MTLRS405.xml Guide to the Montana Department of Transportation Billings District Office records 1947-2001 Montana Department of Transportation, Billings District Office records Finding aid prepared by Ellie Letterman; Updated by Lindsey Mick Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) Montana Historical Society 2012; 2024
Helena, MT
Finding aid encoded by Ellie Letterman; Updated by Lindsey Mick 2012; 2024 Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard). Montana Historical SocietyArchives RS 405_RS 492 Montana. Department of Transportation. Montana Department of Transportation, Billings District Office records 1947-2001 30.4 linear feet This collection is a sub-subgroup (Office) of the Montana Department of Transportation records, RS 492. The Billings District Office currently (as of 2024) operates under the Director's Office Division. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Transportation records. This collection contains correspondence, subject files, reports, and minutes of the Montana Department of Transportation Billings District Office, and Lewiston Area Office. 40:2-1 English

The Montana State Highway Commission was created in 1913 by the state Legislative Assembly. The original Commission was composed of three members. In 1917 new legislation altered the organization of the Commission by authorizing the appointment of twelve members according to geographic highway districts. Membership was changed again in 1921 to three members appointed by the Governor and in 1941 to five members, also appointed by the Governor. In 1971 the Commission was renamed the Montana Department of Highways, created by Chapter 7 of the Executive Reorganization Act of 1971 and implemented by executive order of the Governor on December 16, 1971. The Department of Highways took over all but the advisory functions of the State Highway Commission.

By 1972, the Department consisted of seven divisions: the Legal Division, Personnel Division, Centralized Services Division, Engineering Division, Motor Pool Division, Gross Vehicle Weight Division, and the Maintenance Division. Each division is headed by an administrator. The Centralized Services Division, Engineering Division, Motor Pool Division, Gross Vehicle Weight Division, and the Maintenance Division are furthered sub-divided into bureaus, headed by Chiefs. In 1991, the Department of Highways became the Department of Transportation. This was primarily a name change. However, there were some structural and administrative changes.

The Highway Department, the Department of Highways, and Department of Transportation maintained regional offices in the five commissioner districts: Billings, Butte, Glendive, Great Falls, and Missoula. The District Engineer (later called the District Administrator) was the chief administrative officer in each district office. District office files document the activities of the district administrators, engineers, maintenance crew, and other district office employees. The district offices addressed administrative, functional, and project related issues of their particular area, including: highway needs, current construction projects, HR/training for employees, road design, federal and state aid and grants, reports to the Department of Highways/ Department of Transportation in Helena regarding general maintenance, construction, and area concerns, etc. District administrators held meetings every 6 weeks. Other employees in the district and area offices also attended duty-specific meetings with outside district staff members; including maintenance crew meetings, engineer meetings etc., in order to maintain consistent communication among the districts and with other state agencies regarding programs, projects, and district goals.

The files of the Billings District Office and the Lewistown Area Office were kept by the District Engineers/Administrators Ray Ventura and Bruce Barrett

These records of the Billings District Office includes the files of the Billings office along with those of the district area office located in Lewistown. Montana Department of Transportation Billings District records include the district’s records as part of the Department of Highways, and after reorganization in 1991, as part of the Department of Transportation. There were some structural and administrative changes for the Department. Though the function of the Billings district did not significantly change, the files were kept separate.

The Billings District Office subgroup includes interoffice correspondence (1971-1983, 1989-2001); incoming correspondence (1989-2001); outgoing correspondence (1989-2001); general correspondence (1967-1982, 1989-2001); minutes of Project Managers meetings (1986-2001) and of Supervisors meetings (1986-2001); Engineer meetings (1989-2001); and reports and subject files (1947-1984, 1989-2001). Correspondence and subject files document such things as various maintenance projects, historical markers, rest areas, snow removal, vandalism, long-range building plans, the Emergency Building Temperature Restrictions Program (1979), gasoline allocation, weed control, and public and municipal concerns. The majority of the files were those kept by Ray Ventura, Billings District Engineer (1989-2001). The interoffice correspondence includes separate files for internal Billings Division memos, and memos and correspondence coming in from and going out to headquarters in Helena. The correspondence documents area projects, coordination on projects with other district and area offices, coordination with other MDT agencies such as Right-of-Way, Rail, Maintenance, Planning, and Construction. The minutes consist of meetings of the Project Managers, Division Supervisors, Administrative and Office Staff. Some maps and photographs are included. The files were kept by the District Engineers, later called the District Administrators, Ray Ventura and Bruce Barrett.

