HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-07-20 Public Comment - E. Jackson - Opposition to Kagy ProjectFrom:Erin Jackson
To:Agenda
Subject:Opposition to Kagy Project
Date:Monday, December 7, 2020 9:29:34 AM
Dear Bozeman City Commissioners,
I am writing to you to request you oppose the Kagy Blvd Project and prioritize the
College St project at the December 15 meeting. As a Bozeman resident, homeowner
and member of the Bozeman City Climate Team, I feel the Kagy project, as proposed,
is an irresponsible use of significant taxpayer dollars. When Kagy was added to the
Capital Improvement Plan it was a $6M project; now it is a $15M project so thecost/benefit ratio has been reduced by more than 50%. Bozeman has many more
important projects to use $15M for, so I am strongly opposed to the Kagy project and
ask you to oppose it and reprioritize the funding to the College Street project, which
adds much needed bike lanes and sidewalks in a heavy pedestrian area.
The Kagy project is also incompatible with the work of the city and appointed Climate
Team, which built a draft Climate Plan over the past year. Set to be approved on
December 22, the Climate Plan seeks to reduce emissions substantially with theunderstanding that "Building high-quality, accessible infrastructure is a primary means
of encouraging active forms of transportation." The College St project will promote
active forms of transportation; the Kagy project will promote increased vehicle use
and increased emissions. The Kagy project is also at odds with Bozeman's StrategicPlan, which aims to “Enhance Non‐motorized Transportation (4.5).” Kagy's purpose is
to enhance motorized transportation. Our Community Plan says to “make
transportation investment decisions that recognize active transportation modes and
transit as a priority (M-1.2).” Kagy prioritizes making driving more convenient.Further, MSU's Bicycle Master Plan recommends a two or three lane configuration
for Kagy Blvd, citing many benefits of a three-lane configuration over a four-lane
configuration.
I strongly oppose the Kagy project for the climate impacts and cost and ask you to
reprioritize the funding to the College St project. The College St project aligns with the
Climate Plan, Strategic Plan, Community Plan and MSU Bicycle Master Plan priorities
and will provide many more benefits for active transportation for a lower cost; this is incontrast to the Kagy project which will increase vehicle use and emissions. If our city
is serious about implementing the Climate Plan, as it should be considering serious
impacts of climate change and need to act quickly, moving the College St project
ahead of the Kagy project and adjusting the Kagy project to a 2 or 3 laneconfiguration is an easy first step.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Erin Jackson
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Erin Jackson
(802)734-7865
erinjackson19@gmail.com