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Home My WebLink AboutMDOT - Newsline June 2007Watch for Work Zone Signs of Summer One sure sign of summer in Montana is an increase in highway construction. MDT re- minds motorists that work zones are hazardous, and it is essential to drive with caution through these ureas. Last year, 320 crashes took place in construction zones along Montana roadways. Of those crashes, there were ten fatalities and 180 persons injured. Remember to stay alert and observe posted signs when travel- ing through work zones. Last year, 78 pemant of Montana's work zone crashes were on straight roads, and 91 pement occurred during clear weather. Eighty pemant of crashes were on dry roads, and 79 percent occurred during daylight. MDT suggests following these safety tips when drying through work zones: · Plan ahead--dial 511 or visit www. mdtSll.com for cun'ent construction and mad information. · Pay attention to signs and obey mM-crew taggers. · Be alert, expect the unexpected-- avoid distractions. · Remain calm and patient--work zones are designed for safety, and the purpose of projects is to improve the roads for future travel. · Follow posted speeds, even when crews are not present. · Keep headlights on, even when you are stopped. · Give large trucks extra room. · Don't tailgate. Even when a work zone looks inactive, it is vital to follow posted signs. Al- though work may not be underway, conditions may present hazards that am not readily apparent but re- quire slower speeds and extra caution. Director Testifies Before National Transportation Panel Highways in Montana and other rural western states are es- sential to thc national economy and must be considered in setting priorities for future federal transportation funding. That was the message Jim Lynch, director of the Montana Department of Transpurta- tion, delivered at a hearing oftha National Surface Transportation Policy and Reve- nue Study Commission in Minneapolis on April 18. "At previous hearings, the commission heard a lot about the need to direct more federal funding to seaports and large met- ropolitan areas," Lynch said. "I made sure the commission understands the impor- tance of safe and modem highways in rural states in getting our products to national and intematinnal markets. The U.S. trans- portation system isn't jnst about moving commuters and contain- ers--it's also about connecting communities and moving com- modities.'' The Minneapolis field hearing was one often the congres- sionally named commission held around the country to gather input before it makes its recommendations to Congress. '1 made sure the commission under- stands the Importance of safe and modern highways in rural states in getting our products to national and international markets." MDT Director Jim Lynch Congress will consider the commission's recommendations as it prepares to drafic the next multiycar federal transportation bill. Congress created the commission in response to forecasts that the Federal Highway Trust Fund, the primary source of federal highway and transit funding, will go into the red as soon as 2009. Increasing construction costs and flat revenue projections contrib- uted to the negative forecasts. Much eltra testimony at previous commission homings focused on the need to address congestion bottlenecks near the nation's ports. Others suggested that states convert more of their highways to toll roads, an idea Lynch says is dead on arrival in Montana. "We don't have the traffic volumes necessary for toll roads, and our residents have already paid for the roads through fuel taxes," Lynch said. "Montana just doesn't have alternatives to federal funding for our highways. I made sure thc commission got that message." For more information on thc study commission, visit www. transportationfortomorrow, org. Study Reveals Fuel Tax Evasion Schemes Revenues from motor ~el taxes are an important source of funding for Montana s transportation system, Motor fuel tax evasion represents a significant loss to this system. In the summer of 2004, in an effort to determine the amount of eva- sion, MDT initiated a research project to ascertain the extent of the problem and the underlying reasons for evasion. The research showed an estimated loss of $14.9 million due to uncollected motor fuel taxes. In addition, the study showed there are incentives to evade motor fuel taxes in Montana. Com- pared to bordering states, Montana has amoo~ the highest motor fuel tax rates--nearly twice those imposed by Wyoming. Mon- tana's gasoline excise tax rate, at 27 cents per gallon, is 7 cents per gallon mom than the average nationwide tax rate of 20.3 cents per gallon. Indeed, as of 2004, Montana imposed the fourth highest gasoline tax rate in the nation, notwithstanding any additional sales taxes imposed by other states on the sale of motor fuels. Montana's diesel tax rote