The Lewistown Area Office subgroup is divided into two separate series, Correspondence and Subject Files. Topics documented in the files include flood control, general maintenance, collaboration with the Highway Patrol, bridges and building maintenance and construction, as well as federally funded projects and maintenance, including Works Project Administration (WPA) projects.

Files are arranged into two subgroups: Billings District Office and Lewistown Area Office. The subgroups are divided further into series.

Collection is open for research.

The Montana Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

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.

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

Acquisition information available upon request

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Montana Historical Society Archives catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search under these terms.

Roads--Design and construction--Administration--Montana. Transportation. --Montana. Helena (Mont.)--Politics and government Billings (Mont.) Lewistown (Mont.) Montana Transportation Detailed Description of the Collection Billings District, Department of Highways 1943-1991 Interoffice Correspondence 1/1-23 Billings District (memos) 1989-1991 1/24-28 Incoming, Helena (re: payroll, administrative, etc) 1971-1982 1/29-33 Incoming, Helena 1989-1990 2/1-14 Incoming, Helena 1989-1990 3/1-15 Incoming, Helena 1990-1991 4/1-8 Incoming, Helena 1991 4/9-19 Outgoing, Helena 1989-1990 5/1-16 Outgoing, Helena 1990-1991 6/1-23 Incoming correspondence, general 1989-1991 6/24-34 Outgoing correspondence, general 1989-1990 7/1-14 Outgoing correspondence, general 1990-1991 7/15-24 Interoffice, general 1967-1982 8/1-16 Interoffice, miscellaneous 1989-1990 9/1-14 Interoffice, miscellaneous 1990-1991 10/1-7 Interoffice, miscellaneous 1991 Meeting Minutes 10/8 Project Manager Meeting Minutes 1986-1987 10/9 Supervisor Meeting Minutes 1986-1987 10/10 Montana State Highway Commission Meeting Minutes 1989-1990 10/11 Project Manager/Staff Meeting Minutes 1989-1990 10/12 District Engineers Meeting Minutes 1989-1990 10/13 Coordination Meetings – MDOH with Consultants 1989-1990 10/14 Administrative Staff Meeting Minutes 1989-1990 10/15 Field Project Manager Meeting Minutes 1990-1991 10/16 Maintenance Section Supervisor Meeting Minutes 1990-1991 10/17 Montana State Highway Commission Meeting Minutes 1990-1991 10/18 District Engineer Meetings 1991 10/19 District Staff Meeting Minutes 1992-1993 10/20 Montana State Highway Commission 1992-1993 10/21 District Shop Monthly Meeting Minutes 1992-1993 10/22 Office Staff Monthly Meetings 1992-1993 10/23 District Construction Staff Meeting Minutes 1992-1993 Subject Files 10/24 Annual Maintenance Report & Interstate Maintenance Guidelines Certification 1988 10/25 Billings Bypass Study 1943 10/26 Buildings and Maintenance Yards 1971-1989 11/1 Construction Management System Manual 1981 11/2 CMS Construction Reports 1989-1990 11/3 Construction Review Reports 1989-1990 11/4 Consultants Report of Progress 1989-1990 11/5 Consultants Report of Progress 1990-1991 11/6 CMS/PMS Reviews and Surveys 1990 11/7 Daily House/Senate Bill Status Report 1991 11/8 Director’s Reports 1989 11/9 Federal Highway Administration Inspection Reports 1990-1991 11/10-12 General Maintenance 1968-1984 11/13 High Hazard Sign Projects 1975-1979 11/14 Historical Markers 1966-1979 11/15 Highway Commission – Maps and Correspondence 1947-1961 11/16 Highway Striping 1979-1982 11/17 King Ave and Lockwood Interchange Repair 1980 11/18 Letting Lists 1990-1991 11/19 