HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-22-20 Public Comment - S. Ross - Streamline Public Comment_Kagy Expansion
Galavan is a program of HRDC.
p: (406) 587-2434
e: Galavan@thehrdc.org
a: 1812 N Rouse
Bozeman, MT 59715
December 22, 2020
City of Bozeman Commission
121 North Rouse
Bozeman, MT 59715
Dear Bozeman City Commissioners,
I would like to discourage you from voting to spend $15 million on the project to widen Kagy Boulevard to four lanes of traffic, instead, I invite you to think of alternative ways to lessen congestion, i.e., implementing a high frequency connector route at peak travel times could be a more efficient, and more environmentally friendly response. To provide some comparisons for this magnitude of investment:
• $15 million would fund Streamline’s entire operations (in its current form) for more than 7 years.
• $15 million could implement and fund operations of the entire redesigned routes (Streamline redesign 2020), including the long-term plan, for the next three years. The long-term plan is expected to play a major role in reducing traffic congestion and emissions with additional routes, increased frequency, and expanded service hours, thus drastically growing ridership.
• $15 million could replace Streamline’s entire fleet with electric buses, install various charging stations along the routes, and absorb the significant increase in energy costs. I would invite you to look at transit solutions from a multimodal lens and shift focus from one intersection to instead think in terms of diversifying our transportation systems by exploring transit options throughout the community that benefit all types of transit users. Choosing robust investments in public transit will have a positive impact on our greenhouse gas emissions and will support the goals outlined in multiple city plans. The following are taken from multiple city plans showing intentional efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and essentially making it less convenient for single occupancy vehicles to be the mode of choice. Draft Climate Plan "Building high-quality, accessible infrastructure is a primary means of encouraging active forms of transportation."
• Solution J: Diverse & Accessible Transportation Options
o Increase Walking, Biking, Carpooling, and Use of Transit
o Shift travel modes away from single-occupancy vehicles and grow the percentage of community members walking, bicycling, carpooling, avoiding or consolidating vehicle trips, and using transit.
The Transportation Master Plan
• 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).
Community Plan
• Goal M-1: Ensure multimodal accessibility.
o M-1.2 Make transportation investment decisions that recognize active transportation modes and transit as a priority.
Sincerely,
Sunshine Ross
HRDC Transportation Director
From:Sunshine Ross
To:ASMSU Late Night; Bill Hoch; Cara Priem; Agenda; Craig Ollinger; Cyndy Andrus; Dan Martin; David Kack; DennisSines; Graham Hughes; Heather Grenier; Jennifer Boyer; Joseph Menicucci; Kelsey Davis; Kristin Blackler; LindaSherwood; Marianne Brough; Mark Egge; Molly Lammers; Suzanne Winchester; Terry Aldrich; Tracy Menuez;Vanessa Palmer; Whitt Hampton
Subject:[SENDER UNVERIFIED]Bozeman Commission Meeting 12/22/20
Date:Tuesday, December 22, 2020 10:36:00 AM
Attachments:Streamline Public Comment_Kagy Expansion.docx
Hi All,
As some of you may know, at tonight's meeting the City of Bozeman
Commission is set to approve spending $15 million to widen Kagy Blvd to
four lanes. Many believe this is excessive, unnecessary, and can beaddressed on a much smaller scale, allowing for those dollars to be spent
elsewhere. The attached is Streamline's public comment referencing
multiple City plans showing intentional efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
essentially making it less convenient for single occupancy vehicles to be the mode of choice.
Tonight the Commission will also vote to adopt the Climate Action Plan,which is relevant to this topic as well. I invite you to make your own public
comment or feel free to use this one if you prefer. You can make public
comment at tonight's meeting via webex City of Bozeman WebEx or by
submitting comment (before noon) to agenda@bozeman.net
Thanks,
Sunshine
--
Sunshine Ross
Transportation Director
Streamline/Galavan
1812 N. Rouse Ave.
Bozeman, MT 59715
p (406) 587-2434 | f (406) 582-7946
www.thehrdc.org www.streamlinebus.com