HomeMy WebLinkAboutTOP Proposal - Front Street PathwayFront Street Connector Pathway
Application for City of Bozeman TOP Funding
March 9, 2015
Submitted by:
212 S. Wallace, Suite 102, Bozeman, MT 59715 406-587-8404, www.gvlt.org
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Contents
Application narrative…………………………………………………….. 2
Budget………………………………………………………………….... 6
Maps……………………………………………………………………... 7
Photographs……………………………………………………………... 10
Letters of support………………………………………………………... 13
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1. Please give a brief description of your project that includes location, budget, amount
requested and amount contributed from other sources.
The proposed project will create a separated, 10-foot wide, paved bicycle and pedestrian pathway
within the existing city-owned Front Street right-of-way. The path will be approximately ¼ mile long
and begin at the intersection of Birch (Oak) and Rouse and travel southeast to terminate at North
Wallace Avenue (see enclosed maps). The total project cost is expected to be $156,300. We are
requesting $137,700 in TOP Bond funds, which equates to 88% of the total project cost. Project
expenses totaling $18,600 will be covered by the Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT). (See attached
budget.)
2. Briefly describe how the project creates or enhances Open Space/Natural Areas, Parks,
Trails, Water Quality, or Multi-Use Recreational Fields.
Trails. Although less than a quarter-mile long, this critical pathway enhances Bozeman’s existing trail network by connecting a gap between heavily used segments of trail and providing a safe route
removed from busy roads that currently lack bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure. In addition, trails that connect our system east to west are currently lacking and this segment will help develop a logical,
easy-to-use, and safe trail system in North Bozeman, which is generally underserved by trails. The primary goals of the project are to:
• Improve public safety by creating an accessible shared-use path linking existing trail and
sidewalk networks, and helping to separate bicycle/pedestrian use from vehicular traffic on
Rouse Avenue and Tamarack Street, which currently lack adequate multi-modal facilities.
• Link highly-used public trails and provide access to important community destinations and
businesses. The pathway will fill a gap in the existing Main Street to the Mountains trail system
that will be critically important for both transportation and recreation. The path will connect
the existing paved pathway on Oak Street with the Story Mill Spur Trail and Depot Park
Connector Trail. This link will help create a safe connection between important community
destinations, including Story Mill Park, Path to the M (both funded by TOP), downtown
Bozeman, the Cannery District businesses, Gallatin County Fairgrounds, and businesses on
Oak Street, North 7th Ave., and North 19th Ave. It will be an economic stimulus by
increasing bicycle/pedestrian access and traffic, and will help stimulate tourism by creating a
seamless, integrated trail system linking businesses and hotels in west Bozeman all the way to
the “M”.
• Develop variety and balance in our trail system with the addition of a new shared-use path.
Bozeman currently has very few shared-use asphalt paths (just ~12 miles out of the more than 70 miles of trails). It will also provide new recreation and transportation opportunities
for the north side of Bozeman, which is generally underserved by our existing network of trails and parks.
• Create an opportunity to enjoy and restore Bozeman Creek, with a bridge spanning the
creek. There are few locations north of Main Street where Bozeman Creek is visible to the
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public, and this bridge crossing – while not providing direct creek access – will provide a
place where trail users can pause and enjoy the sights and sounds of this important
waterway. The bridge siting will also create opportunities for interpretive signage and
education about water quality issues associated with Bozeman Creek.
Water Quality. A key component of the proposed pathway is a new 10-foot wide bicycle/pedestrian
bridge over Bozeman Creek. The 60-foot wide bridge span will completely clear the existing stream
channel. This longer than necessary bridge length will provide an opportunity to expand the existing
channel and provide more capacity in a high water event. The placement of the bridge also creates
the opportunity to improve the stream bank, which has been disturbed and filled to accommodate
commercial use on the adjoining properties. Currently, the stream banks are heavily infested with
common tansy, and large concrete blocks and yards of fill have narrowed the floodway. When
placing the bridge, we will pull back the fill, re-contour the banks, and replant them with riparian
shrubs, trees, and grasses. This reclamation work could also offer a site for interpretive signage to
educate users on water quality issues.
