2013 Montana 

Tribal Transportation 

Safety Summit

Summit Report

prepared for

Montana Tribes and the 

Montana Department of Transportation

prepared by

Cambridge Systematics, Inc.

December, 2013

summit report

2013 Montana Tribal Transportation 

Safety Summit

prepared for

Montana Tribes and the Montana Department of Transportation

prepared by

Cambridge Systematics, Inc.

100 CambridgePark Drive, Suite 400

Cambridge, MA 02140

date

December, 2013

2013 Montana Tribal Transportation Safety Summit

i

Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction..................................................................................1

1.1 Purpose ................................................................................1

1.2 Call to Order........................................................................1

2.0 Tribal Safety Crash Data Analysis...........................................2

3.0 Tribal Safety Issues in Montana ..............................................4

3.1 Current Safety Issues .........................................................5

3.2 Emerging Issues..................................................................6

4.0 SOAR Program ............................................................................7

5.0 Tribal Road Safety Audits.........................................................7

6.0 FHWA Tribal Transportation Program Safety Funds ..........8

7.0 Safety Plan Updates....................................................................9

7.1 Fort Belknap ........................................................................9

7.2 Blackfeet...............................................................................9

7.3 Crow...................................................................................10

7.4 Fort Peck ............................................................................10

7.5 Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.....................10

8.0 Crash Data Collection...............................................................10

9.0 Summary.....................................................................................12

9.1 Progress Made by Attention Still Needed ....................12

9.2 Potential New Strategies .................................................13

A. Agenda ......................................................................................A-1

B. List of Attendees......................................................................B-1

2013 Montana Tribal Transportation Safety Summit

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List of Figures

Figure 1.1 Participant Transportation Safety Disciplines ............2

Figure 2.1 Native American Fatality Trend and Targets .............3

Figure 2.2 Native American Fatalities by Occupant Protection 

Used 2007 to 2011 ............................................................4

Figure 2.3 Native American Fatalities and Alcohol Involvement

Used 2007 to 2011 ............................................................4

Figure 3.1 Tribal Safety Issues Perceived as Most Significant.....5

Figure 9.1 Most Important Activity at Tribal Transportation 

Safety Summit................................................................14

2013 Montana Tribal Transportation Safety Summit

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1.0 Introduction

1.1 PURPOSE

The 2013 Tribal Transportation Safety Summit was held on October 15, 2013 at 

The Gateway Center in Helena, Montana. Native American Crashes is one of 

the 12 emphasis areas in the Montana Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan

(CHSP). As one of the 5 strategies identified in the CHSP Annual Element

(NA-3), the Tribal Safety Summit is designed to serve as an expanded Native 

American emphasis-area team meeting. The annual Summit provides an 

opportunity for the Tribal transportation safety stakeholders to share 

successful safety program, activities and projects, in addition to discussing

safety issues and hurdles. The Summit was held the day prior to the two-day 

Annual Transportation Safety Meeting so the results could be incorporated 

into that meeting.

The purpose of the 2013 Tribal Transportation Safety Summit was to review 

progress toward reducing fatal and incapacitating injury crashes involving

Native Americans on Montana’s roadways, identify areas that still need focus, 

share accomplishments, strengthen partnerships, and identify new 

opportunities to improve transportation safety in the upcoming year. Keypad 

polling exercises were conducted to gather participant input on specific 

questions regarding Tribal safety issues, Tribal affiliation, and representation 

of safety disciplines

The meeting agenda is included in Appendix A. Appendix B provides a list 

of attendees. 

1.2 CALL TO ORDER 

The Fort Belknap Tribes hosted the 2013 Tribal Transportation Safety Summit. 

John Healy, Tribal Transportation-Transit Director for Fort Belknap, called the 

meeting to order and welcomed Summit participants. Mr. Healy noted that 

safety statistics are important to help identify problems and potential 

solutions –to save lives. Tribal transportation practitioners also often have 

direct connections to victims of crashes. He highlighted the importance of 

crash data in noting how the grandparents of a colleague were involved in a 

crash at a known crash location, but the data originally showed no crashes at 

that site. This helped him realize that crash data improvements are critical to 

understanding the complete picture and being able to effectively address 

safety problems.

Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs State Director Jason Smith expressed the 

Governor’s support for tribal safety issues and roadway safety. Public safety is 

a key concern for all Tribes and collaboration and communication is critical to 

finding solutions. Continued collaboration of partnerships (Federal, State,

County, and Tribal) need to be built and maintained to realize successful 

transportation safety outcomes on Tribal lands. Jason acknowledged and 

thanked Director Tooley from the Montana Department of Transportation 

Native American Safety 

Emphasis Area Purpose of 

Safety Strategies

To reduce fatal and 

incapacitating injury crashes
2013 Montana Tribal Transportation Safety Summit

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(MDT) for attending the Summit and for his support of transportation safety 

programs and roadway safety efforts.

Fort Belknap Transportation Planner Wes Cochran provided an overview of the 

Summit agenda. Henry Rides Horse, of Crow Nation, offered a prayer and the 

Helena Indian Alliance delivered an honor song to support meeting success.

As shown in Figure 1.1, attendees were asked to identify the transportation 

safety discipline they represent. Most attendees are from the engineering or 

planning disciplines.

Figure 1.1 Participant Transportation Safety Disciplines

Source: Tribal Transportation Safety Summit Polling, 2013.

This report is organized according to the meeting agenda and addresses 

activities in the five new Native American Crashes strategies identified in the 

CHSP Annual Element:

• NA-1 Systems/Policies to Support Data Sharing among Tribal, state, and 

local entities;

• NA-2 Tribal Safety Plan for Each Reservation;

• NA-3 Coordinate/Conduct Tribal Safety Summit;

• NA-4 Increase seat belt use and reduce impaired driving; and

• NA-5 Develop a Tribal road safety audit program.

2.0 Tribal Safety Crash 

Data Analysis

In Montana, Native American fatalities have been trending downward since 

2006, following the 2005 Tribal Safety Conscious Forum and the 

implementation of the Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan including the 

startup of the Safe On All Roads (SOAR) program. However, Native 

0

5

10

15

20

25

Engineering/

Planning

Enforcement Education EMS/ Injury

Prevention

Other

Native American Crashes 

Emphasis Area Safety

Vision

Promote safety, 

prevent crashes, and 

preserve culture
2013 Montana Tribal Transportation Safety Summit

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Americans remain over-represented in fatal crashes. In 2011, Native 

Americans represented 6.7 percent of the state population but 11.5 percent of 

fatalities.

The Native American Crashes emphasis area performance measure tracked in 

the CHSP is average number of fatalities over a five-year period. This is

presented graphically in Figure 2.1 as a black line and shown in the table below 

for the last year in each five-year period. The goal is to reduce the five year 

average number of Native American Crash fatalities from 36 in 2010 to 32 by 

2015. 

Figure 2.1 Native American Fatality Trend and Targets

Source: MDT Safety Management System, 2013.

The CHSP acknowledges the issues of unbelted drivers and impaired driving in the 

Native American Crashes emphasis area. Between 2007 and 2011, in 

approximately 76 percent (120 of 157) of the vehicle-related fatalities, the victim 

was unbelted, as shown in Figure 2.2. Two-thirds of fatalities involved alcohol, as 

shown in Figure 2.3.
2013 Montana Tribal Transportation Safety Summit

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Figure 2.2 Native American Fatalities by Occupant 

Protection Used

2007 to 2011

Source: MDT Safety Management System, 2013.

Figure 2.3 Native American Fatalities and Alcohol 

Involvement

2007 to 2011

Source: MDT Safety Management System, 2013.

3.0 Tribal Safety Issues in 

Montana 

John Healy led a discussion to identify current and emerging safety issues.

No Restraint 

Used, 120

Restraint Use 

Unknown, 5

Helmet Used, 

2

No Helmet 

Used, 4

Helmet Use 

Unknown, 0

Not MV 

Occupant, 12

Restraint 

Used, 14

Not Alcohol 

Related

33%

Alcohol 

Related

67%
2013 Montana Tribal Transportation Safety Summit

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3.1 CURRENT SAFETY ISSUES

As shown in Figure 3.1 and consistent with previous findings, participants 

believe that seatbelt use and impaired driving are the most significant Tribal 

transportation safety issues. 

