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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMDT Newsline December 2007Special Operation PromOtes Safety In 2006, a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration study found · that crashes involvin~ large trucks ac- counted for 12 percent of all fatal crashes. The study also found that ac- tions or inactions by both large truck and automobile drivers wore responsible for 88 percent of the critical reasons for the crashes. In multi-vehicle crashes be- twcan large tracks and cars, the car driver was assigned the critical reason for the crash 56 percent of the time. In an effort to improve the behavior and performance of buth commercial and non-commercial drivers, safety inspec- tors and enforcement officers from MDT's Motor Carrier Services Division and Montana Highway Patrol (MI-IP) officers participated in Operation Safe Driver for two days in October. During the operation, the team con- tacted 79 commercial and non- commercial drivers resulting in 26 cita- tana, motorists are encouraged to check the MDT Road Report before they travel By simply dialing 511 or going online to www. mdt511.com, motorists can [earn about road conditions for a region or a specific route. MDT's road report covers much of the 24,500 lane miles MDT maintains, relaying timely information on travel advisories, driving conditions, weather forecasts, road constxuction, road clo- sures, and major delays. Winter travel information is updated every 30 minutes or as major changes occur. Real-time roadway and pass condi- tions are also available on the 511 Web site from MDT's 27 Web cameras. though the primary purpose of the cam- eras is to aid maintenance crews, IvlDT also makes them available to the public tions and 35 warnings for traffic viola- tions plus 11 seat-belt citations. Com- mercial vehicle inspections yielded 41 citations and 17 out-of-service citations.* In addition, the team handed out 175 educational pamphlets. The contacts made during this opera- tion are expected to influence the behav- ior and actions of many different drivers on Montana's highways. Most of the commercial vehicle drivers expressed their appreciation for Operation Safe Driver and the fact that IVIDT and MI-IP targeted noncommercial as well as com- mercial drivers. This truck was ordered out of servioe because of the tiro problems seen above. £t was not allowed to leave until the tire was replaced. *Out-of-service orders are i~sued when a commercial vehiole fails to meet minimum safety requirements, for example, inoperable brakes or flat or worn ares. Drivers can also b~ cited for violations such as not having the correct endorsement on their driver's license or driving longer than allowed by law. The out-of-service vehicle may not operate until the issues have been addressed. This pioture shows that the bolts holding the fifth wheel to the truck.frame are loose. The truck was declared out of service until the bolts were tightened. for viewing road conditions. Dm-ing * Drive an appropriate speed for condi- often the most visited pages on MDT's Web site. Motorists should be mindful that con- ditions can change quickly from the time they aecass the road information to the time they make the trip. Motorists are also encouraged to follow these impor- tant winter driving tip.s: · Conduct a pre-trig vehicle inspection to ensure the vehicle is operating properly. Fluid levels, wipers, belts, hoses, headlights, brake lighls, and tires should all be in good condition. · Keep the vehiale's windows, mirrors, and lights clear of snow and ice. · Drive with headlights on. · Do not use cruise control on wet, icy, tions. Driving too fast for conditions is often a contributing factor in crashes. * Be aware ofpoteutially icy areas saeh as shady spots and bridges. · When approaching a snowplow from the rear, reduce speed immediately. Snowplows must operate at slower speeds to properly plow and sand. Be patient and don't crowd the pIow. The plow operators knOW the road well and will pull over as soon as there is a spot for vehicles to safely pass. When approaching aa oncom- ing plow, don't crowd the center line. For more information on winter driv- ing and winter survival tips, go to http:// www. radt. mt. gov/publication*/docs/broch ures/winter_maint/winter_survival, pdf . Winter Calls on Montana Pictured from left at the official opening of the South Helena [nt~r- change on Novemf~er 20 are Kevin McLaurey of the Federal Highway ~4dministratian, J~rfersan CounO~ Commissioner Tom L ythgoe, Robert Peccia representing Padbury Ranch and Nob Hill Development, Senator Max Baucus, Governor Brian Schweitzer, Jag the dog, MDT Project Manager Jack Carlson, MDT Director Jim Lynch, Mayor Jim Smith, and Lewis and Clark County Commissioner Ed Tinstey. South Helena Interchange Officially Opens The new South Helena Interchange was officially opened November 20. It is the first step in meetiag the improve- ments recommended by the Interstate 15 Corridor Final Envi- ronmental Impact Statement and Record of Dec,ion and ap- proved by the Federal Highway Administration in January 2004. The projoct is a hallmark