3. Has the exact site been identified? If so, please detail here.
The proposed pathway would be constructed within the existing right-of-way for Front Street,
which is owned by the City of Bozeman. The right-of-way is approximately 50 feet wide and has
been encroached into by the adjoining property owners. They have been contacted by the City and
are aware of the encroachment. Conservations are currently underway to explore how we can
develop the pathway while minimizing disturbance to their business. Fencing will be utilized to
demark the right-of-way and keep trail users out of the adjoining business to the west/south, and
active railroad right-of-way to the east/north.
The City’s Public Works Department expects that the Front Street right-of-way will someday be
used for a vehicular roadway, but anticipates that construction for that purpose is at least ten years in
the future. To accommodate use of the right-of-way for a pathway now, and to leave room for a
future vehicular road, the path would likely be located to either the far eastern or far western side of
the existing right-of-way. In addition, we will use a pre-fabricated, one-piece bicycle/pedestrian
bridge that is lowered into place with a crane. If the future road construction dictates removal of the
bicycle/pedestrian bridge, we can simply relocate the bicycle/pedestrian bridge to a new location on
our trail system, ensuring that we don’t waste funds on a temporary bridge.
The specific location of the pathway will be determined through engineering and design work,
currently underway as a part of the Oak Street pre-design contract within the Public Works
Department, paid for with impact fees. Utilizing this design work will further leverage TOP Bond
funds, ensure coordination and compatibility with design for the rest of the Oak Street corridor, and
save City resources.
4. Briefly explain how the project creates long term value for the residents of Bozeman.
The public benefits of this pathway are significant, despite its relatively short length. The pathway
will help to achieve the following goals:
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• Resolve safety issues by providing separated facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians, moving
them off of the busy roadways with inadequate bicycle/pedestrian facilities.
• Connect a gap in our existing Main Street to the Mountains community trail system, helping to
develop a continuous and logical system of pathways from the “M” all the way to North 19th Ave.
• Remove a barrier for persons with disabilities by providing improved connections and safe
trail access.
• Provide new options for non-motorized transportation, helping to reduce traffic.
• Help meet priority goals set in existing regional planning documents:
Bozeman Parks, Recreation, Trails and Open Space (PROST) Plan (2007). This path
connection is explicitly identified in the PROST Plan (Trail Plan Map) as a proposed
shared-use path, and aligns with recommendations for trails by expanding the
existing trail system in a logical, convenient and safe manner (Recommendation
10.7.3).
Bozeman Community Plan (2009). The proposed path is supported by this plan because
it helps to connect the community using trails (Objective R-1.5), improves the safety of trail facilities (Objective R-1.9), encourages transportation options that reduce
consumption and increase social interaction (Goal T-3), and helps to integrate a system of recreational and transportation pathways (Goal T-4).
Greater Bozeman Area Transportation Plan (2007 Update). The proposed pathway helps to establish an integrated system of pathways, an identified priority in the
Transportation Plan.
With significant public benefit, his project is an economical investment for the City, leveraging TOP Bond funds through:
Commitment of $18,600 from GVLT in the form of cash and in-kind support.
Use of existing city-owned property for an important trail connection, rather than
acquiring new property.
Utilizing impact fees to pay for a portion of the path design.
5. Please list all groups/organizations involved or contributing to this project and what
their short and long term commitments will be.
The Gallatin Valley Land Trust is the lead partner on this project. In the near-term, GVLT will provide technical assistance for trail layout and design. GVLT is also committed to helping make the
pathway infrastructure consistent and compatible with the remainder of the Main Street to the Mountains trail system with the installation of trail totems, information kiosks, and other
infrastructure as needed/possible. GVLT pledges $18,600 in support for these efforts in the form of in-kind staff support, signage, and cash for path construction. With 25 years of experience building
and maintaining trails, enhancing trail infrastructure, and coordinating volunteers, GVLT is committed to the success of this project.
