Build an overpass at Will James School on Grand Ave

183

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The Issue

Every day, hundreds of students and their families face a risky journey to Will James School on Grand Avenue in Billings, Montana. The bustling traffic poses a significant threat to the safety of our children, who deserve a secure route to their learning environment. Tragically, we have already lost a young life on this stretch of road—a loss that could have been prevented with better infrastructure.

The safety of our community’s children cannot be compromised. Will James School sees significant foot traffic from students, many of whom have to navigate across Grand Avenue, a busy thoroughfare with heavy traffic and sometimes distracted drivers. Without a dedicated place to safely cross, the danger to students is ever-present, and every day without action is another day of potential tragedy.

The installation of an overpass at this critical point would provide a safe, elevated pedestrian walkway, eliminating the risk of accidents at street level. Overpasses have been proven to reduce pedestrian accidents significantly; according to the Federal Highway Administration, properly placed overpasses can diminish pedestrian injuries by up to 90 percent.

Additionally, this improvement isn't just about preventing tragic accidents. It's also about fostering a safer, community-friendly environment that encourages walking and biking. Such infrastructure has long-term health benefits, reduces traffic congestion, and contributes to lower carbon emissions, making our community greener and more livable.

Constructing an overpass requires support from local government officials and funds dedication. We need the City of Billings and Yellowstone County to prioritize our children's safety and commit resources to this life-saving project. Collaboration with urban planners and community stakeholders is crucial to getting this done right.

We can't afford to wait for another accident to spur action. By signing this petition, you are urging local authorities to take immediate steps toward building an overpass at Will James School on Grand Avenue. Let’s prevent another senseless tragedy before it happens and show our kids we value their safety above all else.

Sign this petition to make our community safer for all children.

avatar of the starter
Tricia SmithPetition Starter
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

Billings City Council
10 Members
1 Responded
Mark Nicholson
Mark Nicholson
Billings City Council - Ward 1
“Dear Concerned Citizens: As is every individual who signed these petitions to put a pedestrian bridge over Grand Avenue, I am saddened and, frankly, outraged that 12-year-old boy has been killed riding his bicycle to school. I was similarly saddened and outraged that another Billings resident—a single mom—was killed on Riverside Road (which is a county, not city, road) while walking home one evening last June. A mom should not have to worry whether her 12-year-old son will make it to school alive and a 12-year-old daughter should not have to worry whether her mom will make it home alive. I am not going to say no to a pedestrian bridge over Grand Avenue. It is a multi-lane state route that is wider than I-90 is as it passes through Billings. It is no wonder that drivers routinely exceed the 35-mph speed limit there. I will say, however, that building a pedestrian bridge over Grand Avenue would be a very heavy lift from a political standpoint. It could cost as much as $5 million which would seriously detract from what we need to do for other schools. It would take far more political pressure than signing a petition. The City of Billings has already been perusing a Safe Routes to School program that is expected to build $30 million worth of improvements including crosswalks, sidewalks, bicycle lanes, crossing signals serving all of our schools. We are in the early years of this important program; it can be expected to take seven to ten years as money and engineering time become available to complete it. Yeah, I agree with what you are probably thinking, not soon enough. Council Member Andrew Lindley has introduced an initiative that will address school traffic zones. It calls for addressing the situation at and around Will James Middle School immediately and other schools subsequent to that. I fully support this initiative. You may be shocked to learn, as I was, that the current City of Billings School Zone Traffic Control Policy, adopted in 2001, perpetuates the 1989 policy that "eliminated all reduced speed zones at junior high and high schools..." The policy also contains language like "Because traffic signals can represent an inconvenience to motor vehicles..." and "Children must be taught that they alone are responsible for their safety..." Yeah, seriously. I am one hundred percent for teaching kids how to be safe on our streets but this policy clearly prioritizes traffic flow over safety and gives the impression of exonerating drivers from any responsibility for the safety of children. It is my opinion that this policy is seriously defective and needs to be changed. City staff have been asked to revise it. The City of Billings has adopted the Vision Zero policy which is intended to work toward eliminating fatalities on our streets. I have brought this to the attention of the city council and city staff. The City of Billings needs to take this seriously. The City of Billings also has a Complete Streets policy which is intended to encourage making our streets safe for anyone who uses them, whether driving a motor vehicle, walking on foot, riding a bike or rolling a wheelchair. A council member has suggested eliminating the Complete Streets policy and others have supported that. I hope they will lose interest in doing that. I contend that if we were serious about the Complete Streets policy, we would already have safe routes to school. In 2025, eleven people died in cars or on motorcycles on Billings streets. This, too, is not acceptable, at least to this city council member. Finally, we all make mistakes. I would like our streets be designed so that it is hard to make a mistake and when someone inevitably does make a mistake, no one gets seriously injured and no one dies. In the meantime, please pay attention to the speed limits, stop when the light turns yellow and,and put away the cell phone before you start the car. Respectfully, Mark Nicholson MD Council Member Ward 1, the Beating Heart of Billings”
Tony O'Donnell
Tony O'Donnell
Billings City Council - Ward 5
Andrew Lindley
Andrew Lindley
Billings City Council - Ward 4
Kevin Iffland
Kevin Iffland
City Manager
Responded
“Thank you for reaching out and for sharing the petition. The City is currently reviewing this issue as part of a broader discussion regarding school zone safety, aggressive driving, pedestrian safety, and Safe Streets initiatives throughout Billings. That work is being discussed at the committee level and includes participation from City Council members and City staff. The Will James School area and the Grand Avenue crossing are part of that review. Staff is evaluating existing conditions, potential safety improvements, jurisdictional considerations, and possible short- and long-term options. We appreciate the community’s input, and the comments and concerns expressed through the petition as this work moves forward. Kevin Iffland Interim City Administrator [Note: The Change.org Civic Engagement Team reaches out to decision makers to let them know about petitions in their community and to help facilitate engagement with supporters. The above was an email response we received regarding this petition.]”
Mike Nelson
Mike Nelson
Billings City Mayor

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Petition created on September 25, 2026