is 27.75 cents per gallon. Montana is not alone in its interest in curbing motor fuel tax evasion. States' concern over motor fuel excise tax evasion has generated numerous research efforts over the past two decades, resulting in the detection of varions evasion methods and the development of new approaches for measuring evasion and tech- hiques for curtailing it. The study outlines teclmiquas that have been used to evade Montana motor fuel taxes. A few of those techniques are listed below: · Border, dyed fuel, and alternative fuels schemes · Refund and credit fraud · International Fuel Tax Agreement fraud · Daisy chains involving a chain of dummy corporations that transact several false purchases and eventually sell the fuel to a legal retail operation at taxed rates without remitting the tax · Failure-to-file schemes Based on information supplied by MDT and other agencies, the study generated a number of recommendations to close cur- rent enforcement gaps. Some of them are listed below: · Perform more distributor audits and modify auditing proce- dures · Expand field operations · Extend the statute of limitations for motor fuel tax fraud · Attempt to achieve total fuel accountability at all levels in the distribution chain · Perform random and targeted retailer audits · Establish an Internet Web site for the public to report inci- dents of evasion · Maintain the distributor/importer education program · Obtain and examine U.S. Customs data and compare to tax records · Pierce the corporate veil by adopting a code section that would impose liabilities on business entities for failure to file required reports or to pay taxes, penalties, or interest · .. continued next column, bottom MDT Recognized for Promoting Child Safety M DT's work to pro- mote traffic safety was recognized at the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies (HMI-IB) Annual Auction and Fundraiser held March 15. Director Jim Lynch accepted the Ken Moore Community Service Award on behalf Governor BHan $chweitzerpresents the of MDT. This is an award Ken Moore Community Service .4ward of excellence presented to MDT Director Jim Lynch who ac- almualiy to an organiza- cepted it on behalf of the Department. tion, group, or individual who exemplifies those qualities that the Reverend Ken Moore brought to HMHB. MDT received the award for dedication to the safety, heahh, and well-being of Montana's children, families, and communi- ties in partnership with HMHB. Through HMI-IB, MDT works with Montana Safe Kids/Safe Communities, a network of 16 community-hased coalitions that provide education, training, and public awareness in three main areas: proper safety belt use, child passenger safety, and impaired driving prevention. MDT also works with HMH~ through the Safe Routes to School Program. This program is dedicated to improving the health and safety of kids and communities by making walking and bicycling to school safer, easier, and more enjoyable. HMI-IB is a statewide coalition of coneeroed citizens, com- munity organizations, health educators, health professionals, and public-policy makers working together to improve the health of mothers and children in Montana. Reverend Moore was a sup- porter of HlVlI-IB in its early history. He shared the vision that every child is entitled to be raised in a safe and healthy emo- tional, physical, and spiritual environment. Fuel Tax Evasion continued... · Authorize the examination of records, fuels, and equipment · Perform background checks and investigate license appli- cants · Expand penalties and fmcs for noncompliance The divisions involved with motor fuel tax reporting, andit- lng, evasion, and enforcement will use this report's recommen- dations to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the exist- ing motor fuel program. With MDT management approval, rec- ommendations that can be put into practice without legislation, will be implemented. This includes performing more distributor audits and maintaining the distributor education program. Other recommendations, such as extending the statute of limitations, piaming the corporate veil, and expanding penalties and fines for noncompliance, will be presented to MDT management for fu- rore legislative consideration. A copy of this report is available on the Internet at http://www, mdt. mt. gov/research/projects/admin/evasion.shtml, or contact Sue Sillick at 444-7693 or ssillick~mt, gov. GPS Technology Aids MDT Map Makers Each sumrnar, MDT mad inventory crews fan out across the state in specially equipped vehicles to record the position and mileage of Montana's public roads. Each crew is equipped with a laptop computer, specialized sofc0vare, and a receiver that collects information from Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. As the vehicles txavel over the roads, their receivers collect GPS points every second. The crews bring that information