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In addition, the project is supported by numerous individuals and the following organizations, as
evidenced by the enclosed letters of support.
• ALTA Planning & Design
• Bozeman Area Bicycle Advisory Board
• Bozeman Area Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee
• Bozeman Economic Development Office
• Bozeman Northeast Urban Renewal Board
• Bozeman Recreation and Parks Advisory Board
• Bridger Ski Foundation
• Cannery Development
• Collin’s Coalition
• Downtown Bozeman Partnership
• Eagle Mount
• Gallatin Valley Bicycle Club
• MSU - Montana Nutrition and Physical Activity Program
• National Park Service Rivers and Trails Program
• Outside Bozeman Magazine
• Run Dog Run
• Trust for Public Land
6. Please describe the anticipated maintenance requirements for the site and who will be
responsible for the maintenance.
The City of Bozeman will assume maintenance responsibility. This will not be a significant commitment, as they can extend their maintenance of the Oak Street Path across Rouse Ave. to this
new pathway. In addition, the Gallatin Valley Land Trust is committed to providing maintenance support. Using volunteers and our professional staff, GVLT can assist with removing brush in the
trail corridor and installation and upkeep of infrastructure such as signage.
7. Are you aware of any mitigation needs on any part of a proposed property? If so, please
explain.
There are no known mitigation needs associated with the project.
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Proposed Budget
Project
Component Item Detail
Expenses
Funding
TOP Proposal GVLT**
Engineering and
Design
Engineering and design Design and
construction specs*
$15,000 $15,000
Bicycle/Pedestrian
Bridge
Bridge structure 60' x 10' clear-span,
prefab from Contech
$52,200 $52,200
Bridge abutments poured concrete $7,500 $7,500
Stream improvements excavation pulling
back banks, removing
debris
$3,000 $3,000
Building permit City of Bozeman $600 $600
Engineering & stream
permits
including floodplain,
310, 318, 404
$10,000 $10,000
Paved path Path excavation and
paving
Asphalt and
excavation for 1250 ft
x 10 ft at $2/sq. ft
$25,000 $15,000 $10,000
Site Finishes
Fencing 6 ft. tall chain link, 780
ft. x 14 ft
$11,000 $11,000
Landscaping/ site
reclamation
planting, reseeding,
site finishes
$3,000 $3,000
Signage
Kiosk standard kiosk and
maps
$2,000 $2,000
Totem structure standard totems and
signage
$600 $600
Management
Project management 100 hrs @$60/hr $6,000 $6,000
Contingency at 15% $20,400 $20,400
Total $156,300 $137,700 $18,600
Project
Proportion 88% 12%
* Pre-design work may come from existing contract with Public Works, paid for with Impact Fees. Additional construction engineering and design will be necessary, but there may be cost savings by using the same engineering firm.
**GVLT sources include in-kind, Recreational Trails Program Grant, Collin's Coalition grant, signage sponsorships, and neighborhood support.
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Maps
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Photographs
Looking north/west from Wallace Ave. onto the Front Street right-of-way and main line railroad right-of-way. Tracks in the snow show that the demand for this pathway exists - the public is already using this area as trail.
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Above: Looking west from Birch St./Oak Street to the Cannery District (right side) and intersection with Rouse
Ave. The Oak Street Path continues on the south side of Rouse all the way past the Fairgrounds to North 19th Ave. Below: Looking east from the intersection of Rouse with Birch St./Oak Street. This would be the northern terminus
of the proposed pathway.
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Proposed bridge site over Bozeman Creek. Above: looking west, concrete in foreground
and other fill in the floodplain would be removed and reclaimed as part of this project.
Below: looking south from the railroad property into the City right-of-way.