Figure 3.1 Tribal Safety Issues Perceived as Most 

Significant

Source: Tribal Transportation Safety Summit Polling, 2013.

Other issues raised during the discussion included:

• Open range cattle present a safety issue when they wander into the 

roadway. This is particularly problematic in the summer. While new 

fences are being added in East Glacier, participants would like more 

fencing installed to separate the roadway from the range. 

• Enforcement of speed limits and other traffic laws remains a challenge, 

given limited law enforcement resources. Improved enforcement of 

traffic laws by the Tribal judiciary is needed. Participants noted that to 

decrease the number of underage drivers on the reservations, licensing 

laws are among the most critical laws to enforce.

• Railroad crossings without gates or warning devices indicating an 

oncoming train are a concern. MDT noted that if a railroad crossing is 

rebuilt, the crossing gates/warning devices are built according to guidance 

in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Communities 

can exceed the standard if desired.

• Many roadways were not originally designed or constructed to support 

existing travel speeds and volumes. Speed management, enforcement, 

and possible roadway design upgrades are desired.

• Funding for maintenance and improvements remains a major constraint. 

All tribal representatives are experiencing the same situation where

roadway needs exceed funding availability. This problem is exacerbated 

by MAP-21 where allocation formulas changed and large land Tribes are 

0

5

10

15

20

25

Impaired

Driving

Seat Belt

Use/ Child

Safety Seats

Roadway

Departures

Speeding Pedestrian/

Bicycle

Crashes
2013 Montana Tribal Transportation Safety Summit

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receiving less funding. There is particular concern related to overweight and 

oversize vehicles using BIA roads to gain access to oil fields, which causes 

significant roadway damage.

• Some repeat crash sites are not being identified and addressed in a timely 

manner, which is largely due to incomplete Tribal crash data reporting. 

Currently only fatal crash data is collected by Montana Highway Patrol if 

they are called to respond and conduct a traffic crash investigation. If injury 

and property damage crashes were included in the crash data collection and 

reporting, high-crash sites could be identified more effectively for possible

safety improvements. 

• Driver education is not available on reservations. However, education is 

needed for young drivers on safety belt use, importance of driving sober, 

and not texting while driving.

3.2 EMERGING ISSUES

Participants discussed emerging safety issues and those where progress had 

been made but more work is needed, including:

• Overweight and oversize trucks in Fort Peck are an emerging safety issue. 

There is a need to coordinate and communicate appropriate routes and to 

enforce weight restrictions. Staff from Fort Peck and Federal Motor 

Carriers Safety Administration plan to meet and work on ways to begin 

resolving this safety issue.

• Nonfatal crash data, such as minor injury and property damage, is needed 

to improve problem identification, determine crash factors, and select 

treatments to address safety issues.

• Tribal safety plans need to be updated and further integrate education, 

enforcement, emergency medical services, and engineering partners. 

These plans also can help identify and prioritize appropriate safety 

programs and projects to address community-specific issues. Some 

Tribes have begun the process of updating safety plans.

• To adequately enforce traffic laws, Tribal law enforcement agencies need 

additional manpower. 

• On some reservations there is lack of clarity as to whether auto insurance 

is required. Insurance should be required and enforced.

• DUI Courts are seen as valuable, and there is a desire to expand these to 

serve the Tribal community.

• Opportunities exist through the Safe On All Roads (SOAR) program to

educate communities about traffic safety ordinances. 

• Speeding is an issue, and Montana Highway Patrol is conducting increased 

speed enforcement.
2013 Montana Tribal Transportation Safety Summit

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4.0 SOAR Program

Sheila Cozzie, Cultural Liaison, MDT Highway Traffic Safety, provided an 

overview of the Safe On All Roads (SOAR) program. The SOAR Program 

supports CHSP strategy NA-4 – Increase Seat Belt Use and Reduce Impaired 

Driving through education and outreach. The goal of the SOAR program is to 

reduce traffic deaths and injuries on reservations. 

