Transportation in Montana comprises many different forms of travel. Montana shares a long border with Canada, hence international crossings are prevalent in the northern section of the state; there are 13 road crossings and one rail crossing.
As the fourth-largest state in the United States,[1] journeying from one side to the other takes a long time. The state has an extensive network of roads, including state highways, Interstate highways and U.S. routes. Rail connections are also well-established and were an important method of transportation in Montana since the 1880s. Within individual cities, public transportation includes high-frequency bus services.
For travel further afield, 16 airports are operational within Montana. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Gallatin County is the busiest airport and there are another seven major airports and eight minor ones providing commercial services.
Montana has approximately 70,000 miles (110,000 km) of highways which start in, pass through or are entirely inside the state.[2]
Prior to the creation of the state highway system and national numbered routes, a series of named auto trails traversed Montana and provided connections to other states. These included the Yellowstone Trail, Buffalo Trail, Vigilante Trail, and Green Trail.[3]
Interstate highways
1,198.8 miles (1,929.3 km) of the Interstate Highway System, which serve as a thoroughfare for long-distance road journeys, is contained within Montana, and all of these are maintained by the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT). Speed limits are generally 80 mph (130 km/h) in rural areas and 65 mph (105 km/h) in urban areas.
In addition to these primary routes, Montana has a large number of state highways and smaller secondary routes.[5] Speed limits on these roads are generally posted up to 70 mph (110 km/h) along rural areas.
Vehicles
Vehicles themselves in Montana are required to display a Montana license plate on the back and front[6] by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Eight different primary plate designs have been issued since drivers were required to register their cars in 1913.[7]
Across Montana, the bus network does not have a large amount of intercity routes but Jefferson Lines goes to cities including Billings and Bozeman. Other carriers include Express Arrow.
Local bus service
Some individual cities have their own bus network provided by a transit corporation.
Missoula is served by ASUM Transportation[8][9] and Mountain Line;[10] The Mountain Line public transit system runs twelve services around the city and the University of Montana. It is indirectly controlled by the local government which have appointed members onto the board of the transportation district.
In terms of freight transportation, the BNSF Railway is the largest freight railroad with 1,983 miles (3,191 km) of track in Montana. The Class IIMontana Rail Link operates 817 miles (1,315 km) of track leased from BNSF within the state. A number of other small railroad companies also exist.[17]
Defunct railroads
Many now-defunct historical railroads existed in the industrial period of the 19th and early 20th century:[15]