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Letters of Support
• ALTA Planning & Design
• Bozeman Area Bicycle Advisory Board
• Bozeman Area Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee
• Bozeman Economic Development Office
• Bozeman Recreation and Parks Advisory Board
• Bridger Ski Foundation
• Cannery Development
• Collin’s Coalition
• Downtown Bozeman Partnership
• Eagle Mount
• Gallatin Valley Bicycle Club
• MSU - Montana Nutrition and Physical Activity Program
• National Park Service Rivers and Trails Program
• Outside Bozeman Magazine
• Run Dog Run
• Ben Alexander
• Taylor Lonsdale
Bozeman Area
Bicycle Advisory Board (BABAB)
CITY OF BOZEMAN
Mayor Jeff Krauss
Deputy Mayor
Carson Taylor
Commissioners
Cyndy Andrus Chris Mehl
I-Ho Pomeroy
121 N. Rouse
P.O. Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771
Phone: (406) 582-2320
Fax: (406) 582-2344
TDD: (406) 582-2301
www.bozeman.net
Gary Vodehnal
Gallatin Valley Land Trust
Bozeman, MT
March 4, 2015
Dear Mr. Vodehnal,
The Bozeman Area Bicycle Advisory Board (BABAB) promotes bicycling and recommends policies and practices that improve the safety and
convenience of bicycle transportation.
BABAB fully supports the Gallatin Valley Land Trust Community Trails
program to create safe connections for bicyclists and pedestrians in the Bozeman area. GVLT’s work to improve the Main Street to the Mountains
trail system contributes immensely to our quality of life.
We believe the City of Bozeman’s Trails, Open Space and Parks bond
program should fund a new east/west trail in northeast Bozeman, connecting the Oak Street Path at Rouse Ave. to the Story Mill Spur Trail.
BABAB supports this key connection that will provide a safe route between
the paved path along Oak Street and the northeast neighborhood district,
the Story Mill Spur Trail, and the new Story Mill Park.
This trail corridor has been identified as a key connection by the public as
identified in the Bozeman Parks, Recreation, Open space, and Trails
(PROST) Plan, and the Greater Bozeman Area Transportation Plan.
BABAB fully supports TOP funding for this important connection that will
improve safety for people walking and biking in Bozeman.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Gleason
Bozeman Area Bicycle Advisory Board Chair
Core Values
Integrity: Be honest,
hard-working, reliable
and accountable to the
public.
Leadership: Take
initiative, lead by
example, and be open
to innovative ideas.
Service: Work
unselfishly for our
community and its
citizens.
Teamwork: Respect
others, welcome
citizen involvement,
and work together to
achieve the best result.
Bozeman Area Pedestrian & Traffic Safety Committee
Created by, Responsible to, and Serving
The City of Bozeman, County of Gallatin, and School District 7
Mailing Address: c/o City Clerk, City of Bozeman, P.O. Box 1230, Bozeman MT 59771-1230 Ralph W. Zimmer, Chairperson, (406) 586-9152, RalphZimmer@mcn.net Gary Vodehnal, Vice Chairperson Danielle Scharf, Secretary
February 27, 2015
Trails, Open Spaces, and Parks Bond Program City of Bozeman
c/o Gallatin Valley Land Trust
P.O. Box 7021
Bozeman, Montana 59771
Dear Program Administrators:
The Bozeman (Area) Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee was created approximately forty years ago by an official interlocal agreement between the three
governmental bodies listed in our letterhead. The committee’s assigned role is to advise
those three bodies on pedestrian and traffic safety matters and to advocate for those
causes. At our March 11 meeting, GVLT described to us in some detail the work they are
hoping to fund with this grant from the TOPS bond program. We examined aerial photos
showing how the proposed project would tie into other trails and pathways and GVLT
satisfactorily answered all the questions we asked. For recreational, exwrcise, and necessary transportation needs, we believe safe sidewalks, pathways, and trails are essential and for all those purposes there also is a need for those routes to be easy to use
and inviting. We are excited that the proposed work will address all those objectives.
GVLT has earned our respect, admiration, and gratitude for the work they have done over
the years in promoting non-motorized travel throughout the community, and we are confident GVLT would do an excellent job with these grant funds.
With the exception of one member who abstained because of a potential conflict
of interest, the committee voted UNANIMOUSLY to support this grant application.
We urge you to approve it.