SOAR program coordinators work to achieve this goal by focusing education 

and media campaigns on increasing seatbelt use and decreasing impaired 

driving or riding with an impaired driver. Tools available to SOAR program 

coordinators include media campaigns, training, and promotional materials.

Messaging is aimed at typical youth events such as prom, basketball games 

and rodeos. The program recognizes that each Tribe is unique and SOAR 

allows each coordinator to customize the messaging for their Tribe. Focus 

groups are used as a tool to help develop customized messages. 

The SOAR program is in a stage of renewal. Current Tribal SOAR Coordinators 

include:

• Don White, Blackfeet Nation

• Henry Rides Horse/ William Falls Down, Crow Nation

• Raymond Parker, Chippewa Cree- Rocky Boy’s

• Amelia Adams, Confederate and Salish Kootenai Tribes

• Janis Spear, Northern Cheyenne Tribe

• Connie Thompson-Gourneau, Fort Peck Tribes

• Avis Spencer, Fort Belknap Indian Community

5.0 Tribal Road Safety 

Audits

Through a Bureau of Indian Affairs pilot program, Road Safety Audits (RSA)

have been conducted on the Blackfeet, Crow, Fort Belknap, Fort Peck, 

Northern Cheyenne and Wind River reservations. James Wilson gave a 

presentation providing an overview of the RSA process and the audits that 

have been conducted from September 2012- July2013. This section provides 

details on how activities have addressed CHSP strategy NA-5 – Develop a 

Tribal Road Safety Audit Program.

Consistent with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidance, Tribal 

RSAs involve an eight-step process to review and observe potential safety 

issues to reduce risk, consider all environmental conditions, and consider all 

road users. They are conducted with a multidisciplinary team that is 

independent from the project owner. The eight-step RSA process is:
2013 Montana Tribal Transportation Safety Summit

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1. Identify the project;

2. Select the RSA team;

3. Conduct a start-up meeting;

4. Perform field reviews;

5. Conduct analysis and prepare report;

6. Present finding to project owner;

7. Prepare formal response; and

8. Incorporate findings.

Tribal representatives provided an overview of the RSAs they have conducted. 

Presentations and the subsequent discussions revealed that the RSAs have 

been identifying a number of common challenges and needs, including: 

• Open range livestock crashes;

• Year-round roadway maintenance needs: snow removal during the 

winter, vegetation maintenance to prevent sight distance constraints;

• Signage issues: missing signage (e.g., curve chevrons, speed limits), 

inadequate retro-reflectivity;

• Roadway delineation needs;

• Roadway edge dropoffs;

• Pedestrian facilities along the roadways; and

• Lack of nonfatal crash data.

The RSA process also has revealed the importance of getting input from 

partners who also are on the roads daily. For example, transit and school bus

drivers can provide valuable input based on the daily driving experience.

6.0 FHWA Tribal 

Transportation Program 

Safety Funds

Cindi Ptak from the FHWA Tribal Transportation Program provided an 

overview of the MAP-21 Tribal roads grant program currently in process. 

FHWA expects to make awards for approximately $8.6 million in grants by the 

end of December 2013. FHWA’s goal is to award funds in four categories 

according to the breakdown below: 

• Forty percent of the funds to Safety Planning projects;

• Thirty percent of the funds to Engineering projects;

• Twenty percent of the funds to Enforcement projects; and

• Ten percent of the funds to Education projects.

“The long-term goal 

is for every Tribe to 

have a safety plan.”

Cindi Ptak, 

FHWA Tribal Transportation 

Program Team Leader
2013 Montana Tribal Transportation Safety Summit

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FHWA has received FY 2013 applications in the following categories for the 

following amounts:

• Planning – 169 applications requesting $2.4 million;

• Engineering – 52 applications requesting $22 million;

• Enforcement/EMS – 8 applications requesting $1.4 million; and

• Education – 11 applications requesting $487,000.

