Evergreen is slated to receive $1 million from the state to fund the construction of sidewalks along U.S. 2, an effort spearheaded by Rep. Tony Brockman, R-Kalispell.

The money is coming out of the $1.2 billion House Bill 5, which was reviewed by Gov. Greg Gianforte last week. The bill funds a multitude of long-range infrastructure projects across Montana.

“We did it,” Brockman said. “We needed to tackle the problem, which is a lack of infrastructure for schools that are near highways.”

HB 5, sponsored by Rep. Mike Hopkins, R-Missoula, shifts $1 million to the state Department of Transportation to construct what supporters in Evergreen are calling “Phase 2” of an ongoing effort to build sidewalks in the unincorporated community.

Children unable to find a ride to school must walk or bike, often along U.S. 2. Evergreen School District does not qualify for state funding for a bus system because the district is physically too small.

U.S. 2 routinely sees nearly 20,000 vehicles a day traveling one way in front of the junior high school, according to the Department of Transportation’s 2021 Annual Average Daily Traffic data.

“Our community was determined that the Evergreen school children would have sidewalks, and not walk to and from school on the busy and dangerous Highway 2 corridor,” said Connie McCubbins, executive director of the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce.

The money will fund construction of sidewalks along the highway from the intersection of Meadowlark Drive to the intersection of Terry Road, and then from the intersection of East Evergreen Drive to the intersection of Poplar road.

Local groups, such as Evergreen Community Partners, have been working to address the lack of sidewalks since 2005.

The organization, in cooperation with the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce, landed a $1 million grant from the Department of Transportation in September 2021 to create sidewalks from the old Kmart to Evergreen Junior High School — what supporters refer to as “Phase 1” of the overall project.

While construction has not started on the first phase, chamber officials expect the project to be completed in the spring or summer of 2024, if not sooner.

The funding for Phase 2, as granted in HB 5, is frozen until the Department of Transportation finishes reviewing its transportation assistance fund applications, which Evergreen applied for. If the department officials choose to award Evergreen a grant of $1 million through that program, the money in HB 5 won’t be used. If they decide against awarding the transportation assistance grant money, the funds in HB 5 will be released to the community.

“We get two stabs at $1 million dollars,” Brockman said. “Either way, kids in Evergreen are gonna get sidewalks.”

The request for money was originally brought to the Legislature as an independent bill by Brockman — House Bill 472 — but was tabled because House Transportation Committee members saw the issue as applying to more communities than just Evergreen.

Brockman then introduced House Bill 853, which asked for sidewalk funding for multiple communities. Legislators tabled that bill on the House Floor in April.

Brockman then brought the request to Gianforte and the Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning, where it was decided that the Evergreen project would be tied into a larger infrastructure effort — HB 5. Brockman expressed gratitude to both the committee and the governor for their assistance.

The sidewalk project requires the establishment of a maintenance district and a rural special improvement district — a legal taxing authority that can raise funds in specific areas for specific purposes, like the maintenance of sidewalks. According to TJ Wendt, an Evergreen Community Partners board member, most of the businesses affected by the creation of a district are “overwhelmingly onboard” with the project.

“The ultimate benefit and blessing of this whole thing is that the community came together for something that is much needed for our kids and our community,” Wendt said.

Wendt also said that they are already moving forward with a plan for “Phase 3,” which would address West Evergreen Drive.

While Phase 2 probably won’t break ground for another two years, Brockman said he looks forward to continuing fighting for Evergreen and encouraging other legislators and communities who struggle with similar issues to look into the transportation assistance program.

Supporters of the creation of sidewalks in Evergreen, including Brockman, see the legislation as a win for the community and students alike.

“The new sidewalks will not only make for safer pedestrian travel for everyone in Evergreen, they will also add improved aesthetics and value to the area,” McCubbins said. “We look forward to having a ribbon cutting celebration when we break ground.”

Reporter Kate Heston can be reached at 406-758-4459 or kheston@dailyinterlake.com.