HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-05-18 Public Comment - R. Zimmer (on behalf of the PTS Committee) - Strategic Plan Vision Statement 4.5.d and MiscFrom: Robin Crough
To: Agenda
Subject: FW: Vision Statement 4.5.d and Other Comments
Date: Monday, February 05, 2018 8:21:11 AM
Importance: High
From: Ralph Zimmer [mailto:RalphZimmer@mcn.net]
Sent: Monday, February 5, 2018 5:00 AM
To: Cyndy Andrus <CAndrus@BOZEMAN.NET>; Chris Mehl <CMehl@BOZEMAN.NET>; Jeff Krauss
<Jkrauss@BOZEMAN.NET>; I-Ho Pomeroy <IPomeroy@BOZEMAN.NET>; Terry Cunningham
<TCunningham@BOZEMAN.NET>
Cc: Andrea Surratt <ASurratt@BOZEMAN.NET>; Chuck Winn <CWinn@BOZEMAN.NET>; Robin
Crough <RCrough@BOZEMAN.NET>
Subject: Vision Statement 4.5.d and Other Comments
Importance: High
Monday, February 5, 2018
Mayor Andrus and City Commissioners,
I am writing you on behalf of the Bozeman (Area) Pedestrian and Traffic Safety
Committee (PTS) which by an official interlocal agreement serves as an official advisory body
not only to the City but also to Gallatin county and the Bozeman School District.
Miscellaneous Concerns
I feel obligated to express disappointment that at tonight's Commission meeting you will
be considering two consent items (F-4 and F-5) which were not referred to PTS for its
information and perhaps recommendations.
The local media has been covering the issue of possibly getting the I-90 speed limit in the
immediate vicinity of Bozeman reduced to 65 MPH. Let me remind you that I previously
informed you that after talking with Fire Chief Waldo and officials of the Bozeman Police
Department PTS unanimously endorsed that reduction in the speed limit and we intend to
aggressively advocate for it.
Vision Statement 4.5.d in the Strategic Plan
At your January 29 meeting, you put Vision Statement 4.5.d in the "parking lot". Form a
transportation standpoint, that Vision Statement is the most troubling statement in the entire
document. We urge you to NOT pull that statement (as it is presently worded) back into the
final Strategic Plan. INSTEAD, we urge you to replace the original language of 4.5.d with the
following wording and put this revised wording into the final Strategic Plan:
Plan and create safe, interconnected bicycle, sidewalk, and separated shared-use path
networks to encourage non-motorized travel by both impaired and non-impaired
individuals.
This is the language recommended unanimously by both the Bozeman (Area) Pedestrian
and Traffic Safety Committee (PTS) and the Galla10 Alliance for Pathways (GAP).
Whatever language you choose to adopt should specifically include a reference to
separated shared-use paths. Such paths serve both transportation and recreational objectives
and have been endorsed by three of your advisory boards (PTS, BABAB, and RPAB). In
addition, the Commission has previously supported such paths.
Part of the problem with the January 29 draft language is it strongly implies that all non-
motorized travel both by handicapped and non-handicapped individuals should be confined
between the curbs of a street/road. That's NOT where juveniles, the elderly, the visually
impaired, and wheelchair occupants should be located. They need to be on sidewalks,
separated paths, and other similar facilities outside the curb lines.
Thank you for your labors to make Bozeman a friendly, inviting, safe community for
ALL individuals including those individuals needing or desiring non-motorized
transportation.
Ralph W. Zimmer, Chairperson
Bozeman (Area) Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee
cc: Andrea Surratt
Chuck Winn
Robin Crough
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