Recognizing how short the timeframe for the MAP-21 authorization is, the 

2014 grant solicitation may be released as early as end of January 2014 and the 

evaluation criteria will likely be the same as the current criteria.

Tribes can submit multiple grant applications as long as the submittals are 

consistent with program goals and Tribal priorities, and if the Tribe has the 

staffing capability to manage multiple projects. Tribes are advised to submit 

applications for each project separately and not to bundle multiple projects in 

a single application. Cindi also noted that her office would like to see every 

Tribe have a transportation safety plan. 

The FHWA Tribal Transportation Program team is available for questions or 

guidance. Adam Larsen is the FHWA Tribal Transportation Program safety 

engineer and Russell Garcia is the Tribal Transportation Program program 

manager; contact information is available at the Tribal Transportation Safety 

Program web site at http://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/.

7.0 Safety Plan Updates

This discussion supported CHSP strategy NA-2 – Tribal Safety Plan for each 

reservation. Most Tribes completed and adopted a safety plan in 2008. At the 

Summit, each Tribe provided a report on activities conducted under the current 

plan and whether they are seeking grant funding for a safety plan update.

7.1 FORT BELKNAP

John Healy reported that the Fort Belknap Tribes submitted a grant 

application to the FHWA Tribal Transportation Program to update their safety 

plan. A grant would reinvigorate the previous Tribal transportation safety 

planning process that included a community safety committee and strategic 

plan. 

7.2 BLACKFEET

Don White reported that under the current Tribal transportation safety plan 

the Blackfeet Nation adopted a primary seat belt law and a helmet 

requirement for children on all-terrain vehicles (ATV) was adopted. There is in 

place a resolution to restrict alcohol sales to minors as well as a social host 

ordinance. A standing committee provides targeted safety education and 

training materials to youth, and the SOAR program is being reinvigorated. 

Applications seeking funds from the FHWA Tribal Transportation Program 
2013 Montana Tribal Transportation Safety Summit

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have been submitted, including a request to update the safety plan. In 2014, a 

safety project will be implemented to enhance guardrail and striping on 

several routes.

7.3 CROW

The Crow Nation has had a safety plan in place since 2008 and is working on an 

update. A GIS-based crash data system is being developed, which will be used 

to identify problem locations. Many education programs are underway,

including youth-oriented safety programs such as bike rodeos and helmet 

education. Child seat restraint training is mandatory for all parents leaving the 

hospital with a new baby. There is an active DUI Task Force and an effort 

underway to cross-deputize enforcement staff with Bighorn County. A

secondary seat belt law is in place, and a recent seatbelt survey has found that

seatbelt usage is climbing. Open range livestock are a roadway safety 

challenge that needs to be addressed over time. A new SOAR coordinator has 

been hired.

7.4 FORT PECK

The Fort Peck Tribes safety plan was completed in 2008. Fort Peck has in place 

a number of traffic safety laws, including a helmet law for people age 16 and 

older riding motorcycles or ATVs, a primary seatbelt ordinance, and requires 

vehicle operators to carry insurance. Fort Peck has a livestock law which 

provides the opportunity for law enforcement to impound livestock found on

the roadway. Fort Peck Law & Justice Department conducts saturation patrols 

and has a working DUI Court and. Transportation safety education services 

includes active car seat clinics and bicycle helmet distribution. 

7.5 CONFEDERATED SALISH AND 

KOOTENAI TRIBES

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) have in place a safety 

plan that was completed in 2009. CSKT have completed a number of safetyrelated projects, including: new bridges and guardrails on high-volume roads, 

a pedestrian overpass, striping crosswalks, and adding sidewalks in some 

residential neighborhoods. CSKT, MDT, and the County have developed

collaborative relationships. Recently the County law enforcement has provided 

funding assistance to the Tribal law enforcement agency for equipment to 

improve dispatching processes. CSKT has recently renewed the SOAR 

coordinator position and looks forward to maintaining and enhancing the 

SOAR program. 