example of how cooperative ef- forts between state, local, and private entities can r~sult in accel- erated project design and delivery. A $I0 million congressional earmark secured by Senator Baueus for the 1-15 corridor was vital in completing the funding for this project. The new interchange will provide improved access to He- lena's Medical Park area and the redesigned antrancc to St. Pe- ters Hospital. Additionally, thc new interchange will provide relief to thc congestion at the existing Capitol Interchange. Roving Unit to Patrol High.Crash Corridors tartiag in early January, the Montana Highway Patrol (MI-IP) will activate a six-person r0Vi~g unit to patrOl high- crash corridor areas. The unit, which includes'one MI-IP Sergeant and fix;e trooP- ers, is funded by a two-year gram from MDT. The grant, for slightly less than $1 million, covers salaries per diem, and lodg- ing for the officers. The goal of the roving patrol is to reduce the number and severity of crashes in ~eas that MDT and the MHP have desig- nated as high-crash corridors. High-crash corridors have a his- tory of high fatality rates and crashes involving higher than av- erage impaired driving, non-seatbelt usage, and speed viola- tions. The designation is subject to change as MDT updates its data. The table below lists current high-crash corridors. Roving patrols can be deployed to any one of these areas at any given time with the objective of stopping crashes before they happen. Occasionally, a major event may take place in an area that is not in a high-crash corridor; in which ease, the row lng petrol can be scheduled into that area for the duration of the event. Examples include the Bucking Home Sale in Miles City and SaLnt Patrick's Day in Butte. This is proactive traffic enforcement- a few more troopers on the road at the fight times sad in the right areas can make a difference. The unit's first assignment will be in the Kalispell area. FFY 2007 MD1 'MHP-identified High-Crash Corridors Highway 93 Hamilton - Miasoula -Whitefish 50-90; 0-125 I Secondary Hwy 269 Harnilton-Stevensville 0-20 Secondary Hwy 203 Stevensville- Florence O- 12 Highway 2 KaiispelI-West Glacier 121-153 Interstate 90 9-Mile Interchange-Clinton 82.6-120 Interstate 90 Manhat~an-Bozeman Pass/Hill 289-32~. Highway 191 Big Sky-Four Comers 48-82 Highway 85 Four Corners-Belgrade 0-6.6 Interstate 90 Laurel-Pinehill Interchange 434-457 Highway 219 Rockvale-Laurel 42-54 Interstate 90 I West of Sure-Whitehall 229-249 Interstate 15 8uxten Intershange-Woodville 116-134 Interstate 15 Boulder'-Lincoln Rd 165-200 Helena -Secondary Hwy 284 0-9.2 Secondary Hwy 430 Intersection Secondary Hwy 231 Custer Ave- Lincoln Road 0 -6 Highway 78 Red Lodge-Absarokee 0-37 Blackfeet Nation Dedicates Medicine Wheel Ahiltside in Browning is the site ora community outreac'h project to reduce crash deaths and injuries on the Blackfeet Reservation..MDT is partnering with Blackfeet Community College to construct a Medicine Wheel that will serve as a eom- munity focus for teaching, healing, and behavior change. "The Indian people are very good at grieving," one mother said. "We come together in our grief. But we need to come together for something that stops this grief." The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council approved the project in April. On July 12, 2007, the site for a fifty-foot diameter rock circle was dedicated. MDT Director Jim Lynch spoke at the dedication~ "We will do all we can to help you," he told the people gathered for the ceremony. Blackfeet Community College donated the land and has pro- vided plans for eonetructinn and improvements at the location. The Medicine Wheel will be a project for the entire Browning community inehiding student volunteers. The rock circle will be on the side of the hill, so it is visible to the community and travelers on the highway. Fundraising for the project is now underway. The term "Medicine Wheel" also refers to a spiritual symbol known as the Sacred Hoop or the Circle of Life. The lessons from the Medicine Wheel will support the MDT Native Ameri- can impaired driving campaign theme, "Sober Behind the Wheel." This theme is currently in use on three reservations in Montana. Three years ago, IvlDT began funding a pilot program for Native American Traffic Safety on the Blackfeet, Fort Belknap, and Fort Peek Reservations. In 2006, the program was given the name Safe On All Roads, or SOAR. The program strategy is based on partnerships with lneal organizations and a local resident who coordinates the program activities. The Blackfeet coordinator, Cheryl Little Dog, an East Gla- cier resident, has developed a community network of families who have lost loved ones in alcohol-related crashes. These families have shown that they are looking for a wa~ to remem- ber, recover, and prevent needless deaths. The Medicine Wheel, a rock circle JO-feet in diameter, is part of a community effort to reduce deaths and injuries from traffic crashes. MDT Director Jirn Lynch speaks at the dedication ceremony on July 12. MDT is partnering with Blackfeet Community College to construct the Medicine Wheel. MDT Is Looking for Research Ideas In