HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-22-20 Public Comment - M. Brown - CIP Budget Bike and Pedestrian facilitiesFrom:Marilee Brown
To:Agenda
Subject:CIP Budget Bike and Pedestrian facilities
Date:Tuesday, December 22, 2020 11:49:34 AM
Dear Mayor, Commission and Staff,
Thank you for your hard work in preparing the Bike and Pedestrian Memo,
You are absolutely right, the City with substantial help from partners have made great strides
in promoting and building paths. The requirement to spend 25% of any new construction orreconstruction on Arterials or Collectors is quite an achievement. You all deserve a great big
thank you.
I am overwhelmed with joy that you would find $500,000 to contribute this year. (Option A). I would hope that you would allow PTS and BABAB to have a say in how those funds are
spent.
But I am struck by the absence of any mention that the Transportation Master Plan (TMP) andthe stand alone facilities that it outlines for Bike and Pedestrian projects requires $27 million
in funding. Not only is this completely absent from your report but it also fails to say that therecurrently is no funding source for the majority of those projects. The $27 million in projects
are not a part of any of the Arterial and Collector street projects that have also been outlined inthe TMP to the tune of about $207 million.
The total of all current need transportation projects outlined in the TMP is $234 million and
the Bike/Pedestrian projects represent 11.5% of that total. Currently spending on bike/pedprojects as outlined is in the staff memo is 5.5% and does not include any of the stand alone
projects. Spending on bike/ped projects would need to increase by 6% (for a total of 11.5%)to keep them on an even par.
The only project that the CIP 5 year plan contains for stand alone bike and pedestrian projects
is the FY26 Valley Center project that you have included from the FY26 Arterial andCollector street fund.
The current 5 year CIP plan calls for only $100,000 per year for Bike and Pedestrian projects
which would take 270 years to complete the $27 m of TMP projects.
Comments on options suggested in the staff memo to increase funding:
Option A $500,000 for FY2022 is a great start. Other years would need to also be increasedsubstantially and if not approved tonight should remain in the forefront of any City planning.
Option B can not be used for any local streets and $200,000 would barely make a dent in the
need of projects on arterials and co It would take 135 years to complete the projects in the2017 TMP. This needs to be increased substantially if it is to be used as the soul source.
Option C is worth studying and surveying. We would need at least $20 million. And it
would need to include the construction of all types of Bike and Pedestrian facilities both onstreet and off street. It should also include bussing, and maintenance for anything not covered
by one of the other funds. Imagine being able to bike or ride a bus to any park or store andeven to the wonderful library that we already have?
Option D is problematic (even though it includes the word “Trails" in its title) in that it does
not include most street projects and only maintenance for trails. Construction for trails areallowed that are TOP projects or within the park system but 2026 is too far off to meet current
needs. Most people believe falsely that when they voted for this it was going to build parksand trails not just maintain them.
Option E needs to be also considered as it is the most flexible.
In conclusion, tonight it would be great if you:
1) included the $500,000 in option A and PTS and BABAB worked with staff to approve theprojects.
2) provided funding for a study to find the best options to move forward in increasing funding
for FY23 through FY26 and beyond.
Thank you for recognizing how important this is to the City and for all your hard work.
Warmly,Marilee Brown, Executive Director
Safer Bozemanand
Marilee Brown, Chair
GAP - Galla10 Alliance for Pathways
2411 Kid Curry Drive
Bozeman, MT 59718
406-579-5447
saferbozeman@gmail.com
www.frontagepathway.com