Editing Billings, Montana (section)

==Infrastructure==
Several large irrigation ditches, including the [[Billings Bench Water Association Canal]], run through Billings.

===Transportation===
====Airports====
[[Billings Logan International Airport]] is close to downtown; it sits on top of the Rims, a {{convert|500|ft|m|adj=on}} cliff that overlooks the downtown core. Scheduled passenger service and air cargo flights operate from this airfield.

The [[Laurel Municipal Airport]] is a publicly owned public-use airport in [[Laurel, Montana]], {{convert|11|mi|km|spell=in}} southwest of downtown Billings. It has three runways exclusively serving privately operated general aviation aircraft and helicopters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=en&rls=en&psj=1&um=1&q=airports+yellowstone+county+montana&fb=1&gl=us&hq=airports&hnear=Yellowstone,+Montana&cid=7817700564093957969|title=Laurel Municipal Airport |publisher=Google Maps |date=January 1, 1970 |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref>

====Public transportation====
[[File:Billings, Montana, downtown MET transit center.JPG|thumb|Downtown MET transit center]]

The [[Billings METropolitan Transit]] is Billings' public transit system. MET Transit provides fixed-route and paratransit bus service to the City of Billings. All MET buses are accessible by citizens who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices. They are wheelchair lift-equipped and accessible to all citizens who are unable to use the stairs. MET buses are equipped with bike racks for their bike-riding passengers. There are Westend and Downtown transit centers allowing passengers to connect with all routes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ci.billings.mt.us/index.aspx?nid=259 |title=City of Billings, MT – MET Transit |publisher=Ci.billings.mt.us |date=June 8, 2012 |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref> The Billings Bus Terminal is served by [[Express Arrow]], [[Greyhound Lines|Greyhound]], and [[Jefferson Lines]], which also provide regional and interstate bus service.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greyhound.com/ |title=Home |publisher=Greyhound.com |access-date=August 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060312191347/http://www.greyhound.com/ |archive-date=March 12, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Trail system====
[[File:Billings, Montana-Swords Park Trail.JPG|thumb|Billings, Montana-Swords Park Trail]]

Billings has an extensive trail system running throughout the metro area. The rapidly expanding trail system, known as the Heritage trail system, has a large variety of well-maintained trails and pathways.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prpl.info/parks/trails.html |title=Billings Parks & Rec – Trails |publisher=Prpl.info |access-date=August 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704084454/http://www.prpl.info/parks/trails.html |archive-date=July 4, 2012 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>

====Highways====
[[File:US-87 Billings Heights.JPG|thumb|US-87 in Billings Heights]]

[[Interstate 90 in Montana|Interstate 90]] runs east–west through the southern portion of Billings, serving as a corridor between Billings Heights, Lockwood, Downtown, South Hills, Westend, Shiloh, and Laurel. East of Downtown, between Billings Heights and Lockwood, Interstate 90 connects with [[Interstate 94 in Montana|Interstate 94]], which serves as an east–west corridor between Shepherd, Huntley, Lockwood, Downtown, South Hills, Westend, Shiloh, and Laurel via its connection with I-90.

[[Montana Highway 3]] is a north–south highway that runs along the edge of the North Rims connecting Downtown and the West End with the Rehberg Ranch, Indian Cliffs and Billings Heights. [[U.S. Route 87 in Montana|U.S. Highway 87]] runs through the center of Billings Heights and is known as Main Street within the city limits. This is the busiest section of roadway in the state of Montana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mdt.mt.gov/publications/docs/datastats/atr/atrbook12.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328183037/http://mdt.mt.gov/publications/docs/datastats/atr/atrbook12.pdf |archive-date=2013-03-28 |url-status=live |title=Montana's Automatic Traffic Recorders |website=Mdt.mt.gov |date=2012 |access-date=February 25, 2020}}</ref> It connects to U.S. Highway 87 East, which runs through Lockwood as Old Hardin Road.<ref name="google1" />

The 2012 Billings area I-90 corridor planning study recommended many improvements to the corridor from Laurel through Lockwood, such as the addition of lanes and the reconstruction of many of the bridges, interchanges and on-off ramps.<ref>{{cite web|title=Billings Area I-90 Corridor Planning Study|url=http://www.ci.billings.mt.us/DocumentCenter/Home/View/8033|publisher=City of Billings|access-date=March 27, 2013|author=DOWL HKM}}</ref> These recommendations are being implemented via the I-90 Yellowstone River Project, which will widen the corridor to three lanes between the North 27th Street and Lockwood interchanges,<ref>{{cite web|title=I90 Yellowstone River Project Billings|url=https://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/i90yellowstone/|publisher=Montana Department of Transportation|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref> and the East Laurel–West Billings project, which includes multiple upgrades between the Mossman (East Laurel) and West Billings interchanges.<ref>{{cite web|title=I 90: East Laurel - West Billings|url=https://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/eastlaurel/default.aspx|publisher=Montana Department of Transportation|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref> Both projects are slated for completion in 2024.

