Tester Secures More Than $26 Million For Rural Infrastructure Projects Across Montana

Funding comes from federal grant program expanded by Senator’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

(Big Sandy, Mont.) — U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced more than $26 million in funding for infrastructure projects in rural communities across Montana. The funding will come from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) program, which Tester expanded as part of his bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Tester was the only member of Montana’s congressional delegation to support the bipartisan infrastructure law and was one of the lead bipartisan negotiators who crafted the package.

“Too many folks in Washington D.C. don’t understand the challenges rural Americans face and the critical role our roads and bridges play in keeping communities connected,” said Tester. “That’s why I worked with Republicans and Democrats to pass my bipartisan infrastructure law, so we can invest in Montana’s roads, bridges, high-speed internet, water systems, and more to help grow our economy and strengthen our rural communities. This funding will help small towns from Sunburst to Whitehall stay connected, and I’m proud to see these federal dollars going to projects that will serve the Treasure State.”

Tester has led the charge to secure funding for infrastructure projects that will increase connectivity across Montana’s rural communities. The STBG grant program specifically sets aside funding for infrastructure projects in communities with fewer than 50,000 residents, and more than $7.7 million of the funding Tester secured will go to projects in Montana towns with fewer than 5,000 people.

Tester worked across the aisle for months to negotiate the IIJA with a group of five Republicans, four Democrats, and the White House. Tester’s law is projected to create more than 800,000 American jobs and lower costs for businesses by making targeted investments that will strengthen our nation without raising taxes on working families.

Tester secured significant wins for Montana in the legislation, including $2.82 billion for Montana’s roads, highways, and bridges; $2.5 billion to complete all authorized Indian water rights settlements; $1 billion to complete all authorized rural water projects through the Bureau of Reclamation; $65 billion to deploy broadband to areas across the country that lack internet access and additionally make online connectivity affordable; and $3.37 billion to reduce wildfire risk nationwide, among others. A full list of Montana provisions in Tester’s bipartisan infrastructure law can be found HERE.

A list of the projects Tester secured funding for include:

• $4.7 million for Stagecoach Trail in Billings
• $2 million for Flynn Lane Trail ‐ Camden St to Siren Rd and Mullan Rd Trail ‐ Mary Jane Blvd to Reserve St in Missoula
• $1.6 million for Bitterroot Trail (US 93) Pavement Preservation in Missoula and Ravalli Counties
• $1.5 million for RAL Trail to Daly School Bicycle/Pedestrian Commuter Path in Ravalli County
• $1.5 million for Northeast Poplar Multi‐Use Path Project for the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes
• $1.5 million for Sidewalk Improvements Project in Hot Springs
• $1.3 million for Madison Avenue Sidewalk Improvements in Belgrade
• $1.1 million School‐Town Interconnect in Sunburst
• $1 million for Evergreen Pedestrian Improvements‐Safe Routes to Schools‐Phase II in Evergreen School District
• $1 million for Old Hardin Road Sidewalk Connector in Yellowstone County
• $870k for Valley Drive Trail in East Helena
• $848k for Russell Street Pedestrian Improvements along Missoula County Fairgrounds in Missoula County
• $804k for North Merrill Ave Sidewalk Project in Glendive
• $798k for Railroad Avenue Sidewalk Safety Improvements Project in Glendive
• $796k for Four Mile Drive Sidewalk Extension in Kalispell
• $764k for Marcus Street Path in Hamilton
• $722k for Sidewalk Improvements in Whitehall $183k for Flanders Mill Road Separated Shared Use Path Infill in Bozeman
• $573k for East Valley Center Road and North 19th Avenue Shared Use Path Infill in Bozeman
• $396k for Milwaukee Trail Reconstruction at Beartracks Bridge in Missoula
• $382k for Pavement Preservation Project in Gallatin County
• $266k for Pavement Preservation for Shared Use Paths in Bozeman
• $221k for River’s Edge Trail Mill and Overlay in Great Falls
• $207k for South Russell Trail Crossing in Missoula
• $200k for Downtown ADA Upgrades in Great Falls
• $189k for South Hills Trail Renovation (Wapikiya Park to Meadow Hill School/Reserve St.) in Missoula
• $104k for Ron McDonald (Riverside) Trail at Kiwanis Park in Missoula
• $98k for Milwaukee Trail and Bitterroot Trail Crack Repair in Missoula
• $96k for River’s Edge Trail Crack Fill & Seal in Great Falls
• $78k for Woodside Pedestrian Pathway Resurfacing (MT 373) in Ravalli County
• $53k for Silver Park (Bitterroot Trail/aka Hal’s Walk) Subsidence Repair in Missoula