hack to the cantral office and download it to a file. While more complicated than it sounds, cartographers then basically "connect the dots" to create maps that show roads in their pre- cise locations. MDT's Road Inventory and Mapping Section is responsible for developing and maintaining an inventory of Montana's more than 73,000 miles of public roads and using that information to prepare vasious maps including the official Montana Highway Map. GPS technology is key to ensuring those roads are shown in the fight places on MDT's maps. GPS technology is relatively new. In June of 1993, the.,~. Air Force launched~'24th Navstar satellito~mPlet- i~ the network of satellites known as ~h~ Global Posi- tioning;System. Witha ~ receiver (some costing instantly learn your location on the planet --latitude, longitude, and even altitude. This incredible tech- MDT'~ Road Inventory and Mapping nology was made possible Section uses GP$ data to create a variety of maps including the official by a combination of scian- Montana Highway Map. tific and engineering ad- vances, particularly the de- velopment of atomic clocks that are precise to within a billionth of a second. Today, GPS has virtually limitless applications: · Emergency vehicles use GPS to pinpoint destinations and map their routes. · GPS helps locate vessels lost at sea. Tracking and transportation services use GPS to keep track of their fleets and shorten delivery time. · Shipping companies equip their tankers and fireighters with GPS for navigation and to record and control the movement of their vessels. · Pleasure boaters, owners of small commercial vehicles, and civilian pilots use GPS for navigation. · Hikers use GPS to navigate in the backcountry. · Airlines have saved millions of dollars by using GPS to hone their flight plans. · GPS is used regularly for mapping, measturing the earth, and surveying. It has been used to map roads, track forest fires, and to guide the blades of bulldozers, making grading accu- rate to within a few inches. · Earth scientists use GPS to monitor earthquakes and the shifting of the eagh's tectonic plates. * Telecommunications com- panies increasingly rely on GPS to synchronize their land-based digital net- works, comparing their reference clocks directly with GPS time. the positions of satellites. · GPS units in aUl[omobiles Navstar satellites, such as the one can help ~vers identify pictured above, enable GPS users to their looffion and direct pinpoint locations anywhere on Earth. th~*their destinations. In,chicle units can also help law enforcement agencies find ~ stolen cars. · GPS receivers can notify emergency servicas of a vehicle's location whenever an airbag deploys, reducing response times and increasing the chances of vehicle occupants surviv- ing an accident. Future applications of GPS may include automated driving systems and technology that could help eliminate much of the traffic congestion that plagues our highways. Not all that many years ago, maps were created by cartogra- phers using pen and ink. Maps that took weeks, if not months, to create can now be made in a matter of minutes with a com- puter using GPS data. While it still takes time to collect and format the GPS data, it can be used in many different ways by many different users. GPS data has truly revolutionized MDT's road inventory and mapping processes. Watch for Release of Draft TranPlan 21 Amendment In 2005, Congress passed the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). SAFETEA-LU and the subsequent federal regulations, released in February 2007, included several new plamfing requirements that require a limited amendment to Tran- Plan 21, Montana's statewide transportation policy plan, to ad- dress the following issues: Additional use o f enhanced visualization techniques in the public involvement processes · Consideration of transportation system security issues · Incorporation of capital, operations and management strate- gies, investments, procedures, and other measures · Consistency with other planning documents The amendment effort is under way and includes opportunities for the public, interested agencies, and groups to participate. Check out the project Web site and use the questionnaire to share your input on the draft amendment at mdt. mt.gov/pubinvolve/ tranplan21_amend. You can also call 800-714-7296 (TrY 444-7696 or 800-335-7592) or send an e-mail to mdt_TP2I_2007 ~mtgov for more information and updates. Watch for release of the draft amendment late this summer! Cool Tips for a Safe Summer Trip 1. Before You Go Regular maintenance such as tune-ups, oil changes, battery checks, tire rotations, and so forth go a long way toward preventing breakdowns befog they happen. If your vehicle has been serviced according to the manufacturer's recommendations, it should be in good shape and nearly ready to travel. If not -- or you don't know thc service