HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-02-21 Public Comment - C. Shaida - Kagy Blvd ExpansionFrom: Chris Shaida
To: Agenda
Subject: Slow down on Kagy widening!
Date: Tuesday, March 2, 2021 9:17:20 AM
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Because cars
At present the only remaining argument for moving forward at speed with widening Kagy is,
as the kids these days would say, 'because cars.' If it's good for cars then the answer is yes!
Now what's the question?
A solution in search of a problem
The original 'problem' that widening Kagy was the proposed solution for -- an extra several
minutes of car congestion for several thousand people -- doesn't even exist anymore!? And
yes, I'm familiar with the argument that 'well, it will again once we have the vaccine.' Do we
really want or need to bet the house on that conjecture. Particularly since around the country
there are billions being invested on the premise that the future world of work will not look the
past one in one key aspect: now that workers have proven that they can work from someplace
other than in an office during the hours of 9-5 5 days a week they will not willingly ALL make
the commute twice a day at exactly the same time if they don't need to. Moving 5% of the
cars out of that tiny congestion window -- either because that 5% is working outside the office
that day or just getting to work outside that prior congestion window -- removes...the
congestion. For $0!
Goof for a healthier Bozeman. Not.
Ok, so widening Kagy solves a problem that doesn't exist now and the return of which is
unlikely. How about all of the other 'good things' it will do! Let's look at our Strategic Plan,
Community Plan and Transportation Plan. It must be a big contributor to other goals!
'Protect Local Air Quality' and 'Reduce community and municipal greenhouse gas' Let's
see. Make a road wider, have more cars driving faster. Uh, I guess that's a no.
'Facilitate and promote recreational opportunities and active health programs'. Well, not
so much.
'Make the transportation system more compatible with the environment' and 'allow
citizens to choose what mode of travel and promote an active lifestyle' Is there anyone
in Bozeman who WANTS to walk or bike across a WIDER road or walk or ride through
a long, dark tunnel. Nope.
Ok, but none of that really matters because ...cars.
Cars before people. A trillion dollars of advertising speaks
No really I do get it. We've all been subject to a trillion dollars of advertising (that's right, you
can look it up) to convince us
that cars are the center of our universe,
that a car defines who we are, our value and our status,
that in a battle between a car and a mere human of course the car should always win
So the answer is a wider road and because the cars will like that should be good enough. Do I
have that right?
A bit of traffic calming might help us see more clearly
Can't we rise above that in Bozeman. At least once in a while and actually not put the money
where the ads tell us to but rather to where we know, in our better selves, it should go.
Can't we at least slow this down a bit and re-evaluate -- in these unprecedented times -- both
the problem and solution.
Chris Shaida
621 North Bozeman Avenue
Bozeman, MT 59715
Christopher Shaida 646-543-5505 | 406-282-1898