The Planning Survey of the Montana 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 gathering any and all types of data that would be beneficial for highway planning. In order to fulfill that responsibility the Division was structured in 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 were collected by means of both permanent and portable counters, as well as by visual counts and classifications. In addition to traffic counting, the Traffic Section 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 authorized to prepare state highway maps, county maps, and city plats. It was also to collect data concerning county roads and to maintain a continuing inventory of 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 completion 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 Section, and, in 1971 following the statewide reorganization, became the Planning and Research Bureau under the new Department of Highways.

The Planning and Research Bureau was established within the Engineering Division of the Department of Highways. The Bureau was divided into various sections through the years, but the basic responsibilities of the Bureau remained essentially the same. Bureau personnel conducts studies and compiles statistics about traffic, accidents, road use, road wear, tourism, fuel taxes, bridge life, truck weights, pavement markings, safety, and many other topics. The Bureau also produces maps, undertakes one-time research studies, classifies roads, and lets contracts for highway construction. Due to overlapping jurisdictions Bureau personnel have much interaction with federal and county officials.