support of its mission to serve the public by providing a safe, cost-effective transportation system, MDT sponsors a variety ofreseamh efforts. The goal of this research is to evalu- ate and advance new technologies, materials, and methods; de- velop design and analysis techniques; and study current trans- portation challenges. The MDT Research Section is always on the lookout for new research ideas. Topics can be submitted at any time and by anyone; however, they are only considered unee a year and are due by December 31. At its February meeting, the MDT Research Review Com- mittee decides which topics it will Send to technical panels. The technical panels then determine ifa research need exists and the most effective and efficient manner in which to cnndnet the re- search. All research ideas must have a champion and a sponsor before the Research Review Committee will consider them. A champion can be any MDT staffmember who is willing to chair the technical panel and shepherd the project from inception to implementation. A sponsor is an IVIDT division administrator who is willing to take the responsibility for implementing the research resuks. For ird'ormatinn on past and current research projects, go to http://www, mdt. mt. gov/research/projects/sub_listing, shtml. Further information and problem statement forms are avail- able at http://www, mdt. mt. gov/research/unique/soticit, shtml, or contact Sue Sillick at 444-7693, or ssiltick~mt, gov. Gallatin Gateway schoolchildren gather on October 3 to promote healthy lifestyles by walking and bicycling to school (Photo pro- vided by Galla~n Gateway Elementary School.) 34 Montana Schools Join Walk to School Day Activities Wednesday, October 3, was International Walk to School Day. Nationally, children from 2,730 schools represent- ing all 50 states participated in activities designed to encourage children to walk and bicycle to school. In Montana, 34 schools registered their Walk to School Day activities on the Interna- tional Walk to School Web site, www. walktoschool, org. The Montana schools took part in a variety of Walk to School Day activities that included "walking school buses," "bike trains," and ~nco~porating walking into the reading cur- ricuinr~ Some schools gave prizes and incentives for partici- pants including a healthy breakfast or treats. In Helena, Gover- nor Brian Schweitzer walked with children from Breadwater Elementary School. Thc Montana Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program pro- vided stickers, reflectors, pencils, and Safe Routes to School information to registered schools. To promote this year's Walk to School Day, SRTS parmered with the Children's Health In- surance Program to distribute over 33,000 postcards promoting Walk to School Day to children and parents from 107 schools The goals of Walk to School Day are to create safer routes for walking and bicycling and to emphai~ze the importance of physical activity for children, pedestrian safety, reducing traffic congestion, concern for the environment, and building connec- tions between families, schools, and the community. It was established in the United Stat~s in 1997 by the Partnership for a Walkable America. Transit Funding Applications Due: Applications for Transit funding are due February 1, 2008. The FY 2009 coordination plan and application booklet and the guidance booklet are available online at http:/A~ww, rndt. mt. gov/ business/grants, shtrnl. If you have any questions, please contact your regional planner: Southern Region...... Tom Stober ............ 444-9216 Northern Region ...... Steven Potuzak ...... 444-4265 Western Region ....... David Jacobs ..........444-9192 TransR Section Hosts Fall Training Workshop: The MDT Transit Section hosted its annual Fall Training Work- shop in the MDT Auditorium on November 8 and 9. The train- ing covered a variety of topics Including customer service, Fed- eral Transit Admiuistration (FTA) requirements, complianea reviews, applying for funds, and maintenance records. Nearly 50 participants from over 30 agencies serving the general public and the elderly and disabled attended, and nearly 20 participants joined in from remote sites in Glendive, Havre, and Missoala. Nationally known transit consultant Peter Schauer led dis- cussions on how people think and relate to their environment and how transit providers can determine if their organization is customer driven. The ever-changing realm of federal requirements was also presented in detail with discussio~ on.~ f~ll range of FTA and civil rights requirements. Participants were also presented with information that will aid them in periodic compliance re- views. CTEP Completes 2007 Workshops: CTEP recently completed its 2007 workshops in Sidney and Miles City. CTEP was thc main topic, but participants also learned about MDT's Safe Routes to School Program. The tentative locations for the 2008 workshops tour are the Hi-Line and Billings areas. CTEP staff is always willing and available to take individual sessions to any local government that would like more information. CTEP Manuals Distributed: The new CTEP manuals were distributed in early October. This year, a CD in PDF format was included with the files. The manual and CTEP forms are on the Web at http://www, mdt. mt. gov/business/ctep/. For information on the 2008 workshops or a hard copy of the CTEP manual, please contact Joan Scott at n.