Geospatial Information Section
The Geospatial Information Section (GeoInfo) collects, manages, maintains, reports and maps basic road inventory data for all roads open to public travel in Montana.
Maps
GeoInfo develops and maintains a number of maps including the official Montana Highway Map. The section's city, county, and urban highway maps include all roads that are open to public travel in Montana. GeoInfo also develops and maintains rail and bicycle maps, available in hard copy form.
Many other specialty maps are also developed and maintained by the GeoInfo Section. Call 406-444-6103 to check availability
Road Log
The GeoInfo section also produces the Road Log, which is a compilation of the basic location and attribute information for all roads in Montana that are open to public travel. It serves as MDT's common road and highway referencing system. It includes 81 data items including roadway location information, surface type, width, length, number of lanes, etc. Online electronic forms are available to MDT personnel and hard copy reports are available for $50 each by calling 406-444-6103.
Primary and National Highway Data Summary
Primary and National Highway Data Summary (PNDS) is a compilation of highway related information for the National Highway System and Primary highways. Beginning in 2005, it also includes information on Secondary system highways. Published in hard copy form, the report reflects a graphic representation of specific roadway segments with corresponding textual information consisting of 17 commonly used information items including location, year built and improved, width, length, traffic data, pavement condition, and safety ratings.
Call 406-444-7239, to view copies of this report.
Fuel Tax Allocation
The GeoInfo Section is responsible for calculating annual fuel tax allocations to the cities and counties in Montana. The specifics of this program, along with the answers to commonly asked questions, are available in the Q & A Fuel Tax Allocation document found in the MDT publications index.
The GeoInfo Section is also responsible for calculating the annual allocation of Secondary funds to the five financial districts. The allocations are based on land area, rural population, and rural bridge square footage.
Highway Performance Monitoring System
Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) is a specialized highway inventory program required by the Federal Highway Administration. It is primarily used to provide data that reflects the extent, condition, performance, use, and operating characteristics of the nation's highways. These data are also used for assessing highway system performance under FHWA's strategic planning process and for apportioning federal-aid funds. All states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico are required to submit annual reports. United States territories are also required to report limited HPMS summary data.
Traffic Data Collection Section
The Traffic Data Collection and Analysis Section (TDCA) collects, monitors, manages, maintains, and reports traffic and travel–related data on Montana's National Highway, Primary, Secondary, and Urban and State highway systems. Limited data is also collected and reported on local roads.
Vehicle volume data (number of vehicles on a given roadway section) are collected by machines at approximately 6,000 locations across the state. Of these locations, 105 sites make up MDT’s continuous count program. Continuous count stations (CCS) collect traffic data on a daily basis. 62 of the continuous stations are Automatic Traffic Recorder (ATR) sites and 43 are Weigh In Motion (WIM) sites. In addition to providing volume information, a significant number of ATRs and WIMs provide information such as vehicle length, classification, truck weight data and unbiased speed data.
Traffic is monitored anywhere between 24 hours to continuously throughout the year, depending on the type of traffic monitoring site. Data collected at the continuous count stations (CCS) can be viewed on–line or hard copies are available for $10 each by calling 406-444-7217.
TDCA publishes the Traffic By Sections report every year. It includes traffic volumes by specific route segments on all routes of the National Highway, Primary, Secondary, and Urban highway systems. The report is available on-line or hard copies are available for $50 each by calling 406-444-6122.