this podcast with support from Missoula Community Access Television (
MCAT
) . If you have something you’d like to add to the conversation , email
[email protected]
.
Missoula County is grateful to have MCAT as partner in local government , as that partnership allows us to use their podcast recording equipment free of charge , and it allows us to produce a high - quality podcast without the County needing to purchase this necessary equipment .
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Press release information :
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