Gratefully,
Ralph W. Zimmer Chairperson
To: Trails, Open Space and Parks Committee From: Bozeman Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Dear Committee Members The Bozeman Recreation and Parks Advisory Board voted to support the Gallatin Valley Land Trust’s application for TOP funding to connect the Oak Street Path to the Story Mill Spur Trail. This short section of proposed trail will connect trails from the west side of Bozeman to trails in the north and east of town. This section of trail would be a vital piece in the Main Street to the Mountains trail system. This trail would allow safer bike and pedestrian access to Story Mill Park and the proposed trail to the “M”. Sincerely Robert L Wade; RPAB Chair
Gary -
Let this email serve as a letter of support for the RTP Grant and TOP Funding requests for GVLT
relating to the trail connector off Oak Street, Snowfield Park improvements, Burke Park access
improvements and your general signage upgrades.
As you know we are developing a 14 acre site that fronts Oak Street near Rouse commonly
referred to as the Cannery District. An important element of our project is the proximity to open
space & parks within the community along with being within the greater downtown district. Our
user base likes the fact we are pedestrian friendly with easy access to the buildings within our
project, by both foot & bicycle. They also like to commute to work on their bikes and during the
day get a workout in &/ or bike to their appointments. That said, having a safe accessible trail
network to allow them to do so is not only good for our project users but the public at large.
Snowfield & Burke Parks are two other well utilized parks within the City. Both will continue to
see increased use as the community expands. We must ensure the public safe access with
amenities that are allow them to enjoy these public areas. This proposed funding is both
reasonable and prudent to do so.
As a member and manager of Cannery District Partners and Montana Avenue Partners we urge
you to consider funding these important investments in our community.
Sincerely,
Scott Dehlendorf & Barry Brown
Committed to Improving the Safety of
Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation and Supporting Local Programs
That Improve People’s Lives
-----
In Loving Memory of Collin James Keck
March 6, 2015
Collin’s Coalition of Hopa Mountain
411 N. Third Ave.
Bozeman, MT 59715
Re: GVLT’s application for TOP funding of the Front Street Connector Trail
Dear Trails, Open Space, and Parks Selection Committee,
Collin’s Coalition wishes to express our strong support for the Gallatin Valley Land Trust’s application to
use a portion of Bozeman’s Trails, Open Space, and Parks Bond funding for construction of the Front
Street Connector Trail in northeast Bozeman. As you know, GVLT’s Main Street to the Mountains
program has had a tremendous positive effect on the community of Bozeman. The trail system is
extensively used for non-motorized travel by both pedestrians and bicyclists and provides a network of
safe routes that are essential to local non-motorized transportation. One of Collins Coalition’s top
priorities at this time is the fill in the gaps that remain is our trail system so that we can reach a goal of
“Safe, Continuous Trails and Bicycle Routes throughout Bozeman”.
The Front Street Connector Trail will provide a vital, safe connection between the existing, heavily used
Story Mill Trail and the recently constructed, separated bike-ped path along East Oak Street for both
bicyclists and pedestrians. The current route between these trails is along East Tamarack St. with no
sidewalk and no shoulder and along North Rouse, currently with no sidewalk and no shoulder. Clearly,
this is an unsafe route, made even more so by the frequent use of these roads by large trucks and buses.
When the North Rouse road re-construction is complete, bicycles will have bike lanes along North Rouse
suitable for experienced bike riders. It will still not be suitable, however, for young families or other
inexperienced bike riders who are more comfortable with greater separation from cars and trucks. We
strongly support construction of the Front Street Connector Trail for the benefits it will bring to the
safety of bicycle riders and pedestrians and for improving the access of our trail system to all non-
motorized users.
Collin’s Coalition is in large part a safety organization. Our main focus is on the safety of bicyclists and
pedestrians who want to use our public trails and roadways. We believe strongly in the benefits the
Front Street Connector Trail proposed by GVLT will provide. Strongly enough that all funds raised during
this year’s Collins Coalition Bike Ride at The Ridge fundraiser on April 11th will be used as a match in their
Recreational Trails Program grant proposal for this project.