history of the vehicle you plan to drive -- schedule a preventive maintenance check-up with your mechanic now. Providing your vehicle is well maintained, getting it ready for a ~, road ~p is glatively quick and easy. However, it's impomnt to perform the following basic safety checks befog you go: Vehicle Safety Checklist · Tires-- ~ prnssurc, tread wear, spare Check thc air pressure in all your tires, especially thc ne- · giectcd spare. To get an accurate reading, check pressure when figs are cold, meaning they haven't been driven on for at least three hours. It's a good idea to keep a tire pres- sure gauge on hand in your vehicle for this purpose. You can find the correct pressure for your tires listed on a label inside the driver's door frame or in the vehicle's owner's manual -- the correct pressure is not the number listed on thc tire itself. Also, take five minutes to inspect your tires for signs of excessive or irregular wear. If the tread is worn down to · 1/16 of an inch, it's time to gplacc your tires. If you find irregular tread wear patteros, it means your tires need rota- tion and/or your wheels need to be galigucd befog you leave. For more information on tire safety and pressure, visit the "Tires" section of www. safercar, gnv, a vehicle safety gsourcc of thc National Highway Traffic Safety Ad- ministration ('NHTSA). · Belts and Hoses-- Condition and fittings Look under the hood and inspect all belts and hoses to make sug they arc in good shape with no signs of blisters, cracks, or cuts in the robber. High summer temparatags accelerate the rate at which robber belts and hoses degrade, so it's best to ruphicc them now if they show signs of obvious wear. While you're at it, check all hose cormcctions to make sure they're secure. · Wiper Blades-- Wear and tear on both sides After the heavy duty imposed by winter storms and spring rains, it's likely that your windshield wipers are ragged from use and ready to be replaced. Moreover, like rubber belts and hoses, wiper blades are susceptible to the summer heat. Examine your blades for signs of wear and tear. If they aren't in tip-top condition, invest in new ones before you go. · Cooling System -- Needed servicing and coolant level Carefully check your coolant level to make sure it's adequate. In addition, [fit's time to have your cooling system flushed and g- (,.O,, filled (or even nearly time), have it done now. On a long road trip in summer heat, you'll want your cooling system functioning at peak performance to avoid the possibility of your engine overheating. Fluid Levels -- Oil, brake, transmission, power steering, coolant, and windslfield Obviously, you'll want to check your vehicle's oil level. And as with coolant, if it's time or even nearly time to have thc oil changed, now would be a good time to do it. In addi- tion, check thc following fluid levels: bgkc, automatic transmission, power steering, windshield washer, and cool- ant. Make sug each reservoir is full and if you see any sign of fluid leakage, take your vehicle in to be serviced. Lights -- Headlights, brake lights, mm signals, emergency flashers, interior lights, and wailer lights Sec and bc seen! Ensure all thc lights on your vehicle are in working order. Check your headlights, brake lights, tarn signals, emergency flashers, and interior lights. Towing a trailer? Be sure to check your wailer lights too. Failure of trailer light connections is a common problem and a serious safety hazard. Air Conditioning -- Sensitive to heat? Check AC perform- ance before traveling. If you'g traveling with someone sensitive to heat, you may also want to ensure that your air conditioning system is functioning properly. Lack of air condition/ag on a hot summer day can adversely affect people who are in poor health or are sensitive to heat, snch as children and sen/ors. If the air is not blowing cold, it's a good idea to have the system repaired before you go, especially since emergency, on-the-road repairs can be more costly than those you plan in advance. Summer Safety Alert! Remember: Never leave children unattended in parked vehicles-- especially during warmer weather. Even on a rela- tively cool summer day and with windows partially cracked open, temperatures inside a vehicle can soar, rapidly causing occupants to suffer from heat illness or even die from haatstroke. 