1. (1) The Department of Transportation was created by Chapter 512 of the Montana Session Laws of 1991 and implemented by Executive Order No. 11-91 of the Governor on July 1, 1991, and as amended by Chapter 306 of the Montana Session Laws of 2025. The department’s purpose is to provide Montana with transportation systems that are carefully designed, built, and maintained to service communities and strengthen local economies.
2. (2) The department is headed by the director, who is appointed by the Governor. Within the director’s office are the deputy director, the Communications Office, and Legal Services, who report to the director. The deputy director oversees the Business Solutions Office and the Policy Office. The department is further divided into four operational programs and five districts that report directly to the director. The programs are the Asset Strategy, Operations and Maintenance Program, the General Operations Program, the Project Development and Delivery Program, the Statewide Planning and Modal Operations Program, and five district offices. Each program is headed by a program manager, and each district is headed by a district administrator. The Transportation Commission and the Aeronautics Board are attached to the department for administrative purposes only as provided in 2-15-121, MCA.

3. (3) The organizational structure and allocation of functions are as follows:

   1. (a) The director is responsible for the administration of all functions vested by law in the department and for establishing policy to be followed by the department. The director’s office provides strategic leadership, organizational priorities, and alignment with the department’s mission.
   2. (b) The Asset Strategy, Operations and Maintenance Program ensures the functionality and safety of Montana’s roadway network, overseeing over 25,000 lane miles through activities such as snow and ice control, pavement preservation, signage, vegetation management, and traveler information. It also leads disaster response coordination and manages infrastructure inventory, long-range building projects, land mobile radio communications, and quality control. The program includes two divisions: the Maintenance Division which provides technical assistance to the districts, establishes a statewide annual work program and plan, and provides training as well as a maintenance manual; and the Motor Carrier Services Division which regulates commercial motor carrier operations through safety enforcement, dyed fuel oversight, credentialing, fleet registration, permitting, and compliance with state and federal safety standards.
   3. (c) The department is geographically divided into five districts, with each district equivalent to a division. The administrative head of each district is the district administrator. Each district administrator is responsible for the following functions within their district: preconstruction design, construction, and maintenance on all interstate, primary, and some secondary and urban roads. The district office is also the initial contact with the public, in most cases, for encroachment permits, utility occupancy, approaches, and outdoor advertising. The following cities each contain a district office: Billings, Butte, Glendive, Great Falls, and Missoula.
   4. (d) The General Operations Program provides administrative support services for the department, including accounting and budgeting, civil rights and equal opportunity, human resources and occupational safety, accounting and procurement services, appropriations management, information technology, and compliance review. The program includes: the Audit Services Bureau, which promotes effectiveness by providing management with independent, objective assurance and consulting services designed to add value and improve the department's overall operation; the Civil Rights Bureau, which manages programs to ensure that all beneficiaries and potential beneficiaries of department programs are offered an equal participation opportunity; the Fiscal Services Division, which provides accounting, motor fuel and aviation fuel tax collection, federal fiscal management, purchasing, budgeting, cash management, and inventory control for the department; the Information Services Division which coordinates, designs, installs, and maintains the department’s information technology infrastructure; and the People Operations Bureau, which includes Human Resources, Occupational Health and Safety, Payroll, and Workforce Planning.
   5. (e) The Project Development and Delivery Program is responsible for the lifecycle of construction projects – from initial planning in the long-range work plan through final construction. The program’s responsibilities include project design, right-of-way acquisition, environmental compliance, contract bidding and awards, and construction contract administration. The program ensures quality through documentation, inspection, and testing of highway projects. The program also delivers traffic improvements and educational initiatives to enhance public safety and welfare.
   6. (f) The Statewide Planning and Modal Operations Program guides Montana’s multimodal transportation strategy through planning, infrastructure oversight, and operational support. The program manages statewide transportation planning, administers behavioral safety programs and initiatives, and coordinates with developers and agencies. It includes the Aeronautics Division which supports airport and airway infrastructure, aviation safety, and aerial search and rescue; administers funding for airport improvements; and operates 14 state-owned airports, including the commercial service airport near West Yellowstone.
4. (4) The Transportation Commission consists of five members appointed by the Governor for terms specified in 2-15-124, MCA. The Transportation Commission awards construction contracts, designates highway routes, and exercises quasi-judicial powers over outdoor advertising.
5. (5) The Aeronautics Board consists of nine members appointed by the Governor for terms specified in 2-15-124, MCA. The board awards airport grants and loans as provided for in 67-1-304, MCA.
6. (6) General inquiries regarding the department, the Transportation Commission, or the Aeronautics Board may be addressed to the director. Specific inquiries regarding functions of a program or district may be addressed to the program manager or district administrator. All requests for hearings, declaratory rulings, and for participation in rulemaking may be addressed to the director unless the notice in the Montana Administrative Register makes specific provisions for submissions.

7. (7) The director and all program managers can be reached by writing to the Montana Department of Transportation, 2701 Prospect Avenue, P.O. Box 201001, Helena, Montana 59620-1001 or phoning (406) 444-6200.

   1. (a) The district administrators can be reached by writing to:

      Billings District, 424 Morey Street, P.O. Box 20437, Billings, Montana 59104

      Butte District, 3751 Wynne Street, P.O. Box 3068, Butte, Montana 59702

      Glendive District, 503 North River Avenue, P.O. Box 890, Glendive, Montana 59330

      Great Falls District, 200 Smelter Avenue NE, P.O. Box 1359, Great Falls, Montana 59403

      Missoula District, 2100 West Broadway Street, P.O. Box 7039, Missoula, Montana 59807

8. (8) Chart of Agency Organization. A descriptive chart of the Department of Transportation follows:

   

Authorizing statute(s): 2-4-201, MCA

Implementing statute(s): 2-15-112, MCA

History: Eff. 12/31/72; AMD, Eff. 6/4/74; AMD, Eff. 12/4/74; AMD, Eff. 7/2/79; AMD, Eff. 3/31/82; AMD, Eff. 3/31/84; AMD, Eff. 3/31/86; AMD, Eff. 3/31/87; AMD, Eff. 3/31/88; AMD, Eff. 6/30/89; AMD, Eff. 3/31/91; AMD, Eff. 4/1/96; AMD, Eff. 10/8/99; AMD, Eff. 9/30/04; AMD, Eff. 12/31/06; AMD, Eff. 3/31/08; AMD, Eff. 9/30/09; AMD, Eff. 3/31/12; AMD, Eff. 9/30/12; AMD, Eff. 12/31/12; AMD, Eff. 6/30/14; AMD, Eff. 6/30/15; AMD, Eff. 3/31/16; AMD, Eff. 6/30/20; AMD, Eff. 9/23/25.