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Montana Department Of Highways, Planning and Research Bureau records, 1918-1984

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Montana. Department of Highways. Planning and Research Bureau
Title
Montana Department Of Highways, Planning and Research Bureau records
Dates
1918-1984 (inclusive)
Quantity
2.6 linear feet
Collection Number
RS 492 (Formerly RS 192)
Summary
This collection is a sub-subgroup (Bureau) of the Montana Department of Transportation records, RS 492. The Planning and Research Bureau formerly operated under the Engineering Division. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Transportation records. These records (1918-1984) consist of correspondence, financial records, organizational records, reports, subject files, and miscellany (Photographs, maps, and printed material transferred to the Photograph Archives and Library respectively.)
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov
Access Restrictions

Collection open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

The Planning Survey of the Montana State Highway Commission was established in 1936, jointly financed by the state and the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads. Also known as the Planning Survey Division, it was charged with gathering any and all types of data that would be beneficial for highway planning. In order to fulfill that responsibility the Division was structured in three principal sections: Traffic, Mapping, and Statistics.

The Traffic Section was given the responsibility of collecting data concerning the movement of motor vehicles on state highways, county roads, and city streets. The data were collected by means of both permanent and portable counters, as well as by visual counts and classifications. In addition to traffic counting, the Traffic Section was given a number of other functions including the weighing of trucks to obtain statistical information; the reporting of the number of accidents by location, type of accident, and economic cost; special urban transportation surveys for cities; origin destination surveys; and parking surveys.

The Mapping Section was authorized to prepare state highway maps, county maps, and city plats. It was also to collect data concerning county roads and to maintain a continuing inventory of such roads in each county, including the type of surface of each road as well as mileages. The Mapping Section also performed special drafting of charts, graphs, and special exhibits.

The Statistical Section was responsible for the completion and reporting of a variety of financial and statistical data pertaining to highways, roads, and streets throughout Montana. These data were reported in published format and were also included in the summaries prepared by the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads for all states.

The name of the Montana Highway Planning Survey was changed in 1966 to the Planning Section, and, in 1971 following the statewide reorganization, became the Planning and Research Bureau under the new Department of Highways.

The Planning and Research Bureau was established within the Engineering Division of the Department of Highways. The Bureau was divided into various sections through the years, but the basic responsibilities of the Bureau remained essentially the same. Bureau personnel conducts studies and compiles statistics about traffic, accidents, road use, road wear, tourism, fuel taxes, bridge life, truck weights, pavement markings, safety, and many other topics. The Bureau also produces maps, undertakes one-time research studies, classifies roads, and lets contracts for highway construction. Due to overlapping jurisdictions Bureau personnel have much interaction with federal and county officials.

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Content Description

These records consist of general correspondence (1937-1984) arranged by subject; financial records (1936-1970); organizational records (1969-1971, n.d.); reports (1963-1973); subject files (1937-1979); and miscellany (1918-1976). (Maps, photographs, and printed material have been transferred to the Library Map Collection, Photograph Archives, and Library respectively.)

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.

Preferred Citation

Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by series.

Location of Collection

28:7-5

Processing Note

In 2024, the various collections of the Montana Department of Transportation were integrated under one collection identifier, RS 492, in order to help facilitate access, reduce redundancy in the MTHS catalog, and to follow best archival practices.

Collections from Montana Department of Transportation's various Divisions and Bureaus that were previously treated as separate entities are now integrated into this collection, RS 492. Rather than reprocessing over 280 linear feet of Transportation materials, MTHS staff decided to keep the past arrangement of those collections/finding aids, and provide access to them via links through the central finding aid. This decision has allowed the MTHS archival staff to maintain intellectual control over the collection, while removing the need to reprocess it. It also keeps State Agency finding aids at manageable sizes. Please read the scope and content note carefully to determine if this subgroup/sub-subgroup pertains to your research needs.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information is available upon request.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection

  • General Correspondence

    • Description: Federal and primary road system
      Dates: 1937-1970
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 1
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Proposed research projects
      Dates: 1964-1971
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 2
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Research projects
      Dates: 1962-1968
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 3
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Research projects
      Dates: 1969-1970
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 4
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Research projects
      Dates: 1970
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 5-6
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Research projects
      Dates: 1971
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 7
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Research program
      Dates: 1971-1978
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 8
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Research program
      Dates: 1982-1984
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 9
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Bureau chief
      Dates: 1975-1977
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 10
      Location: General Correspondence

