The Planning Survey of the State Highway Commission was established in 1936, jointly financed by the state and the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads. Also known as the Planning Survey Division, it was charged with developing any and all types of data that would be beneficial for highway planning. In order to fulfill that responsibility the Division was structured into three principal sections: Traffic, Mapping, and Statistics. The Traffic Section was given the responsibility of collecting data concerning the movement of motor vehicles on state highways, county roads, and city streets. The data was collected by means of both permanent and portable counters, as well as by visual counts and classifications. In addition to traffic counting, the Traffic Division was given a number of other functions including the weighing of trucks to obtain statistical information; the reporting of the number of accidents by location, type of accident, and economic cost; special urban transportation surveys for cities; origin destination surveys; and parking surveys. The Mapping Section was to prepare state highway maps, county maps, and city plats. The Mapping Section was also to collect data concerning county roads and to maintain a continuing inventory of all such roads in each county, including the type of surface of each road as well as mileages. The Mapping Section also performed special drafting of charts, graphs, and special exhibits. The Statistical Section was responsible for the compilation and reporting of a variety of financial and statistical data pertaining to highways, roads, and streets throughout Montana. These data were reported in published format and were also included in the summaries prepared by the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads for all states. The name of the Montana Highway Planning Survey was changed in 1966 to the Planning Survey Section, and, in 1971 following the statewide reorganization, became the Planning and Research Bureau under the new Department of Highways.