HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-02-21 Public Comment - M. Brown - Nelson MeadowsFrom: Marilee Brown
To: Cyndy Andrus; Terry Cunningham; I-Ho Pomeroy; Michael Wallner; Jennifer Madgic; Jeff Mihelich
Cc: Levi Ewan; Bill Fogarty; Duane Liebel; Lori Ryan; Kent Merselis; Tom Starner; Addi Jadin; Mitch Reister; Shawn
Kohtz; Taylor Lonsdale; Greg Sullivan; Chris Saunders; Tom Rogers; Anna Rosenberry; Agenda
Subject: Doing the right thing at Nelson Meadows Prince Lane and Valley Center Spur
Date: Tuesday, February 2, 2021 9:18:29 AM
Attachments: Nelson Meadows Flower Girl copy.png
Dear Commissioners, and City Manager and City Staff,
For the last 5 years Safer Bozeman has dedicated itself to promoting many great safety
projects, but by far, the most important has been the Valley Center Spur Intersection across
from Nelson Meadows. In April of 2014, Kari Friedman died at the intersection and we made
it our first and foremost priority to make sure that no-one else would die there ever again.
We immediately lobbied for lowering the speed limit and made sure that new paint striping
was put down to allow vehicles to see around the moving obstructions that made the
intersection so dangerous. We asked various governments, agencies, and committees to put
signalization in at both ends of the Spur.
Most recently, we are working on correcting a dangerous situation where pedestrians are
currently being put in danger while trying to cross Frontage Road from the shoulder or from
Prince Lane to the Spur. The signals can not be seen from all four directions and there are no
crosswalks. This is against best engineering practices and puts the pedestrians and cyclists
who regularly use this intersection in peril.
We applaud the City and other government agencies in making sure that a future connection
can be made to Nelson Meadows from Valley Center to Prince Lane that will allow
emergency vehicles to save time and protect pedestrians and cyclists that are currently and
regularly crossing Frontage Road.
Thank you for doing the right thing. And thank you to Nelson Meadows for providing such a
beautiful pathway that will keep cyclists and pedestrians safe. We hope that all relevant
entities - the City, the County, MDT, and Nelson Meadows – will persevere and make our
residents proud and visitors envious.
For your enjoyment we have attached a photo of a little girl that had just passed under the spur
to Nelson Meadows with her mother when we spotted them. We hope this brings a smile to
your face and reminds everyone why it’s important to carry on doing the right thing!
Warmly,
Marilee Brown, Executive Director
Citizens for Safer Bozeman and Gallatin County (Safer Bozeman)