2. What to Take Some take-along items make your trip~ more pleasant, such as favorite CDs to listen to or snacks to tide you over until the next rest stop. Others items help keep you and your passengers safer. While you don't want to ever overload your vehicle, you will want to make room for basic safety equipment. Child Safety Seats If you'll be traveling with children, you'll need to make room in your back seat for appropriate child safety and/or booster seats. NI-1TSA guidelines for proper child safety and booster seat use can be found at www. boosterseat, gov under "W~hich seat is right for my child?" Emergency Roadside Kit Even a well-maintained vehicle can break down, so it's advis- able to put together an Emergency Roadside Kit to carry with you. A cell phone tops the list of suggested emergency kit con- tents since it allows you to call for help when and where you need it. Suggested Emergency Roadside Kit contents include: · Cell phone · First-aid kit · Flashlight · Flares and a white flag · Jumper cables · Jack (and ground mat) for changing a tire * Work gloves and a change of clothes · Basic repair tools and some duct tape (for temporarily repairing a hose leak!) · A jug of water and paper towels for cleaning up · Nonperishable food, drinking water, and medicines · Extra windshield washer fluid u Maps 3. On the Road Getting there is half the fun of a road thp vacation, h's also half the hassle. Plenty of distractions both inside and outside your vehicle can take your attention from the road. Cranky fellow travelers, traffic congestion, road construction and detours, ring- ing cell phones, unfamiliar roads, and loud music are just a few you might encounter. While you can expect some distractions, you can also counter them with safe driving techniques to help you keep your focus. Tips for Staying Focused The best way to stay focused while driving is to avoid fatigue. So schedule your trip to allow for frequent breaks. Stopping for food or beverages, taking time to pull over at a rest stop just to stretch your legs, staying overnight et a motel or local bed and breakfast, and sharing the driving are all good strategies for avoiding fatigue and staying alert behind the wheel. Traveling with Children Remember that long hips can be especially tough on children. Stopping along the way makes the hip easier and less tiring for them as well -- and more of an adventure too[ Also, bring along a few favorite books or soft toys to keep the little ones content and occupied. The hip will seem to go faster for them, perhaps lessen the number of times they ask, "Are we there yet?"; and better enable you to keep your attention on driving. Buckle Up America. Every Trip. Every Time. Along with staying focused, make sure everyone in your vehicle is buckled up properly at all times. In fact, buckling up is the single most effective thing you can do to keep yourself and your passengers safe while on tho road. The above information is from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Web site at ww~v. nhtsa.dot, gov. And Don't Forget Your Pet Pals · When riding in a vehicle, pets should be behind a pet barrier, confined to a crate or carrier, or coo- strained in a "pet seat belt." Crates and carriers should be well-ventilated and large enough for the animal to stand, sit, lie down, and turn around. · Never leave a pet alone in a parked vehicle. On a hot day, even with the windows open, temperatures can quieldy reach dangerous levels. · Remember, a leash is mandatory at highway rest stops. · For more tips on traveling with your pet, go to http:// www. hsus. org/pets/pet_care/caring_for_pets_when_),ou_ travel/traveling_by_car, httnl. Glacier Park Shuttle Buses Offer Visitors Convenience and Comfort Starting July 2007, visitors to Glacier Nafinnal Park can take advantage of the park's new passenger shuttle bus system. R/des arc free and transit stops will be dearly marked along the Going-to-tha-Sun Road. The shuffle system allows visitors to avoid the traffic and parking problems associated with rehabilitation of the Going-tm the-Sun Road and offers park visitors an alternative to driving. MDT, Flathead County, and Glacier National Park arc coop- crating in the effort to provide shuttle services in the park during peak tourist season. The remalulng months of year, the buses will be used for public transportation in other Montana commu- ix/ties. For more information on Glacier National Park's new shuttle system, visit the Glacier National Park Web site at www. nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/shuttles, htm or call visitor in- formation at 888-7800. The TDD number is 888-7806. MDT Announces Safe Routes to School Funding Awards MDT Director Jim Lynch has announced the first grant awards for IvlDT's new Safe Routes to School Pro- gram. The program funds initiatives to im- prove student safety within two miles of K-8 ;~ schools., ~[ "We re excited to have the opportunity to ~ support Montana communities in this way," Lynch said in announcing thc awards. "This program and these community-based projects will help us save lives and protect children who walk and bike to school." This year, the program will fund 22 pmjacts in 17 Montana communities for a total cost of nearly $840,000. Projects in- elude education and enforcement initiatives and signing and sidewalk improvements. MDT developed the Safe Routes to School Program in response to 2005 federal legislation that, for the