8.0 Crash Data Collection

Sergeant Cal Schock from Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) presented 

information about the Montana Web-based Crash Reporting (WBCR) system
2013 Montana Tribal Transportation Safety Summit

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that is being rolled out throughout the State. His presentation and the 

discussion about crash data systems supports CHSP strategy NA-1

Systems/Policies to Support Data Sharing Among Tribal, State, Local Entities. 

Montana Highway Patrol and the Department of Justice collect and archive all 

crash data in the State. Montana Highway Patrol, which develops about half 

the crash reports in the state, is using the new web-based system. The goal is 

for all other law enforcement agencies in Montana to migrate to using the 

WBCR system, which will ultimately replace the current Montana Accident 

Reporting System (MARS). 

The WBCR system makes it possible for the officer at the scene to log onto the 

web site from any computer and complete the crash report form, which is identical 

to the current paper form. The benefits of this new system are many, including:

• Allows Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping of crashes;

• Eliminates redundant handling of crash reports (sometimes data are input 

up to four times under the old system);

• Reduces errors due to built-in edit rules (i.e., an officer could not input a 

crash time of noon and also report light conditions as dark);

• Adheres to newest Federal standards for crash data (Model Minimum 

Uniform Crash Criteria);

• Enables importing injury data from EMS records versus relying on the law 

enforcement assessment, so injury severity data will be more accurate; 

• Increases timeliness of data as less time is needed to review crash reports 

by managers; and

• Supports potential expansion of Tribal crash data collection. Currently 

only fatal crashes are reported for Tribes but these numbers are relatively 

low. Problem identification would be greatly improved if nonfatal crash 

data were also collected.

This system is available to Tribal governments and its use is encouraged by 

MHP. The benefit of Tribes participating in electronic crash reporting will be 

that Tribal crash data will be more consistent and complete so problem 

identification is improved and solutions can be more targeted. With better 

crash data Tribes may be more successful in securing funding for safety 

improvements because better analysis of safety problems can be included in 

grant applications.

To use the system a Tribe will need only a computer with Windows 98 or more 

recent operating system and Internet access (DSL or higher). MHP will provide 

free training on the system. If there are computer equipment needs, MHP may 

be able to assist in securing grant funding.

Sergeant Schock asked attendees if they would be interested in working 

together to extend the WBCR system to any of the Tribal enforcement 

agencies. Participants at the summit raised concerns about: 

• Training – Tribal law enforcement officers may not have enough crash 

investigation experience. MHP recognizes this potential need and is 

looking for opportunities to expand training.

“... Web Based Crash 

Reporting allows us to 

streamline the process, 

getting data into a usable 

state in a much shorter 

timeframe. Analysis can 

begin sooner and trends 

identified faster allowing 

more timely decisionmaking processes ...”

Sergeant Cal Schock
2013 Montana Tribal Transportation Safety Summit

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• Reliable Internet access – The web-based system requires reliable Internet

access to input data, which can be a challenge in rural areas. MHP uses 

Verizon as this service seems to provide the most reliable Internet

connection.

• Potential sovereignty issue – Participants questioned whether release of 

information on crash events and individuals involved via MDT versus via 

Tribal communications channels would be an issue. MHP is committed to 

help find solutions to this potential issue.

• Personal identifiers in the data – Required crash report identifiers according 

to MMUCC standards are name and date of birth; these enable linking of a 

record to other databases. Currently, the only individuals with access to a 

Montana crash report are people named in the report or an executor for a 

person on the report. Current practice is that if crash information is 

requested from a local law enforcement agency, personal identifying 

information is removed. It may be necessary for the WBCR to be 

reconfigured to address personal identifier issues so Tribal law 

enforcement can use to report crash data.

Sergeant Schock plans to arrange individual conversations with Tribal staff

members to further explore extending the WBCR system to the Tribal 

governments.

9.0 Summary

To summarize the meeting outcomes, participants discussed recent successes 

and possible new strategies.

9.1 PROGRESS MADE BUT ATTENTION 

STILL NEEDED

Issues for which progress has been made but more attention is needed are 

listed below:

• Drivers are becoming aware of the risks of texting and driving. While the 

issue remains, attendees believe that drivers are paying more attention to 

the message to stop texting while driving. 