  • Financial Records

    • Description: Analyses of receipts and expenditures
      Dates: 1936-1970
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 11
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Budget status reports
      Dates: 1951-1956
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 12
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Fourteen-year financial study
      Dates: 1925-1938
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 13
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Works Progress Administration direct expenditures by county
      Dates: 1936
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 14
      Location: Financial Records

  • Maps

    • Description: List of maps transferred to the Library Map Collection
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 15
      Location: Maps

  • Organization

    • Description: Design System Research and Development Project (re improvement in manpower utilization, work systems, and productivity in road design)
      Dates: 1969-1971, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 16
      Location: Organization
    • Description: Organization chart
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 17
      Location: Organization

  • Photographs

    • Description: List of photographs transferred to the Photo Archives
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 18
      Location: Photographs

  • Printed Material

    • Description: List of printed material transferred to the Library
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 19
      Location: Printed Material

  • Reports

    • Description: Energy Consumption of Alternate Freight Models
      Dates: 1980
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 19a
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Highway system reclassification
      Dates: 1968
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 20
      Location: Reports
    • Description: National transportation and needs study
      Dates: 1972
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 21
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Planning activities
      Dates: 1967-1973
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 22
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Planning activities
      Dates: 1963-1966
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 23
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Rail - Highway Impact Evaluation Study
      Dates: 1983
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 23a
      Location: Reports

  • Subject Files

    • Description: "American Association of State Highway Officials" (re needed improvements on the federal-aid highway system)
      Dates: 1947-1953
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 24
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Junkyard study
      Dates: 1964-1965
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 25
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Maintenance of replaced primary roads
      Dates: 1950-1964
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 26
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Motor fuel tax (statistics date to 1924)
      Dates: 1937-1947, 1960-1979
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 27
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: National and State Parks Information
      Dates: 1968
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 28
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Research project: archaeological and paleontological recovery and highway construction
      Dates: 1963-1964
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 29
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Research project: engineering use of soils
      Dates: 1960-1970
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 30
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Research project: evaluation of mineral fillers
      Dates: 1965-1968
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 1
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Research project: Livingston landslide
      Dates: 1962-1970
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 2
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Research project: quality control testing
      Dates: 1964-1967
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 3
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Research project: self-luminous highway signs
      Dates: 1966
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 4
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Research project: snow removal and ice control in urban areas
      Dates: 1964-1966
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 5
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Research project: traffic line paint
      Dates: 1966
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 6
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Road life
      Dates: 1937-1968, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 7
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: "Section 210 Project: Highway Needs Study"
      Dates: 1957-1961
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 8
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: "Section 104b Study" (re expanding interstate system)
      Dates: 1959-1960
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 9
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Transportaion Symposium: Transportation in the 1980s: Where Are We Headed (sponsored by Senator Max Baucus)
      Dates: 1980
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 9a
      Location: Subject Files

  • Miscellany

    • Description: Construction contracts statistics
      Dates: 1927-1938
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 10
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Economic analyses of alternate routings, and road and bridge construction
      Dates: 1948-1958
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 11
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Motor vehicle registrations statistics
      Dates: 1938-1975
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 12
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Road mileages and accident statistics
      Dates: 1918-1973, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 13
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Road mileages and travel statistics
      Dates: 1975
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 1
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Road mileages and travel statistics
      Dates: 1976
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 2
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Rural highway speeds statistics
      Dates: 1943-1964
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 1
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Traffic surveys and statistics
      Dates: 1937-1962
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 2
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Vehicle miles statistics
      Dates: 1940-1966
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 3
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Miscellaneous (re building specification diagrams for roads; gross vehicle weight fees; highway improvements; highway survey planning data; maintenance and betterments costs)
      Dates: 1936-1967
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 4
      Location: Miscellany

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Highway Planning--Montana
  • Roads--Design and construction
  • Roads--Montana

Corporate Names

  • United States. Works Progress Administration

Finding aid prepared by MHS Staff; Updated by Lindsey Mick
2004; 2024

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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