first time, provided dedicated federal funding for state-level Safe Routes to School Programs. Safe Routes Guidebook Available in Early July MDT's Safe Routes to School Guidebook will be available in early July. The guidebook is designed to provide technical as- sistance for Montana schools and communities interested in es- tablishing a Safe Routes to School Program. Highlights include reasons schools should start safe routes programs, specific ex- amples of activities, and guidelines on how to implement and evaluate programs. A copy of thc guidebook will bc available on thc Interact at http://www, mdt. rnt. gov/pubinvolve/saferoute, s. For more information on thc Safe Routes to School Program or to order a hard copy of thc guidebook, contact coordinator Virginia Summcy at 449-8611 or 877-935-7233. Final STIP Distributed in June The final version of the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) was distributed tha second week of June. Thc STIP is a list of most major transportation projects planned for Montana for the next three federal fiscal years. In April, IvlDT published a draft version of the STIP in the Newsline and requested public comments. Those comments have been incorporated into the final STIP. You can review this document at your local library or on the lnternet at www. mdt. mt. gov. If you would like a hard copy, con- tact MDT Project Analysis Manager Gary Larsun at one oftha following numbers or addresses: Phone .......... 444-6110 Fax ................... 444-7671 TTY ............ 444-7696 Toll-free .......... 800-714-7296 E-mail ......... glarson(~m~gov Gary Larson MDT Rail, Transit & Planning P.O. Box 201001 Helena, MT 59620-1001 Introducing... Terry Voeller Terry comes to MDT/CTEP from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, where he worked for several years in thc Floodplain Management Section of thc Water Resources Division. Some of you who have been involved in floodplain permitting may already know Terry. As you can sec, he believes in "Safety First"! Terry lives in Helena, has a 9-year-old son named Clayton, and enjoys camping, hiking, and golf. Terry has lots of experience working with local govern- ments, and hc is a great addition to CTEP. You can reach Terry at 444-9457 or tvoeller~mt, gov. Other CTEP News: For the past year, CTEP been in the process of dcsigrring, test- ing, and implementing a new database management system. The system is now up and nmning, thanks to the CTEP statT and da- tabase builder, Andy Metroka from Xybcrnaut Solutions, LLC. Thc new system, which went "live" May 25, gives CTEP the ability to manage projects and quickly gather accurate data. With this system, CTEP has taken a huge step forward in using current technology to keep CTEP projects on track. Thc new CTEP manual is on-schedule with a projected ready date of August 2007. Each chapter has been carefully edited to create an irrformativc, user-friendly manual. 6 More History by the Highway The Laurel Roadside Museum by Jon ,4xlin¢, MDT Historian Despite thc crippling effects of the Great Depression, Amer- __ ica was a cotmtry on the move intha 1930s. Thousands of Americans took to thc roads to inspect the country's scenic won- ders and to take advantage of its mcreatiunal opportunities. Montana and the Montana Highway Department were more than willing to accommodate them. The responsibility for promoting tourism in the Treasure State fell to the highway department and its Plans Engineer Bob Fletcher. Beginning in 1934 with the first "official" highway map, Fletcher, with thc blessing of the State Highway Commission, devcleped an ambitious program to draw tourists to the state and keep them here as long as possible by promoting Montana's natural resources and colorful history. To that end, Fletcher oversaw the creation of the highway historical markcm in 1935, roadside picnic areas, information can- tern, thc ports-of-unity stations, thc ac- quisition of Pictogreph Cave outside of Billings, and thc establishment of a roadside museum program in 1938. Fletcher planned thc roadside muse- The former Laurel roadside museum now houses the local urns as joint efforts between the high- Chamber of Cornmerce. way department and local chambers of commemc. Hc envisioned a chain of rnadsidc musanms across the state, each dcvntcd to a single subject, such as geology, pale- ontology, wildlife, history, and Indian culture. Each museum would include dioramas, specimens, models, photographs, and maps. An "alert, well-informed attendant" would be in charge nf each museum to provide tourists with information about its displays and other local attractions. Fletcher contacted cham- bers of commeme in cities along U.S. Highways 10 and 91, eventually interesting several communities in the plan. The highway dcpanmant developed thc architectural design for the museums and would build them, but it was up to local