HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-27-17 Public Comment - M. Noll - Kagy Boulevard and Fairway Drive IntersectionFrom:Mary Noll
To:Agenda
Cc:Mark Yates
Subject:Fairway Drive
Date:Tuesday, June 27, 2017 3:29:52 PM
Attachments:Ciity of Bozeman - Kagy (1).docx
Bozeman City Commissioners,
On behalf of the presidents of Westridge Meadows Condominium Association and Meadows
South Condominium Association, I am sending you a copy of the letter that was sent to CraigWollard on June 12, 2017 expressing our extreme concern regarding the intersection of Kagy
Boulevard and Fairway Drive.
Neither of our presidents has received a response to this letter; we ask that you give our lettercareful attention, consult with Craig Wollard and provide a response as soon as possible.
Thank you and thank you for your work for the City of Bozeman.
Mary Noll
marypnoll@gmail.com
Craig Woolard Director of Public Works
PO Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771-1230
June 12, 2017 Mr. Wollard,
This letter is written on behalf of the residents of Westridge Meadows Condominium Association and Meadows South Condominium Association located on Fairway Drive, Bozeman, Montana
to express our concern regarding the extremely dangerous intersection of Kagy Boulevard with both Fairway Drive and Carol Place.
There are two circumstances that make the intersection of Kagy Blvd and Fairway Drive to the south and Carol Place to the north very dangerous. One issue is the proximity of the curves on
Kagy both to the east and the west of this intersection. These curves allow for very limited
visibility of on-coming traffic when trying to enter Kagy either with same direction traffic, to cross the intersection or to cross the median and travel with same direction traffic. The second
problem is the speed limit of 35 MPH which exacerbates the problem of visibility of traffic coming around either curve prior to intersecting Fairway Drive and Carol Place.
It is extremely difficult and dangerous to enter Kagy with traffic coming at 35 MPH or more from either direction. The situation described above is further complicated when another vehicle is trying to accomplish the same thing across Kagy (from either Fairway Drive or Carol Place). For
the same reasons, it is also extremely difficult and even more dangerous for pedestrians to cross Kagy in the well-marked crosswalks.
Fairway Drive is a private road with a posted speed limit of 15 MPH used by the residents of 32 units in the Westridge Meadows Condominium Association, the residents of 24 units in the Meadows South Condominium Association, the residents of three private homes and the
tenants and their clients of four professional buildings. Additionally, although Fairway Drive is a private street maintained by the above entities, it is used by numerous citizens including families
with young children either on foot or or bicycle to access the city trail near the south end of the
street.
Furthermore, a nicely marked bike lane exists on either side of Kagy which is used by cyclists
commuting to MSU, north to Willson or east to Highland Boulevard, etc. We support these bike lanes but the reality is that the presence of cyclists from either direction adds to this very
dangerous intersection. A year ago a resident of our Association witnessed a pedestrian trying to cross Kagy in the
crosswalk; vehicles approaching from both the east and west on Kagy were able to a stop but
behind the vehicle traveling east which had stopped, a school bus came around the curve and was barely able to decelerate from 35 to 0 MPH to keep from rear-ending the stopped vehicle.
After witnessing the school bus situation a year ago, a call was made to the City of Bozeman (582-3200); a woman listened carefully, was understanding and said that a city engineer would call the resident. No response occurred and nothing was done to reduce the accident risk at the
intersection.
With Bozeman’s population growth, the traffic on Kagy is only going to increase. As the only continuous east-west street south of Main Street and north of Goldenstein, it is heavily used to
access Willson, 7th, 11th and 19th Avenues to the west and Highland Blvd to the East.
Considering the current transportation projects underway, we know that it is unrealistic to expect that either an All Way Stop or traffic light be installed at this intersection. And because of the
speed limit of 35 MPH and the curves to the east and west, a controlled stop may not be a safe solution either.
However, we strongly request that the city address and improve this dangerous intersection. Reducing the speed in and around the intersection to 25 MPH would certainly help to facilitate a solution. In addition, posting signage on Kagy at an appropriate distance both east and west of
the intersection of Fairway Drive and Carol Place warning of a “25 MPH Reduced Speed Ahead” would prepare traffic for the upcoming change in speed and for the potential chain
reaction stops necessary when pedestrians cross Kagy. Installation of solar-powered digital
“Your Speed” radar signs with the 25 MPH posted above it, as are available in other areas of Bozeman, would further remind drivers of the upcoming congested multiple use intersection.
Other suggestions for improving this intersection are: cutting back or removing vegetation that is
east of Carol Place and west of Fairway to increase visibility around each blind curve; installing speed bumps to reduce the speed at this intersection to 25 MPH; requesting that the Bozeman
Police Department monitor vehicle speed periodically and ticket those traveling above the posted speed limit.
We are neither transportation nor street experts but we do witness daily the dangers of this intersection. We urge you to reply to our Association Presidents Mark Yates and Page Dabney acknowledging receipt of this letter and to take the steps necessary to improve the safety of this
intersection before there is a serious or fatal accident. Sincerely,
Mark Yates President, Westridge Meadows Condominium Association
2316 Fairway Drive Bozeman, MT 59715
Page Dabney President, Meadows South Condominium Association
2505 Fairway Drive
Bozeman, MT 59715