HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-01-21 Public Comment - R. Gleason - Kagy Blvd ExpansionFrom: Rebecca Gleason
To: Agenda
Subject: March 3 Kagy Blvd Discussion
Date: Monday, March 1, 2021 2:25:55 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear City of Bozeman Commissioners,
This email relates to the March 2, 2021 Kagy Boulevard Expansion Informational Session/policy
discussion. I am respectfully requesting that the City re-assess the Kagy Blvd design options.
It appears the proposed Kagy design (4 lanes, double lane roundabouts) is based on one metric,
which is auto level of service (LOS) at peak traffic hours. Please consider other metrics such as
community character/aesthetics, bike/pedestrian and transit level of service, public health, air
quality, climate change, and noise levels that are more consistent with our community goals. A 3-
lane option was highly preferred based on input at the 2016 public meeting.
How people choose to move around our community is not a law of nature, rather it is the result of
our policy, planning and design choices. Widening streets to 4-5 lanes promotes high speed, creates
a built environment that is less safe, has higher traffic noise, poorer air quality, more parking needs,
and is less appealing for people that are not in a car, which leads to more people choosing to drive.
This is not the future I envision for Bozeman. Spending $16.8 million to widen one mile of road in
attempts to reduce future congestion at peak hours seems wasteful, when there are so many
competing needs for limited funds. Please consider:
· How could smaller, incremental projects address issues? (Such as updating signal function
at intersections, expand and connect bike/pedestrian and transit networks before expanding
auto network, invest in and promote TDM before expanding auto-network [carpool, vanpool
incentives, guaranteed ride home program…]).
· How many people would need to shift from driving to riding a bus (or other mode) to
enable a 3- lane section to meet future demand? What investments can help us reach that?
· How will we plan for traffic patterns changing due to Covid in the future? (more flexibility
for people to work from home, more spread out peak traffic times)
I’m hopeful that Bozeman has the political will to consider a more people centered and less auto-
centered transportation system moving forward. Thank you for considering this request.
Rebecca Gleason
1139 N. Spruce Dr.
Bozeman, MT 59715