organiza- tions to staffand maintain them. In March 1938, thc Laurel Outlook announced that thc Men- tuna Highway Departmant would build a museum in Northern Pacific Park at the junction of U.S. Highways 10 and 310 in Laurel. Thc design accompanying the article showed a rustic log building with a cobblestone-veneered foundation that was similar in design to the highway department's information cen- ters and ports-of-entry stations. The two-room building would also house the city's police department. The Laurel Commercial Club hired Max Big Man, a Crow Indian from the Hardin area, to curate thc museum and provide lectures on Indian life to tour- ists. He and his family lived in two tepees set up ia thc park near thc museum. A black bear named Susie lived in a cage on the museum grounds between thc two tepees. Bob Fletcher built thc cxh/bit cases in thc museum and provided most of the arti- facts shown in them. Indeed, he acquired thc stona tools exhib- ited at thc Laurel museum from Pictograph Cave amhaeological site outside of Billings. The department's graphic artist, Ervin "Short/' Shope, created the dioramas, including one depicting the arrival of man inthe region. Other exhibits included fossils, dinosaur bones, and a large mounted bison head loaned by local businessmen~ By all accounts, the museum was a popular tourist attractiun for motorists on their way to and from Yellowstone National Park over the newly opened Beartooth Highway. Laurel Com- mercial Club member J. F. MacDonald boasted that much of the museum's popularity was based on word of mouth. He estimated that during the summers, up to 100 people a day visited the museum in Laurel-- some, in fact, stopping twice to take in the informative exhibits and listen to Big Man's popular lectures. For four years, the museum opened its doors to visitors every Memorial Day and closed down for the season on Labor Day weekend. Pearl Harbor changed everything. The federal government withdrew most of its funding to state highway departments to pay for the war. For thc first time since 1933, the Montana Highway Department lost employees as they left to join the military or to take jobs in the war indus- tries on thc West Coast. The state's highway program nearly ceased to exist as funds could only be spent on strategically im- portant highways with the authorization of thc War Department. When the Laurel museum closed down in September 1941, it never reopened as a tourist attraction. By 1945, the Laurel Po- lice Department was the sole occupant of the entire building. What happened to the dioramas, models, and artifacts that deco- rated thc museum remains a mystery. Despite the apparent success of thc Laurel museum, the idea did not catch on in thc other cities that expressed interest in thc program. The Highway Commission built a museum at Picto- graph Cave outside of Billings in 1938, but vandalism and fire caused it to close down by 1945. When thc Billings Comm~cial Club wanted to open a museum across U.S. Highway 87 from thc Yellowstone County Fairgrounds in Billings in 1939, thc highway commission donated the land but was not involved with thc design, construction, or operation oftha museum. The Laurel museum was thc crown jcwal oftha highway department's tourism programs duting thc Great Depression. Although ultimately a failure, the museum inspired thc construc- tion of other roadside attractions by private individuals during thc 1950s and 1960s, many of which are still located next to Montana's highways. The Laurel museum still exists and is located in Fireman's Park in Laurel. Thc building is currently occupied by thc Laurel Chamber of Commerce and was recently rehabilitated with funding provided through MDT's Community Transportation Enhancement Program. Newsline is a quarterly publication of the Rail, Transit and Planning Division, Montana Department of Transportation. MDT attempts to provide accommodations for a~iy known disability that may interfere with a pemon participating in any service, program, or activ- ity of the Depar[ment. Alternative accessible formats of this information will be provided upon request. For further information call (4067.~.~.-3423, ~ (800)335-7592, or the Montana Relay at 711. 6,382 copies of this public document were published at an estimated cost of $0.413 per copy for a total of $2,638 which includes $686 for printing and $I,952 for distribution. MDT's mission is to serve the public by providing a transportation system and services that emphasize quality, safety, cost effectiveness, economic vitality and sensitivity to the environment. Rail, Transit & Planning Division Montana Department of Transportation 2701 Prospect Avenue P.O. Box 201001 Helena, Montana 59620-1001 800-714-7296 Pre Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Helena, MT Permit No. 141 HONORABLE KEN OLSON JR MAYOR OF LAUREL CITY OF LAUREL PO BOX 10 LAUREL MT 59044-0010