article by Anna Rogers | photos by Arianna Skoog

Nestled along the railroad in downtown Billings, the charming and historic Montana Avenue is teeming with life. This community hotspot features dining, entertainment, shopping and more, all housed within beautiful brick steeped in local history. With countless residents and visitors hitting the sidewalks and streets of Montana Avenue, whether for work or play, on a bright, bluebird day or to enjoy the street’s nightlife, one issue is paramount: safety.

Businesses on Montana Avenue have long recognized the importance of safety in protecting patrons and keeping their businesses thriving. The Historic Montana Avenue Association, a group of neighboring businesses and property owners, is working together to enhance the area.

The Billings Depot is a founding member of the association. “We formed the Historic Montana Avenue Association to work on improving the beauty, walkability, and economic development of this district,” explains Michelle Williams, Executive Director of The Billings Depot. The group meets regularly and works with other organizations in the city and state, like Downtown Billings Alliance and Billings Public Works, to access grant funding and implement safety measures.

SAFETY MEASURES

The Historic Montana Avenue Association has undertaken several initiatives to address the community's safety concerns, which range from security to pedestrian accessibility.

SECURITY

The Association has implemented several robust measures to increase security along Montana Avenue, which is beautiful and lively. For example, the street lights have been upgraded to LED lighting to improve visibility. The Association has collaborated with the Downtown Billings Police to ensure a more secure environment and has even hired private security for regular patrols.

“Several years ago, we hired Sundown Security, a local security guard service, to patrol Montana Avenue and the alleys,” says Mike Schaer, Chairman and Founder of Computers Unlimited. “They drive through every morning and walk the area every evening.” Many businesses and property owners along Montana Avenue pay for their services monthly.

The security service ensures people are not loitering out on the streets, doorways, and other closed environments, and deters any nefarious activities. “Over the period of several years, this service has been very effective,” Schaer says. “Our employees and customers feel very safe when they come into our businesses and buildings.”

Montana Avenue businesses also use the security service to assist in handling incidents in or outside their buildings.

PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

Pedestrian safety is another concern along Montana Avenue, due to its unique positioning as a state highway and a walkable area for shopping, brewery-hopping, dining, and entertainment.

Lack of visibility across the three lanes of Montana Avenue when seeing pedestrians attempting to cross has been challenging, especially if they are emerging from behind a parallel-parked vehicle. Many projects are in the works to improve the safety and walkability of this area. One of these, implemented by the Association, is a pedestrian crosswalk installed in 2022 by McCormick Cafe, with plans to install a second crosswalk soon.

“These are just a few of the ways the Association's proactive approach is enhancing safety and accessibility for everyone enjoying the businesses along Montana Avenue,” Williams says.

Originally printed in the April 2025 issue of Simply Local Magazine

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