Location and Design Public Hearings 1989-1990 11/20 Maps 1960-1971 11/21 News – Press Releases 1989-1991 11/22 News – Press Releases 1990-1991 11/23 Railroad Study 1961-1962 11/24 Rest Area Maintenance 1954-1976 11/25 Rest Area Maintenance and Construction 1968-1979 11/26 Secondary Roads 1940-1968 11/27 Secondary Roads 1968-1978 11/28 Sectionman’s Meetings 1986-1993 11/29 Standard Emergency Procedures Manual 1984 12/1 Status of Federal Aid and Highway Funds 1990-1991 12/2 Taft / 27th Street 1979-1980 12/3 Vandalism 1969-1980 12/4 Weeds – Big Horn 1952-1971 12/5 Weeds – Carbon 1950-1978 12/6 Weeds – Stillwater 1951-1975 13/1 Weeds – Yellowstone 1949-1982 13/2-3 Weeds – General 1953-1973 13/4 West Billings Beautification 1970-1975 Billings District, Department of Transportation 1991-2001 Correspondence 14/1-18 Correspondence (memos) 1991 July -1992 December 14/19-32 Incoming, Helena 1991 July- 1992 February 15 Incoming, Helena 1992 February-December 16 Outgoing correspondence, Helena 1991 July -1992 November 17/1-18 Incoming correspondence, general 1991 July-1992 December 17/19-37 Outgoing correspondence, general 1991 July-1992 December 18/1 Miscellaneous correspondence 1991 July-1992 February 19/1-6 Miscellaneous correspondence 1992 March-May 19/6-18 Incoming correspondence (memos) 1993 January-December 19/19-23 Incoming Correspondence, Helena 1993 January-June 20/1-20 Incoming Correspondence, Helena 1993 June-December 20/21-30 Outgoing Correspondence, Helena 1993 January-June 21/1-4 Incoming Correspondence, Helena 1993 July-September 21/5/12 Outgoing Correspondence, Helena 1993 October-December 21/12-24 Incoming Correspondence, general 1993 January-December 21/25-35 Outgoing Correspondence, general 1993 January-September 22/1-4 Outgoing Correspondence, general 1993 October-December 22/5-28 Miscellaneous Correspondence 1993 January-September 23/1-19 Miscellaneous Correspondence 1993 August-December 23/19-37 Correspondence (memos) 1994 January-1995 June 24 Incoming, Helena 1994 January-December 25/1-11 Incoming, Helena 1994 December-1995 June 25/12-30 Outgoing Correspondence, Helena 1994 January-November 26/1-8 Outgoing Correspondence, Helena 1994 December-1995 June 26/9-22 Incoming Correspondence, general 1994 January-1995 June 26/23-39 Outgoing Correspondence, general 1994 January-1995 December 26/40-41 Miscellaneous Correspondence 1994 January-February 27/1-27 Miscellaneous Correspondence 1994 February-May 27/29-31 General Correspondence 1995-1998 28/1 Incoming, Helena 1997-1998 28/2-4 Outgoing Correspondence, Helena 1997-1999 28/5-7 Outgoing Correspondence, general 1997-2000 Meeting Minutes 28/8 Design Review Committee Meetings 1993-1995 28/9 Design Staff Meeting Meetings 1993-1995 28/10 District Administrators (Engineers) Meetings 1993-1995 28/11 District Administrators Meetings 1996 28/12 District Administrators Meetings 1997 28/13 District Administrators Meetings 1997 28/14 District Administrators Meetings 1998 28/15 District Administrators Meetings 1999 28/16 District Administrators Meetings 2000 28/17 District Administrators Meetings 2000 28/18 District Administrators Meetings 2001 28/19 Director’s Administrative Staff Meetings 1996-1997 28/20 Director’s Administrative Staff Meetings 1997 28/21 Director’s Administrative Staff Meetings 1997-1998 28/22 Director’s Administrative Staff Meetings 1997-1998 28/23 Director’s Administrative Staff Meetings 1999-2000 28/24 Director’s Administrative Staff Meetings 1999-2000 28/25 Director’s Administrative Staff Meetings 2000-2001 28/26 Director’s Administrative Staff Meetings 2001 28/27 District Centralized Services