Respectfully yours,
Thomas J. Keck
Thomas J. Keck – Co-founder and Acting Chairman
Collin’s Coalition of Hopa Mountain
25 February 2015
City of Bozeman
TOP Bond Committee
P.O. Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771
Dear TOP Committee,
I am writing on behalf of the Downtown Bozeman Partnership which represents over 150
property owners and 250 business owners in Bozeman’s historic downtown district. For many
years, Downtown Bozeman has strongly supported the Gallatin Valley Land Trust’s “Main
Street to the Mountains” trail system. GVLT has a long and very successful track record of
building, improving and maintaining Bozeman’s Main Street to the Mountains Trail system.
Our community’s trail system is hugely popular and heavily used for recreation and non-
motorized transportation by both residents and visitors.
The “Main Street to the Mountains” trail system is a critical component to downtown’s multi-
modal transportation network. The trails provide a quiet, calm non-motorized transportation
option that is highly valued by our downtown residents, employees, and customers.
Therefore, please support GVLT’s application for funding to establish a new east/west trail in
northeast Bozeman, connecting the Oak Street Path at Rouse Avenue to the Story Mill Spur
Trail.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Chris Naumann
Executive Director
March 4, 2015
City of Bozeman Trails, Open Space and Parks
Delivered electronically
RE: GVLT proposed TOP bond funding
On behalf of Eagle Mount Bozeman, I want to express our strong support for the Gallatin Valley
Land Trust’s proposed Front Street Connector Trail.
Eagle Mount Bozeman provides therapeutic and adaptive recreation for people with disabilities
and children with cancer. According to the most recent census, there are some 8,000 people in
Gallatin County who are living with a disability. Making our well-used and much-loved
community trail system more fully accessible is an important step toward building a more
inclusive community, and we applaud GVLT’s efforts.
The new proposed trail will create an important connection in the Main Street to the Mountains
trail system. Perhaps more importantly from our perspective, it will remove a significant barrier
to use of the now disjunctive trail system. The proposed paved 10 foot wide paved path with a
bridge over Bozeman Creek, will provide a safe way for pedestrians and bicyclists to reach a
paved path along Oak Street adjacent to the Gallatin County Fairgrounds that links with the Story
Mill Spur Trail, Depot Park, and eventually with the planned Story Mill Park and paved trail to the
“M” and Drinking Horse Mountain trails.
We appreciate having community partners like GVLT to work with, and we urge you to provide
the funding needed to support this important project.
Sincerely,
Mary Peterson
Executive Director
Feb. 24, 2015
To whom it may concern,
This letter is in support of Gallatin Valley Land Trust’s application for funding a number of new projects. Gallatin Valley Land Trust has become a proven steward of trails and public spaces in the Bozeman and Gallatin Valley area.
Of the projects proposed, two of them are particularly needed. The proposed
trail connector from Oak Street to Story Mill Spur Trail would fill a gap in an important east/west trail. Presently people have to travel on the rough shoulder of a busy arterial street, and turn at an intersection lacking safe pedestrian
amenities, and travel 3 more blocks on streets lacking sidewalks.
The other project, proposed improvements to Snowfill Park, is needed due to overuse. This little park is so successful that on many days overflow parking extends onto the access road, which has no room for parking. The overflow
parking is dangerous for both cars driving by and for people walking in the middle
of the road. Every feature proposed for improvement will help accommodate
park users and is long overdue. Greg Beardslee
Board member, Gallatin Valley Bicycle Club
February 15, 2015
City of Bozeman, Trails, Open Space and Parks Bond
To Whom It May Concern:
On behalf of the Montana Nutrition and Physical Activity (NAPA) Program I am
writing this letter in strong support of the Gallatin Valley Land Trust’s (GVLT)
request for the City of Bozeman’s Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOP) funding. The NAPA program is a statewide program of the Montana Department of Public
Health and Human Services. NAPA aims to prevent and reduce overweight and obesity and related chronic diseases among Montanans through a variety of ways including increasing physical activity. We support policy and environmental
approaches, such as this project, to increase access to places for children and adults to be active.
