HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-25-21 Public Comment - L. Jackson - Board Consolidation and PTSCFrom:Leslie Jackson
To:Agenda
Cc:saferbozeman@gmail.com
Subject:Board Consolidation and PTSC
Date:Tuesday, May 25, 2021 10:22:51 AM
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Dear Commissioners,
I can understand your need for streamlining and consolidation of the many committees currently
operating in Bozeman; however, I have serious concerns about the elimination of the Pedestrian
Traffic Safety Committee. This committee was instrumental in helping to bring about positive change
on our property located at 1815 S. Church. The issue was initially caused by a change made decades
ago in the city/county road which resulted in the road being lined up with our driveway approach
instead of being perpendicular to it. As the driveway is located in the middle of a curve on the main
road, it resulted in multiple drunk drivers missing the main road and careening down our driveway.
On one such occasion, a drunk driver struck and killed my sister. The anniversary of her death is
tomorrow. We had tried everything over the years to make the driveway safer from paying for a light
at the top of the driveway for decades, to putting up reflectors and chevrons but nothing worked.
Each year we had multiple drunk driver accidents and nothing was ever done to remedy the issue. I
didn’t want the risk of one more family member being killed or injured as a result of it. The PTSC
helped us to coordinate the efforts of all the necessary departments so that a real solution could be
made. We were able to get approval to realign the driveway using the city/county easement area so
that the approach was once again perpendicular to the main road. I would still love to have a guard
rail installed, but the driveway realignment has been immensely successful. We’ve only had one
drunk driver incident since the driveway was redone and they merely took out all of the reflectors
but didn’t come down our driveway. If we didn’t have the help of the PTSC, we would never have
been able to navigate the bureaucracy to bring about this effective change. Both the city and the
county had to be involved since the dividing line is right at the top of our driveway in the area in
question. This group of hard-working volunteers should be able to continue operating to help the
average citizen have a voice.
With the rapid growth that Bozeman is experiencing, it seems more important than ever to have an
active and responsive Pedestrian Traffic Safety Committee who is focused on the many issues this
growth presents. Being combined with another committee whose primary focus is elsewhere will
dangerously dilute their effectiveness and attentiveness to these important, life-saving issues.
Thank you for hearing my concerns and giving them your consideration. My wish is that by
streamlining meetings, both the goals of the city’s investment of time and the PTSC’s effectiveness in
aiding citizens can be met.
Kind regards,
Leslie Jackson
406-581-1437
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