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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-06-18 Correspondence - Andrus to M. Tooley, Montana Department of Transportation - I-90 Speed Limit BOZ F M:N MT Mayor March 6, 2018 Mike Tooley, Commission Director Montana Department of Transportation P.O. Box 201001 Helena, MT 59620-1001 RE: Interstate 90 Speed Limit Director Tooley, I am writing on behalf of the Bozeman City Commission in regards to the speed limit on Interstate 90 in the greater Bozeman area. As our community continues to grow at an accelerated rate, our local public safety officials have raised concerns with safety on the interstate, particularly for responders, with the current speed limit of 75 mph. To date I have received copies of letters from the Transportation Coordination Committee (dated Nov 15, 2017), the Bozeman Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee (dated Dec 18, 2017), and Public Safety Agencies from across Gallatin County (dated February 5, 2018), requesting a reduction of the current speed limit from 75 mph to 60 mph. I am aware that a speed study was conducted by MDT in 2016 utilizing data from 2014 traffic counts and that this information was presented to Gallatin County Commission, who had no objections to leaving the speed limit at 75 mph. In reviewing data from the MDT website, I see that traffic counts in the greater Bozeman area grew anywhere from 22% to 51% from 2014 to 2016 depending on the segment of interstate analyzed. If the numbers in that report continued the same trend in 2017 it is reasonable to expect that Bozeman now has the busiest section of Interstate 90 in the State. I have also reviewed emergency response data from our local public safety officials and see that emergency response has increased 180% from 2014 to 2017. In reviewing the data and listening to the concerns of our public safety professionals, I feel that it is time to reanalyze the current speed limit in the greater Bozeman area. I am aware that the 2020 census could reveal that Bozeman has become a Metropolitan Planning Organization, which could trigger a change in the speed limit, but also acknowledge that the census results and any pending changes would most likely not occur until 2022 at the earliest. Secondly, I understand the current demands on MDT staff and find it difficult to ask for a new speed study two years after the last one was completed. In reviewing section 61.8.309.d of Montana Q P.O. Bozeman, MT 59771-1230 TDa: 406-582-2301 THE MOST LIVABLE PLACE. BOZ E MAN MT Mayor Code Annotated I find that a local authority can request a temporary reduced speed limit that will be followed by a visual and engineering review by MDT. I understand that as the requestor of this reduced speed limit, the City of Bozeman would be required to provide a representative to be a part of that review and the City of Bozeman is prepared to comply with that requirement. If a temporary reduced speed limit is approved,the City of Bozeman finds it acceptable to wait until the next scheduled speed study is conducted for a final decision. Please accept this letter as a formal request from the City of Bozeman to implement a temporary reduced speed limit with a maximum speed limit of 60 mph in the Bozeman Urban Limits until a future speed study can be conducted. I understand that the next meeting of the MDT Commission is to be held in April and that the deadline for that agenda is March 16th. I would request that this item be placed on the April agenda. Representatives from the City of Bozeman will be happy to attend that meeting to answer any questions or provide necessary information. I appreciate your consideration of our request and I can assure you that city staff and I are available for questions and assistance moving forward. Thank you, 2cyn 'a L.Andrus Mayor City of Bozeman 121 North Rouse Avenue SP 0 • Box 1230 Bozeman, MT 59771-1230 TDD: 406-582-2301 THE MOST LIVABLE PLACE.