The Gallatin Valley Land Trust is an essential non-profit organization in the Bozeman community. Their work to develop and maintain the Main Street to the
Mountains trail system has been strategic and tireless. Bozeman would not be
the community it is today without GVLT’s vigilance in not only making sure the trail system is well planned and connects community members and visitors to
recreational opportunities but that it is well maintained.
A new east/west trail in northeast Bozeman, connecting the Oak Street Path at
Rouse Avenue to the Story Mill Spur Trail is vitally important. It will connect the
new Oak Street Path to a dense neighborhood on Bozeman’s northeast side and then to a major new recreation area, the Story Mill Park. Creating a safe trail
access to this new park is critical and will allow children and adults to arrive at the park on their own power, providing for increased physical activity and decreased traffic congestion. Story Mill Park’s success hinges on safe multi-
modal access. This connector trail will play an important role in the network of facilities needed to access this park.
Please support and fully fund GVLT’s request for TOP funding. Your support will make an important contribution to the Main Street to the Mountains trail system
which is well used by community members and visitors statewide. GVLT has a
proven track record and will ensure your funding is used in the most effective manner possible.
Sincerely,
Cathy Costakis
Senior Consultant-Built Environment
11
United States Department of the Interior
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
INTERMOUNTAIN REGION
4030 Sourdough Road
Bozeman, Montana 59715
City of Bozeman
Trails, Open Space and Parks Committee
Bozeman, MT 59715
February 13, 2015
To Whom It May Concern:
The National Park Service’s Rivers and Trails Program (RTCA) supports the Gallatin Valley
Land Trust’s application for Trails, Open Space, and Parks (TOP) bond funding to add an
important component to the Main Street to the Mountains trail system. GVLT’s proposal
will provide a safe connection between the Oak Street bike/ped path, the County
Fairgrounds, and Rouse Avenue with the northeast neighborhood district, the Story Mill
Spur Trail, and the new Story Mill Park. The project will include a bridge over Bozeman
Creek. This trail corridor was identified in the Bozeman Parks, Recreation, Open space,
and Trails (PROST) Plan, the Greater Bozeman Area Transportation Plan, and the Bozeman
Creek Enhancement Plan.
Bozeman’s Main Street to the Mountains trail system is a very important asset for the
community, providing non-motorized recreation and transportation opportunities and
linking neighborhoods and recreation facilities throughout the community. GVLT has been
the key driver in creating and expanding this system, and once again has identified a
number of enhancements that will improve the trail system and its value to the community.
NPS-RTCA has worked with the City of Bozeman and Gallatin County on a number of
recreation and resource conservation initiatives over the years. The Main Street to the
Mountains trail system has always been an important component of these initiatives, as the
trail system has become integral to the community’s identity and sense-of-place.
I encourage your favorable review of GVLT’s application for TOP bond funding funding.
22
Sincerely,
Gary Weiner
Rivers and Trails Program
National Park Service
Bozeman, Montana
February 25, 2015
To Whom It May Concern:
I can think of no organization more important to the recreational public of Bozeman—and that’s darn
near everyone that lives here—than the Gallatin Valley Land Trust. The work they do is vital to our way
of life and standard of living, which is why I and my business have supported them for the past decade
and a half, moreso than any other nonprofit in southwest Montana. Their value to the community
cannot be overstated.
Specifically, the Main Street to the Mountains trail system provides an accessible, convenient, and scenic
network for recreation, exercise, commuting, and communing with nature. It also offers a safe pathway
for children and adults alike to move through town. The trail system has always been a work in progress,
limited by funding. As our community grows, with an increased population, new neighborhoods,
infrastructure development, and other changes, Main Street to the Mountains must be continually
maintained, improved, and updated to accommodate these new realities.