• Drivers are starting to pay more attention to seat belt messaging and 

education. However, participants also emphasized the importance of 

each individual taking ownership of encouraging family and friends to 

buckle their seat belts while driving or as passengers. 

• The Safe On All Roads program has recently been reinvigorated. 

Participants expressed appreciation for the renewed focus on impaired 

driving prevention and occupant protection messaging targeted to 

individual Tribal cultures.

• Road Safety Audits (RSA) are seen as a valuable tool by Tribal participants. 

The current RSA program is to conduct an audit on every reservation in 

Montana. This effort can be helpful in identifying key problem locations 
2013 Montana Tribal Transportation Safety Summit

13

and determine possible solutions, especially where roadways do not meet 

current roadway standards.

• While increased law enforcement remains a need, participants acknowledged 

that there has been an enhanced enforcement presence by MHP in the 

vicinity of reservations. 

• Tribe members need continued education about traffic ordinances and the 

benefits of keeping vehicle insurance up to date.

9.2 POTENTIAL NEW STRATEGIES

Possible new strategies are:

• Consider signing, striping, edge delineation improvements, and/or road 

reconstruction when feasible;

• Install fencing to mitigate open range cattle impact on roadway safety;

• Improve Tribal court enforcement of violations;

• Improve crash data quantity and quality, particularly through potential 

adoption of new statewide Web-based Crash Reporting System;

• Promote road safety education and enforcement by family members;

• Seek out new partners (e.g., high schools, colleges or community 

groups) for educational activities;

• Seek out new partners in enforcement and emergency medical services;

• Consider potential development of cell phone pullouts along the 

highways; and

• Consider automated enforcement or variable speed message signs. Fort 

Belknap and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) have a 

dynamic speed sign. CSKT reports that it is useful in slowing down traffic 

as it enters the reservation.
2013 Montana Tribal Transportation Safety Summit

14

Overall, participants reported that sharing experiences and open discussion 

was the most valuable aspect of the annual Tribal Transportation Safety 

Summit. This type of collaboration is critical to continued success (Figure 9.1).

Figure 9.1 Most Important Activity at Tribal 

Transportation Safety Summit

Source: Tribal Transportation Safety Summit Polling, 2013.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Overview of

Current Safety

programs

Roadway

Safety Audit

Overview

Update on

Safety Plans

Crash & Speed

Data

Collection

Sharing

Experiences

and Open

Discussion
2013 Montana Tribal Transportation Safety Summit – Appendix A

A-1

A. Agenda

7:30 – 8:30 a.m. Registration

8:30 a.m. Call to Order: C. “John” Healey Sr., TransportationTransit Director, Fort Belknap 

Invocation- Henry Rides Horse

Honor Song: Helena Indian Alliance, Jeremy Red Eagle

8:45 – 9:00 a.m. Agenda Review and Approval: Wes Cochran, 

Transportation Planner, Fort Belknap

9:00 – 9:15 a.m. Purpose – John Healey

9:15 – 9:30 a.m. Tribal Safety Issues in Montana

• What issues are the same as past years?

• What issues have we made progress on but still 

need attention?

• What new issues have we seen or are starting to see?

