Montana Department of Transportation

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SUMMARY of Road Safety Audit REPORT 

Fort Belknap Indian Community Road Safety Audit – Montana 

Highway 66 

Project Data 

Date: April 16, 2007 

Presentation of Preliminary findings to Tribal Council on April 19, 2007 

RSA Team and Participants: 

An independent RSA Team was used to review Montana Highway 66 within the 

Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Mr. Jim Combs from the District Office of the 

Montana Department of Transportation was in attendance to provide owner 

information and background. 

Dennis Trusty, PE, Director - Northern Plains Tribal Technical Assistance Program 

Dave Johnson, Highway Engineer - Rocky Mountain Region of Bureau of Indian Affairs 

Jim Combs, Traffic Engineer - Montana Department of Transportation 

Wes Cochran, Transportation Planner - Fort Belknap Transportation Department 

Stan Zander Jr., Technician - Fort Belknap Tribal Sanitation / Environmental Health 

Alan Main, Patrol Officer - Fort Belknap Indian Community Law Enforcement 

Background: 

The RSA was conducted on Montana Highway 66 from the intersection of 

Montana Highway 2 to the Reservation Boundary. This section of Highway 66 is 

40 miles in length with Average Daily Traffic (ADT) of 1488 with a mix of traffic, 

including commercial vehicles. The Pedestrian / Bike Path serves between the 

Fort Belknap Agency (which is a small village with Tribal Administration offices, 

Tribal Health and BIA offices as well as individual homes) and a housing 

development to the east less than 1 mile away. Highway 66 was selected as an 

RSA site as a proactive approach to identify road safety issues that may lead to 

vehicular and pedestrian crashes. The RSA was conducted on April 16th with a 

team that was comprised of law enforcement, transportation, and other local 

officials. 

RSA Process: 

The RSA was performed by conducting field reviews using accepted RSA 

practices of driving the roads in both directions in the daytime and again at night. 

This review was conducted along portions of Montana Highway 66 within the 

reservation boundaries. In addition, the RSA team also examined crash history 

reports and statistics indicating number of crashes, type of crashes and when the 
Montana Department of Transportation

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crashes occurred. This data was reviewed and synthesized to identify safety 

issues that exist along Montana Highway 66. 

 

RSA Stage: Existing Road 

Major RSA Findings 

Issue #1: Run off the road 

Location: Montana Highway 66 

Description of Safety Issue: 

Over a 10 year period, 19 out of 43 crashes were the result of vehicles running 

off the road. Based on these statistics, the RSA Team performed a Crash Risk 

Assessment and concluded that this safety issue has a significant risk level.

Suggestion: 

The RSA Team recommended that shoulder rumble strips be added along 

various stretches of Montana Highway 66. In addition, the RSA Team also 

recommended installing six-foot shoulders on the highway. 

Issue #2: Pedestrian Crossings

Location: Montana Highway 66

Description of Safety Issue: 

The RSA Team studied several pedestrian crossings that exist along Montana 

Highway 66. Based on the team’s findings, pedestrian crossings received a 

Crash Risk Assessment of moderate risk level. 

Suggestion: 

The RSA team recommended that additional pedestrian studies be conducted 

along Montana Highway 66. In addition, the RSA team recommended that 

positive guidance measures should be provided for pedestrians. 

Issue #3: Intersection Crashes 

Location: Montana Highway 66 

Description of Safety Issue: 

Over a 10 year period, 7 out of 43 crashes were the result of vehicles crashing at 

intersections. Based on these statistics, the RSA Team performed a Crash Risk 

Assessment and concluded that this safety issue has a low risk level.

Suggestion: 

The RSA Team recommended that additional signage be posted along public 

intersection approaches. This will enable drivers to become more aware of the 

intersection presence. 

 

Issue #4: Domestic Animal Crashes 

Location: Montana Highway 66 

Description of Safety Issue: 
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Over a 10 year period, 6 out of 43 crashes were the result of vehicles crashing 

into domestic animals. Based on these statistics, the RSA Team performed a 

Crash Risk Assessment and concluded that this safety issue has a low risk level.

Suggestion: 

The RSA team recommended that additional fencing and cattle guards be 

installed along residential approaches. In addition, gates should be installed at 

residential access points that exist along Montana Highway 66. 

Other RSA Findings 

None.