~.~. 1283 or joscott~mt, gov. 4 Billings Students Study Archaeology at MDT Dig Archaeologist Steve .4aberg discusses excavation procedure with Alkali Creek Elementary students at the Swords Park-Alkali Creek site near Billings. An Alkali Creek Elementary student prepares to throw the attatl, an ancient tool that enables a spear toffy with greater velocity than if it was thrown by arm power alone. Anytime MDT cmphiyccs have an opportunity to share their interesting projects with schools and communities, they do so. That was thc case in Billings this fall when MDT archaeolo- gist Steve Platt put on archaeological education programs for Alkali Creek Elementary and Bench Elementary Schools in Bill- ings. S~udents ~om both schools gained first-hand archaeology experience and learned about the former inhabitams of their neighborhood as they explored an MDT archaeological excava- tion in Billings. Students first learned about archaeology in the classroom and then traveled t6 the excavation site. Platt demon- strated ~nt knapping, a process of carving stone into tools, then the children walked through the site to discover clues to the past. MSU's Project Archaeology, a national program to encour- age archaeological and heritage education, assisted with the project. Coordinator Crystal Alegria worked with the schools to formulate learning objectives and plan act/vities for the stu- dents. MDT undertook the archaeological excavation of the Swords Park-Alkali Creek site to gather significant data prior to construction of the ALrport Rnad project as reqnired by the fional Historic Preservation Act. As a practice, MDT strives to avoid impacting significant cultural rasou~ces, but in the case of th~s intersection, impacts cannot be avoided. Data obtained prior to constmctiun will be compiled in a publicly available report, and att/facts will be curated in Helena or Billings. The site was identified in 2005. Small-scale test excavations showed the site to contain significant scientific information about Montana's prehistory. The archaeological data consists of fragments of bison, deer, and antelope bone, stone tools, and campfires used by the site's pre-contact inhabitants. It is likely that the Swords Park-Alkali Creek site is associ- ated with the nearby BLUings Bison Trap located near Metra Park and that the people who trapped bison there used the Swords Park-Alkali Creek site as their base camp. MDT hopes that providing students with hands-on experi- ence in amhaenlogy will spark a life long interest in science, history, and archaeology. Pictograph Caves continued from page 7 sibility of the State Parks Commission in 1949 (the commission was par~ of thc highway commission). The city turned the site over to the Montana Department offish, Wildlife and Parks in 1969, which now manages it as Pictograph Cave State Park. MDT's f~rst foray into cultural resource management be- tween 1937 and 1949 was as an administrator concerned about the tourism potential nfthe site and the scientific value of the artifacts recovered from thc caves. Other than thc museum, however, its promotion as a tourist attraction was minimal. There was no mention of the site in the promotional literature distributed by thc department in thc late 1930s and early 1940s. Thc 1938 publicatiunPicture Writing refers in passing to Picto- graph Caves, but there is no real mention of the site in the pam- phlet. Eventually, thc site's educational potential was down- played by the highway commission and, instead, it concentrated on the ownership of the artifacts. Evidence in Bob Fleteher's correspondence regarding the eaves indicates that much of his and Lee Ford's interest in the artifacts was because of their pur- suit of relics for their own collections. Despite the controversy over the disposition of the artifacts taken from the cave, MDT played an important role in the de- velopment of archaeohigy in ~he state during thc Great Depres- sion. A/though developed as a tourist attraction, the department was clearly interested in the scientific value of the artifacts. Some 70 years later, MDT continues to be an important advo- cate of many nfthe state's outstanding and significant archaeo- logical sites, including one north of Hetmville in Powall County, a buffalo kill and processing site on Alkali Creek in Billings, and the second Crow Agency site south of Absarokee in Stillwater County. 