9:30 – 10 a.m. Safe On All Roads (SOAR) Safety Program – Individual 

Report Out. Moderator: Sheila Cozzie, Cultural 

Liaison – MDT

10:00 – 10:15 a.m. Break

10:15 – 11:30 a.m. Tribal Roadway Safety Audits Overview – Individual 

Report Out. Moderators: James Wilson 

Ft. Belknap Tribes

Blackfeet Tribe

Crow Tribe

Fort Peck Tribe

Northern Cheyenne Tribe

Wind River Tribe

Chippewa Cree Tribe

11:30 – 12:30 p.m. Lunch

12:30 – 12:45 p.m. National Tribal Safety Issues: Cindi Ptak, Tribal 

Transportation Program (TTP), Team leader, FHWA

12:45 – 1:30 p.m. Safety Plan Updates – Tribal Planners – All

1:30 – 2:45 p.m. Web-based Crash Data Reporting – Sergeant Cal 

Schock, Montana Highway Patrol

2:45 – 3:00 p.m. Break

3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Discuss new strategies

• Engineering

• Enforcement
2013 Montana Tribal Transportation Safety Summit – Appendix A

A-2

• Education

• Safety Planning

• EMS

4:00 – 4:15 p.m. New Safety Summit Strategies, Prioritization and 

Next Steps

4:15 – 4:30 p.m. Closing Comments and Prayer – Matt See Walker

4:30 p.m. Adjourn
2013 Montana Tribal Transportation Safety Summit – Appendix B

B-1

B. List of Attendees

First Name Last Name Position Agency/Organization

Marcee Allen Safety/ Traffic/ Design Engineer FHWA

Audrey Allums Grants Bureau Chief MDT - Planning Division

Gina Beretta Regional Program Manager NHTSA

Pam Buckman Occupant Protection Program MDT - Highway Traffic Safety

Wes Cochran Transportation Planner Fort Belknap Tribes

Jim Combs Traffic Engineer MDT - Great Falls District

Sheila Cozzie Cultural Liaison MDT - Highway Traffic Safety

Barnie Cummins Maintenance Supervisor Crow Nation

Lorelle Demont Impaired Driving Prevention Programs MDT - Highway Traffic Safety

Lesa Evers Tribal Relations Manager Dept. Public Health & Human Services

William Falls Down SOAR Coordinator Crow Land Security

Candy Felisha Transportation Planner Crow Nation

Craig Genzlinger KLJ Engineering

Shari Graham EMS & Trauma Systems Manager Dept. Public Health & Human Services

Toni Grant Transportation Planning Assistant Blackfeet Nation

Paul Harker Assistant Division Administrator FHWA

Roy Harper Safety BNSF

Mike Headdress Captain Fort Peck Tribes Law and Justice Dept.

John Healy Sr Transportation-Transit Director Fort Belknap Tribes

Bruce Holmes Administrator Federal Motor Carrier Safety Admin

Mark Keeffe Data Analyst MDT - Highway Traffic Safety

Nora Kennedy Director Blackfeet Emergency Response

Janet Kenny Section Supervisor MDT - Highway Traffic Safety

Karlita Knight Technology Specialist Northern Plains Tribal Technical 

Assistance Program

Pam Langve-Davis CHSP Program MDT - Planning Division

Thomas Little Owl Tribal Transportation Planning

Director

Crow Nation

Dan Lozar Safety of Dams Coord./Roads Program 

Manager

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes

Don Mattock Assistant State Director Montana Operation Lifesaver

Kraig McLeod Traffic and Safety Management MDT - Engineering Division

Chad Neman Law Enforcement Liaison MDT- Highway Traffic Safety

Gary Neville Preconstruction Engineering MDT - Billings District

Roy Peterson Traffic and Safety Bureau MDT - Engineering Division
2013 Montana Tribal Transportation Safety Summit – Appendix B

B-2

First Name Last Name Position Agency/Organization

Katie Potts Statewide & Urban Planner MDT-Planning Division

Cindi Ptak Tribal Transportation Program FHWA

Henry Rides Horse Executive Director Crow Land Security Cabinet

Blain Schaff Off the Wall Advertising

Cal Schock IT Technician Specialist, Sergeant DOJ - Montana Highway Patrol

Matt See Walker Transportation Development Northern Plains Tribal Technical 

Assistance Program

Frank Smith Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes

Carol Strizich Statewide & Urban Planning Supervisor MDT - Planning Division

Connie ThompsonGorneauTransportation Planner Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes

Arthur Weatherwax Student/Intern University of Montana

Beth Wemple Senior Associate Cambridge Systematics, Inc.

Audrey Wennink Senior Associate Cambridge Systematics, Inc.

Clark Wheeler Director Tribal Transportation Planning Montana Operation Lifesaver

Brian Whitaker Planner MDT - Planning Division

Don White Transportation Planning Director Blackfeet Nation

James Wilson Safety Officer Crow Nation

Lynn Zanto Administrator MDT - Planning Division