Which is why I urge you to support GVLT and their tremendously important work by awarding them the
grant(s) they seek. They are a wonderfully modest and hardworking group, with compensation lower
than many of their nonprofit counterparts in Bozeman—it’s clear that to them, the community comes
first. They have very reasonable overhead and rely on volunteers for much of the legwork. What all this
means is that any grant money you award would be money well-spent. It will not disappear into a cloud
of indeterminate administrative expenses and exorbitant staff salaries, but rather go directly to
members of the Bozeman community, by way of maintaining and improving community trails they love
and use on a regular basis, to remain happy and healthy citizens of the great state of Montana.
Sincerely,
Mike England
Editor, Outside Bozeman magazine
mike@outsidebozeman.com
406-582-8068
A Montana-Based 501 (c) 3 Not-For-Profit Corporation
February 10, 2015
Gary Vodehnal
Gallatin Valley Land Trust 212 S. Wallace Ave. Ste. 102 Bozeman, MT 59715
Re: Birch / Front Street Connector Trail Application
Dear Gary: The purpose of this letter is to support the application that Gallatin Valley Land Trust (“GVLT”)
is submitting to the City of Bozeman’s Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOP) bond program for the creation of a Birch/ Front Street Connector Trail including a Bridge over Bozeman Creek.
Run Dog Run is a Bozeman-based not-for-profit organization that has worked closely with GVLT on a number of trail and park-related projects - and we whole-heartedly support your bond
program application for improvements to the Main Street to the Mountains trail system,
specifically for the Birch / Front Street Connector Trail. Here’s why:
• The proposed trail – and the bridge over Bozeman Creek – fills in a vital gap in the trail system. The current gap in the northeast neighborhood trail system forces dog walkers,
bicyclists and joggers into busy streets if they wish to travel to the Fairgrounds or connect
to Oak Street.
• The creation of the new Story Mill Community Park will undoubtedly increase the usage
of the northeast neighborhood trails and filling in the gap in this trail system is wise community planning.
• The location of the trail – particularly the segment that borders the railroad right-of-way – will provide trail users with expansive views of the Bridger Mountain Range, which will enhance the trail experience for users.
• The newly created Oak Street trail is a wonderful addition to the trail system, but it ends abruptly at North Rouse Avenue. By creating the Birch / Front Street Connector trail, the
true potential of the Oak Street trail can be realized and its function greatly enhanced.
We request that the City of Bozeman’s Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOP) Committee consider
fully funding GVLT’s grant request. Sincerely,
Terry Cunningham - President
Run Dog Run, PO Box 11508, Bozeman, MT 59719-1508
March 4, 2015
Ben Alexander
2251 Powder Park Ct
Bozeman, MT 59715
To: City of Bozeman’s Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOP) selection committee
Re: TOP application for Main Street to the Mountains 2015
I am writing this letter in strong support of the Gallatin Valley Land Trust’s (GVLT)
application to the City of Bozeman’s Trails, Open Space and Parks program for
improvements to the Main Street to the Mountains trail system in Bozeman.
My wife and I live in Bozeman with our two young girls, ages 8 and 10. We regularly use
the trails here to get to school, our public library, shop for groceries, and run errands. Our
biggest concern with the current the Main Street to the Mountains, especially for our kids,
is unsafe connections/intersections and the lack of connections that would allow us safely
to reach our destinations. In addition, my father, who is 82 years old and disabled with
muscular dystrophy, has trouble using our trails with his walker and would greatly benefit
from design and connectivity improvements.
Grant funding will be instrumental in helping to complete the Front Street Connector
Trail - A proposed 10-foot wide paved path with a bridge over Bozeman Creek that will
provide a safe way for pedestrians and bicyclists to reach a paved path along Oak Street
adjacent to the Gallatin County Fairgrounds that links with the Story Mill Spur Trail,
Depot Park, and eventually with the planned Story Mill Park and paved trail to the “M”
and Drinking Horse Mountain trails.
This project is very worthwhile and would be of great benefit to our community,
neighborhood, and family. I request that the City of Bozeman’s Trails, Open Space and
Parks selection committee consider fully funding GVLT’s grant request.
Sincerely,
Ben Alexander