The Billings Bypass will create a new and more direct connection between the Billings Heights and [[Lockwood, Montana|Lockwood]] by connecting I-90 with Montana Highway 87 and Old Highway 312.<ref>{{cite web|title=Project Description|url=http://www.billingsbypass.com/index.htm|publisher=Billings Bypass EIS|access-date=March 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116111919/http://www.billingsbypass.com/index.htm|archive-date=January 16, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The project will include a new bridge over the Yellowstone River (completed in 2023) and the reconstruction of the I-90 Johnson Lane Interchange. The Billings Bypass is tentatively set for completion in 2027.<ref>{{cite web|title=Billings Bypass Status/Schedule|url=https://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/billingsbypass/schedule.aspx|publisher=Montana Department of Transportation|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref>

====Rail====
There is currently no service, though until 1979 [[Amtrak]]'s ''[[North Coast Hiawatha]]'' stopped at the [[Billings Depot]], serving a Chicago to [[Seattle]] route. Before Amtrak, Billings was well-served by [[Northern Pacific Railway|Northern Pacific]], [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern]], and [[Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad|Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy railroads]] with direct routes to [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]], [[Denver]], Chicago, [[Great Falls, Montana|Great Falls]], and the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]]. (Billings was the northern and western terminus for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad).

The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority was formed in 2020 to advocate for restoring Amtrak's ''North Coast Hiawatha'' route. In 2023, the organization was awarded $500,000 by the [[Corridor Identification and Development Program]] to explore the proposal's logistics and feasibility. The ''North Coast Hiawatha'' received further recognition from its identification in the 2024 Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study.<ref>{{cite news|last=Eggert|first=Amanda|date=February 21, 2024|title=Long-distance rail route through southern Montana garners another nod from feds|url=https://montanafreepress.org/2024/02/21/long-distance-rail-route-through-southern-montana-garners-another-nod-from-feds/|publisher=Montana Free Press|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref>

===Healthcare===
The city's rapidly growing health care sector employed nearly 13,000 people in 2012; they earned $641 million in wages, or about 20 percent of all wages in the city. Employment doubled in 25 years and wage rates in constant dollars grew by 162 percent.<ref>Mike Ferguson, "Billings' health care system a significant part of the local economy, study shows," [http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/billings-health-care-system-a-significant-part-of-the-local/article_343f0a6b-fefa-5a2a-9cc6-4348935a0310.html ''Billings Gazette'' Dec. 14, 2014]</ref> The city has two hospitals with Level I Trauma Center status: St. Vincent Regional Hospital and [[Billings Clinic]].

St. Vincent Regional Hospital was founded in 1898 by the [[Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth]] as St. Vincent Hospital.<ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://svh-mt.org/history|publisher=St. Vincent Healthcare|access-date=February 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321153223/http://svh-mt.org/History|archive-date=March 21, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The name was changed to the present name in 2024.<ref>{{cite news|last=Forte|first=Travia|title=St. Vincents will Now Be Known As St. Vincent Regional Hospital|url=https://www.kulr8.com/news/st-vincents-will-now-be-known-as-st-vincent-regional-hospital/article_ca743be2-af67-11ee-bf6e-5b65cab291c7.html|access-date=March 27, 2024|website=KULR-8|date=January 9, 2024}}</ref> In 2011, the hospital and its 30 clinics employed approximately 2,100 people and received more than 400,000 patient visits each year.<ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Facts|url=http://svh-mt.org/2011_facts|publisher=St. Vincent Healthcare|access-date=February 1, 2013}}</ref> In 2022, the hospital announced plans to build a new 295-bed facility as a replacement for its current building.<ref>{{cite news|last=Conlon|first=Casey|title=St. Vincent Healthcare announces plans to build 'replacement' hospital in Billings|url=https://www.ktvq.com/news/local-news/st-vincent-healthcare-announces-plans-to-build-replacement-hospital-in-billings|access-date=March 28, 2024|website=KULR-8|date=June 2, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=St. Vincent inviting local tradespeople to partner on multi-million-dollar hospital replacement|url=https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/st-vincent-inviting-local-tradespeople-to-partner-on-multi-million-dollar-hospital-replacement/article_b1c2b57c-fb41-11ed-b678-a78b26db87d0.html|access-date=March 28, 2024|work=Billings Gazette|date=May 23, 2023}}</ref> The following year, it achieved [[Trauma center#Level I|Level I Trauma Center]] status.<ref>{{cite news|title=St. Vincent Hospital achieves Level I Trauma Center status|url=https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/intermountain-health-trauma1-billings-montana/article_c260d97c-fdb6-11ee-aecf-bf4ee418a73b.html|access-date=July 17, 2024|work=Billings Gazette|date=April 18, 2024}}</ref> It is the second largest hospital in the state, behind Billings Clinic. St. Vincent Regional Hospital is run by Intermountain Health,<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://intermountainhealthcare.org/about |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=intermountainhealthcare.org |language=en}}</ref> which operates over 30 hospitals across the mountain west, including two others in Montana.

