HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-15-20 Public Comment - 5210+ Gallatin Coalition - Streamline Funding
Dear Mayor & City Commissioners,
The 5210+ Gallatin Coalition works to improve health and wellness across Gallatin County. Comprised of
over 20 organizations – including nonprofits, schools, agencies, health centers and social services –
5210+ Gallatin promotes health-focused community messages, engages worksites to enhance employee
wellbeing, and advocates for health-promoting policies and plans. The 5210+ Gallatin Coalition is
offering public comment regarding increasing the funding allocation from the City of Bozeman’s general
fund to Streamline, the community transit provider, a program of the HRDC.
Since 2006, HRDC has been the provider of fixed-route transit services for the City of Bozeman and
surrounding areas. They currently provide fare-free bus service for residents, in Bozeman, Belgrade,
Four Corners and Livingston. The City of Bozeman has been one of the funders for Streamline since
2006.
COVID-19 has drastically changed what daily life is like for many people. However, transit services and
access to those services continue to play an important role in the day to day lives of many people in and
around the City of Bozeman. A connected community begins with making sure that every resident has
access to the transportation that gets them from where they live to where they need to go. By
connecting people to jobs, education, community services, health care, open space, parks, and trails,
transit plays a role in creating a socially connected community that strives for positive individual,
community, economic, and environmental health.
Access to affordable transportation options, such as transit, is a health issue. A Health Policy Issue Brief
from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation states: ■ Transportation is one of the economic and social
factors that influences people’s health and the health of a community. ■ The health costs associated
with traffic crashes, air pollution, and physical inactivity add up to hundreds of billions of dollars each
year, but health is typically not considered in transportation policy and planning. ■ The National
Prevention Strategy and Action Plan is working to boost Americans’ health in part through encouraging
the development of livable, walkable communities, bike lanes, and other healthy transit options.
The 5210+ Gallatin Coalition believes that providing adequate funding for a robust transit system is
imperative for both individual, community, and economic health. According to Todd Litman, Executive
Director of the Victoria Transport Institute, “Access to transportation supports equity; it provides
disadvantaged populations with access to the pathways to health, social, and economic well-being.”
The current City of Bozeman’s Strategic Plan is the guiding document that provides direction as the City
continues to grow. Transit and Transportation play a key role in the strategic plan. Providing adequate
funding for Streamline shows that the City is continuing to move the Strategic Plan forward even in
these difficult budget times of COVID-19.
- 4.2 High Quality Urban Approach
o Continue to support high-quality planning, ranging from building design to
neighborhood layouts, while pursuing urban approaches to issues such as multimodal
transportation, infill, density, connected trails and parks, and walkable neighborhoods.
- 4.5 Housing and Transportation Choices
o Vigorously encourage, through a wide variety of actions, the development of sustainable
and lasting housing options for underserved individuals and families and improve
mobility options that accommodate all travel modes.
In addition to the Strategic Plan, transit, multimodal transportation, and access to these services appear
in other approved and draft plans in the City of Bozeman. The following are sections of some of the
different plans.
The Transportation Master Plan or TMP directs the planning, construction, and evaluation of the current
and future transportation network in the city. The TMP is referenced and referred to in many of the
City’s other plans. The following sections of the TMP include discussion around transit, transit facilities,
and multimodal transportation:
- Section – 2.3.2.3 Transit Facilities
o As the Bozeman area grows, increased support (funding) for these services will be
important so that the community can reduce the number of single occupancy vehicle
trips in the area. People will be able to reduce their individual costs for mobility, and the
existing infrastructure will be more efficient, by having multiple people on one vehicle
(bus).
- Section - 5.1.3. Social Equity
o The premise of Social Equity is that Bozeman places priority upon protecting, respecting,
and fulfilling the full range of universal human rights, including those pertaining to civil,
political, social, economic, and cultural concerns. Goals include providing adequate
access to employment, food, housing, clothing, recreational opportunities, a safe and
healthy environment and social services. Goals also include eliminating systemic barriers
to equitable treatment and inclusion and accommodating the differences among
people. Social equity emphasizes justice, impartiality, and equal opportunity for all.
- Section 5.2.2 Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Strategies
o Traditional Transit Traditional transit service is an effective TDM strategy.
o Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Transit Oriented Development (TOD) refers to
residential and commercial areas designed to maximize access by transit and non-
motorized transportation, and with other features to encourage transit ridership.
The City of Bozeman’s Community Plan is currently in the draft stage and is open for public comment.
This will become the guiding document for land-use once approved by the City Commission. There are
goals in the document that look to build a comprehensive multi-modal transportation network. The
following are few of those goals that are directly related to transit service and access.
- Goal N-1: Support well-planned, walkable neighborhoods.
o N-1.8 Ensure multimodal connections between adjacent developments
- Goal DCD-1: Ensure multimodal connectivity within the City.
o DCD-1.1 Expand multimodal accessibility between districts and throughout the City as a
means of promoting personal and environmental health, as well as reducing automobile
dependency.
o DCD-1.2 Identify missing links in the multimodal system, prioritize those most beneficial
to complete, and pursue funding for completion of those links.
- Goal M-1: Ensure multimodal accessibility.
o M-1.1 Prioritize mixed-use land use patterns. Encourage and enable the development of
housing, jobs, and services in close proximity.
o M-1.2 Make transportation investment decisions that recognize active transportation
modes and transit as a priority.
The City of Bozeman is also in the process of developing a Climate Action Plan that looks to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) over the next 20 to 30 years. Reducing single occupancy vehicle trips is
a proven way to help reduce GHG for cities. Having a well-funded and robust transit system allows
residents the option to not drive their car. Increasing funding will help reduce single occupancy vehicle
trips, reduce GHG emissions and help meet the standards being proposed in the City’s plan.
Finally, according the 2017 City of Bozeman Transportation Master Plan (TMP) “Livability in
transportation is about integrating the quality, location, and type of transportation facilities and services
available with other more comprehensive community plans and programs to help achieve broader
community goals such as access to a variety of jobs, community services, affordable housing, quality
schools, and safe streets.”
By providing increased funding to Streamline, the City Commission is showing its dedication to all city
residents, business owners, and their employees while aligning the City’s budget with their stated goals.
The 5210+ Gallatin Coalition believes that funding at the requested level allows Streamline to provide
transit options that can help meet the needs of all Bozeman’s residents. Through a commitment to
equity in transportation, we will all work to continue to make Bozeman the “most livable place”.
If you would like more information about 5210+ Gallatin or have any other questions, please do not
hesitate to reach out or visit our website at www.5210Gallatin.org.
Sincerely,
5210+ Gallatin Coalition
The Bozeman Commuter Project, Bozeman Health, Gallatin City/County Health Department, Gallatin
Valley Farm to School