摘要: |
been embedded in the departments mission, and even the state constitution. In light of the current national dialogue on livability, the challenge facing MDT is to more formally define livability for Montana and its communities and understand how livability relates to Montanas transportation needs. The purpose of this study is to determine what livability means for Montana and the role of transportation. To achieve the goal of the study, the research team: (1) scanned existing demographic data and literature; (2) conducted interviews of peer states; (3) conducted a qualitative analysis on Montana TranPlan 21 public comments; (4) conducted a public survey of Montana communities and a local elected leader survey; and (5) interviewed Montana partner agencies and key MDT staff. Thestudy finds that Montana has some unique characteristics that may have a bearing on measures of its livability. For example, sixty-two percent of Montanans live in areas where the population density is 800 people per square mile or higher, but those areas account for only 0.1 percent of the land area. Along with its unique character, the surveys conducted for this study indicate that Montana is also a good place to live. |