[[Billings Clinic]] started in 1911 as the general practice of Dr. Arthur J. Movius. By 1939, three new general practitioners had joined Dr. Movius's practice and the name was changed to The Billings Clinic. Billings Deaconess Hospital (founded in 1907) merged with Billings Clinic in 1990 to form the current hospital.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of Billings Clinic|url=http://www.billingsclinic.com/body.cfm?id=969|publisher=Billings Clinic|access-date=February 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712112159/http://www.billingsclinic.com/body.cfm?id=969|archive-date=July 12, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Billings Clinic now employs over 4,500 people,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billingsclinic.com/about-us/|title=Billings Clinic - About Us|website=Billingsclinic.com}}</ref> including nearly 600 physicians, and is one of the largest employers in Montana.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Billings Clinic|url=http://www.billingsclinic.com/AboutUs|publisher=Billings Clinic|access-date=February 1, 2013}}</ref> In January 2013, Billings Clinic was added to the Mayo Clinic Care Network, only the 12th hospital nationally to be added to the network and the only such health system in Montana.<ref>{{cite news|last=Uken|first=Cindy|title=Billings Clinic forms formal relationship with Mayo Clinic|url=http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/billings-clinic-forms-formal-relationship-with-mayo-clinic/article_33b16cdb-a285-5ade-839e-93694a98399d.html|access-date=February 1, 2013|newspaper=Billings Gazette|date=January 9, 2013}}</ref> In 2023, Billings Clinic became the first Level I Trauma Center in Montana and Wyoming, covering a region of nearly 550 miles.

Other medical facilities include the Northern Rockies Radiation Oncology Center, Rimrock Foundation (addiction treatment both inpatient and outpatient), Advanced Care Hospital of Montana (a 40-bed long-term acute-care hospital), South Central Montana Mental Health Center, Billings VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic, Billings Clinic Research Center (pharmaceutical field trials, osteoporosis are two long-time focuses), Billings MRI, City/County Public Health's Riverstone Health, HealthSouth Surgery Center and Physical Therapy offices, Baxter/Travenol BioLife plasma collection center, and many independent practices.

===Public safety===
The [[Billings Police Department]] is the main [[law enforcement agency]] in Billings. It is the largest city police force in [[Montana]], with about 162 sworn officers and 80 civilian employees. There are nine police beats.

The Billings Fire Department was founded in 1883 as a volunteer fire company named the Billings Fire Brigade. The Yellowstone Hook and Ladder Company was founded in 1886; that company was disbanded in 1888 after the mayor criticized the group for how that handled a fire, leaving the town without a fire department for almost six months.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of the Billings Fire Department|url=http://ci.billings.mt.us/index.aspx?NID=851|publisher=City of Billings|access-date=February 24, 2013}}</ref> The last volunteer fire company, Maverick Hose Company, served as the city's fire department until 1918.<ref>{{cite web|title=Taking Off|url=http://ci.billings.mt.us/index.aspx?NID=1789|publisher=City of Billings|access-date=February 24, 2013|archive-date=June 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629212715/http://ci.billings.mt.us/index.aspx?NID=1789|url-status=dead}}</ref> The modern fire department has eight stations, employs 179 people, and received a class two rating by ISO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fire {{!}} City of Billings, MT - Official Website |url=https://www.billingsmt.gov/2884/Fire |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=www.billingsmt.gov}}</ref>