HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-29-18 Correspondence - M. Tooley (Montana Department of Transportation, MDT) to Andrus - I-90 Speed Limit Montana Department of Transportation Michael T. Tooley, Director
2701 Prospect Steve Bullock, Governor
(SO PO Box 201001
VISIONZERO Helena MT 59620-1001
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March 20, 2018
Cynthia L. Andrus
Mayor, City of Bozeman
121 North Rouse Ave.
P.O. Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771-1230
Subject: Interstate 90 Speed Limit
Mayor Andrus,
I have received your letter with regards to the speed limit on Interstate 90 in the greater Bozeman
area.
As you know, MDT completed a full speed limit investigation on Interstate 90 in 2016 that
included the area of concern. The investigation covered locations on 1-90 that were within
Gallatin County, the City of Bozeman, and the City of Belgrade, the speed limit investigation
report was sent to all three local governments on Oct 6, 2016. 1 would also like to take this
opportunity to ensure you that the speed data was collected in April of 2016 and not in 2014.
There was a 5% increase in the AADT in 2017 at one of the count stations. However, this change
is not significant enough to justify the requested interim speed limit.
MDT has not received a request from Gallatin County Commissioners concerning the speed limit
reduction at this time.
MCA 61-8-309 subsection (2) states"Pending completion of an engineering and traffic
investigation as provided for in subsection (1), the commission may temporarily set a speed limit
of not less than 75 miles an hour on a segment of the federal-aid interstate highway system that it
reasonably believes is not suitable for the limit established in 61-8-303(1)(a).
Based on the information above, MDT has no legal or engineering basis for forwarding your
request for a temporary reduced speed limit to the Montana Transportation Commission's April
19, 2018 agenda.
Sincerely,
Michael T. Tool
Director
copies: Dave Schulz, District 2 Transportation Commission
Jeff Ebert, District Administrator
Director's Office Web Page: www.mdt.mt.gov
Phone: (406)444-6201 An Equal Opportunity Employer Road Report: (800)226-7623 or 511
Fax: (406)444-7643 TTY: (800)335-7592