Editing Billings, Montana (section)

===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>