5 Pavement Preservation Works for Montana Montana's transportation system/s an asset worth preserv- ing. Toward that end, MDT has adopt~d a pavement preservation policy that allows it to extend the useful life of pavements in a cost-effective manner. Paveracnt preservation includes cradk/'filing, ch/p seals, and thin pavement overlays. MDT's pavement preservation efforts are an important ele- ment of an overall asset-management process called the Perform- anco Programming Pwcess, or P~. Through pS, MDT ensures that Montana's road systems rnaet or exceed performance goals for bridge health, traffic congestion, and pavement condition. MDT's previous policy was to fix roads on a "worst-first" basis, or to fncns 6n the most seriously and obviously deter/o- rated roads first. This approach led to the gradual deterioration of the road system and the accumulation of overdae or post- poned road rehabilitation and reeonstmcfiom Roads in such bad condition were poor candidates for pavement preservation, and any repairs were short-term fixes that were not cost effective. The only option was rehabilitation or reconstruction, but building roads comes with high costs and driver inconvenience. In 1997, the Pavement Management Section prepared a model of the entire Interstate System to compare a "worst-~st" strategy against a pavement preservation strategy. The result was dramatic. The study showed that by applying the "right treat- merit to the right pavement," it was possible to get 28 to 30 years out ora pavement that was designed for 20 years. Using the worst-first policy, reads designed for 20 years were in rehabilita- tion in 16 to 18 years. The result of tiffs study was the beginning of dedicated funding for pavement preservation at MDT. MDT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) worked as a team to bring this cost-effective change to Mon- tana's transportation system. In 2001, criteria for preventative maintenance were defined in Guidelines for Nomination and Developments of Pavement Projects. The criteria ensured that safety, geometries, and environmental standards were not ig- nero& Once these criteria were met, FHWA allowed federal funds to be spent on pavement preservation. The Transportation Commission supported and approved the plan. Today, the evidence shows that pavement preservation works, and there are hard facts and data to reflect this: In 2000, 64 percent of our Interstates were classified in good condition. By 2007, 91 percent were classified in good condition. In those same years, the percentage of Interstates in fair condition dropped from 29 percent to 7 percent. Those in poor condition dropped from 7 percent to 2 percent. These trends eontinnc aeruss all state roadway systems, la the last few years, trends are starting to plateau, but this is because pavements are in near- optimal condition and because of budget constraints due to in- flation. The pavement preservation program has been a team effort within MDT. The Engineering, Maintenance, and Rail, Transit and Planning Divisions and MDT Dislxict offices are all in- volved in the process. MDT's success in meeting its performance goals servas as a model for others to follow. In fact, Montana has become a leader in pavement preservation. Mark Zitzka of FHWA de- scribes MDT's preservation system as being 'qight years ahead of other states' programs." Our pavement preservation system has been such a success that we are beginning to share our guidelines with other states. It is yet another way MDT is rais- ing the bar on highway qnality. Draft TranPlan 21 Amendment Ready for Review MDT is asking its customers, the citizens of Montana, to review and comment on the draft amendment to Tran- Plan 21, Montana's statowide mnltimodal transportation policy plan. The purpose of this limited amendment is to ensure the plan complies with the most recent changes in federal laws and regulations. These changes include the following: · Consideration o f transportation system security. · Additional ase of visuslization techniques in public in- volvement activities. · Integration of the Montana Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan. · Consistency with growth and economic development plans. · New consultation requirements. · Storewide plans/environmental mitigation activities. · Incorporatinn of capital, operations and management strate- gies, investments, procedures, and other measures. The draft amendment is available for review and comment through December 31, 2007. There are several ways to request or review a copy of the draft plan: · VisitMDT'sWebsiteathttp://www. mdt. m~.gov/ pubinvolve/ tranplan21_araend/. · Call toll free (800)714-7296. · Sendane-mailrcquasttorndt_tp21_2OOT~mt. gnv. · Visit your local library. For more information about TranPlan 21, please contact Carol Stfizich at 444-9240 or cstrizich~rat, gov. A Meritorious Undertaking: MDT and the Pictograph Caves by Jori dxline, MDT Historian For millions of water and wind years, three caves out of the face of sandstone rlrm'ocks about six miles southeast of Billings on Empty Gulch. The caves provided shel- ter to Native Americans beginmng about 4,500 years ago with picto- graphs on the walls of one cave .