Supervisor/ Personnel Specialist Meetings 1994 28/28 District Staff Meetings 1994-1995 28/29 Engineer Services Meetings 1993-1995 28/30 Maintenance Chief Meetings 1993-1995 28/31 Montana Transportation Commission Meetings 1997-1998 29/1 Montana Transportation Commission Meetings 1999-2000 29/2 Montana Transportation Commission Meetings 2000 29/3 Montana Transportation Commission Meetings 2001 29/4 Office Staff Monthly Meetings 2000-2001 29/5 Sectionman Meetings, 1995 1991-1997 29/6 State Highway Commission Meetings 1994 29/7 State Highway Commission Meetings 1995 Subject Files 29/8 AFSCME – General 1995-1996 29/9 Approach Permits 1995-1996 29/10 Billings Bike and Foot Paths 1992-1994 29/11 Bridges – General 1996-1997 29/12 Bridges and Roads – Historic Preservation Plan 1994-1996 29/13 Buildings and Land 1995-1996 29/14 City Parks and Rest Areas 1995 29/15 CMS Construction Reports 1995 29/16 CMS Construction Reports 1995-1996 29/17 CMS Construction Reports 1997-1998 29/18 CMS Staffing Reports 1995-1996 29/19 Consolidated Manpower Reports 1992-1996 29/20 Construction Review Reports 1994-1995 29/21 Department of Environmental Quality Fish, Wildlife, and Parks 1996-1997 29/22 Director’s Response type="inclusive" encodinganalog="245$f"1995 29/23 Director’s Response 1996-1997 29/24 Environmental Monthly Status Report Feb. 1996 29/25 Governor’s Office – Executive Orders 1996-1997 29/26 Handouts, Reports, Whitepapers 1995 29/27 Hazardous Waste Management 1997 29/28 Intermodal TransPlan 21 1995-1997 29/29 Legal Claims, Lawsuit Activity 1993-1996 29/30 Legislation – General 1995 29/31 Letters of Approval and Authorization 1994-1995 29/32 Long Range Building Program 1994 29/33 Maintenance Review Reports 1994-1996 29/34 MDT Director’s Response 1997 29/35 Miscellaneous 1989-2006 29/36 MPEA – Employees Union 1991-1995 29/37 Natural Resources and Conservation 1996 29/38 News Releases 1995 29/39 Privatization Proposals 1994 29/40 Privatization Proposals 1996 29/41 Project Nominations 1995-1996 29/42 Public Notices – General 1995 29/43 Research and Review Projects 1995-1996 29/44 Right-Way Usage 1996-1998 29/45 Secondary Roads 1996-1997 29/46 Step 6 Report 1996 29/47 Storm Water Runoff Tracking Permit 1995-1996 29/48 Study of Feasibility of Contracting Out June 1996 29/49 Suggested Reply for the Governor 1990-1993 29/50 Traffic Studies 1997-1998 29/51 Traffic Signs and Signals 1997 29/52 Treatment of Historic and Prehistoric Remains 1989-1995 Lewistown Area Office 1927-1972 Correspondence 30 Correspondence (memos) 1984 July-1989 March 31/1-10 Correspondence (memos) 1989 April-1991 June Subject Files 31/11-15 Bridges 1927-1972 31/15 Budgets 1937-1963 31/16-17 Buildings 1945-1963 31/18 Buildings - Jordan 1945-1973 31/19 Buildings and Properties – Lewistown 1960-1975 31/20 Buildings and Properties 1963-1969 31/21 Emergency Projects 1949-1953 31/22-24 Federal and Secondary Roads 1936-1963 31/25-28 General Maintenance 1929-1973 32/1 General Maintenance 1944-1959 32/2 General Maintenance Costs / Federal Aid Projects 1932-1955 32/3 General Maintenance Costs 1953-1966 32/4-5 Legal 1956-1968 32/6 Legal and Highway Patrol 1935-1955 32/7 Lewistown Missile Equipment Building 1968-1977 32/8 Missile Roads Snow Removal 1962-1975 33/1 Missouri River Bridges and Buildings 1958-1975 33/2 Miscellaneous 1942-1960 33/3 Road Reports 1955-1962 33/4 Special Maintenance 1965-1972 34/1 Open Pit Mining 1972 December 34/2 Open Range Livestock Hazard Study 1962 34/3-7 Planning and Fatal Accident Surveys 1961-1972 34/8-10 Procedural 1934-1971 34/11-13 Right of Way 1930-1977 34/14 Weed Control 1940-1967