~: showing use of the site up until the late 19th century. Discovered by amateur archaeologists in Sune 1937, and known originally as the "Indian Caves," they became the subject of intensive archaeological investiga- tions beginning later that year by Montana School of Mines anthropol- ogy professor Me[ Sayre and a crew of professional and amateur archae- ologists. Given the evocative names of Pictograph, Middle, and Ghost, the three caves quickly became a local attraatiun drawing picnickers from Billings and the surrounding area. [t was not long before Sayre and the Billings Commercial Club began looking for ways to at,act visitors to them from all over the United States. In early September 1937, Sayre approached IvlDT Plans Engineer Bob Fletcher and Chief Engineer Don MeKinnnn about asking the Highway Commission to purchase the caves site and partially sponsor archaeological excavations there. Fletcher, who was always looking for new ways to draw tourists to the Treasure State, was well aware of the scientific importance of the In- dian Caves. Fletcher and MeKiunon presented Sayre's proposal to the highway commissioners at their Sep- tember meeting. Commission mem- bers Lee Ford, an avid cdlleetor of prehistoric artifacts, and John Wheeler of Billings supported the proposal. Fletcher and McKinnon believed that the site's prox- imity to newly completed U.S. Highway 87 might deflect criti- cism from what Fletcher termed a "nnt-too-prehistori¢-site- minded public." In his letter to the highway commission, Sayre proposed to "make this spot a roadside campsite and beautifica- tion and education project." The Commission eagerly accepted Sayre's proposal and purchased the 20-acre property in February 1938. Further, it stipulated that a building be constructed on-site to "display and exhibit the artifacts which are being excavated and the said arti- facts shall be kept there and not removed to some other plaea." MDT would not build the museum, but provided plans for it based on the design of its roadside museum in Laurel. Like the An early photo shows the Pictograph Cave site, located aboutsixmilessoutheastofBillings. Originallyknownas the .indian Caves, the site was discovered in June t 937. The caves quickly became a popular local attraction draw- ing picnickers from Billings and the surrounding area. This photo was probably takgn in 1939 or 1940, Laur61 museum, it hacluded dioramas, photographs, maps, and artifacts excavated from the site· The archaeological dig and the museum were true multi-agenc~ projects· The Works Progress Administration (WPA) spent $525 to : build the museum, while the Bill- .ings Commercial Club formed the Indian Caves Development Commit- tee (ICDC) to manage the site. The Eastern Montana Normal School (now MSU-Billings) provided stor- age and laboratory space and, along with MDT and WPA, co-sponsored the excavation work. MDT provided equipment for surveying the site along with a surveyor named Walter Vannaman, who participated in the excavation and occasionally pre- vided tours to visitors. The depart- mere also landscaped U.S. 87 in the vicinity of the caves and erected a roadside historical marker. The marker described the eaves as providing "air-conditioned housing for some of Montana's early families even before Pharaoh's daughter found Moses adrift on the Nile, as long ago as 2500 B.C." Between 1938 and 1941, an esti- mated 10,000 people visited the Indian Caves. Projects ot~en don't go as planned, and the excavation of the caves was no different. As the role of the high- way commission, ICDC, Eastern Montana Normal School, and WPA in the management of the site in- creased, the project's advocate, Mel Sayre, was increasingly iced out of the decision-making process. In re- taliation, he took the artifacts col- lected from the caves to Lewistown where he established a laboratory to process them. The removal was a breech of the original agreement be* tween the VffPA and thc highway commissioners, who insisted that the artifacts remain in Billings where they would be stored and exhibited at the on-site museum. For three years, the high- way commission and Sayre tilted over ownership of the artifacts. There is no evidence that the problem was ever resolved by th~ time the MDT-sponsored excavations at the caves ceased in 1941. The Montana Highway Department retained ownership of Pictograph Caves until 1963 when it turned them over to the city of Billings. Prior to that, however, and despite steady visi- tation numbers, the department had little to do with the manage- ment of the site. Vandals burned the museum to the ground in 1945, and the administration of the properv/became the respon- ·.. continued on page 5 Newsline is a quarterly publication of the Rail, Transit and Planning Division, Montana Department of Transportation. MDT attempts to provide accommodations for any known disability that may interferp with a person participating in any service, program, or activ- ity ofthe Department Aitemative accessible formats of this information will be provided upon request, For further information call (406)444-3423, ~ (800)335-7592, or the Montana Relay at 711. 6,378 copies of this public document were published at an estimated cost-of $0.41 per copy for a total of $2,636 which includes $685 for priming and $1,951 for distribution. MDT's mission istJ3 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 2703. Prospect Avenue P.O. Box 203.003. Helena, Montana 59620-:1003. 800-714-7296 Pre Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAII) Helena, MT Permit No. 141 HONORABLE KEN OLSON JR MAYOR OF LAUREL CITY OF LAUREL PO BOX 10 LAUREL MT 59044-0010