HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-25-22 Public Comment - M. Smotherman - Fowler Avenue Connection ProjectFrom:Mickey Smotherman
To:Agenda
Subject:Fowler Ave Connection project
Date:Monday, July 25, 2022 1:03:18 PM
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I am responding to the opportunity to comment before the July 27 Transportation
Board meeting.
First, I want to complement the staff for a very balanced, thoughtful report and
recommendations, which I heartily support. I want to tell you WHY.
I live at 4263 Palisade Dr., just down the street from Fowler, and directly abutting a183 condo unit project (on 8 acres) under consideration by the CommunityDevelopment Director, so I completely understand the concerns of the homeowners
whose property abuts the proposed corridor from Fowler between Babcock and
Durston.
However, the proposed Fowler traffic corridor is absolutely necessary, both now
and into the future. In addition to being a resident of the area, I also drive a school
bus to/from Hyalite school FIVE (5) times daily (AM, followed by AMpreschoolers, followed by pickup of AM preschoolers, then drop off of PMpreschoolers, then PM pickups). I don't know what the traffic studies show, but the
intersection of Fowler and Babcock is a nightmare during drop off/rush hour times
in both the AM and PM. I am constantly amazed that there have not been more
crashes both at that intersection and the Babcock/Sheridan intersection (where busesare departing the front of the school and turning left on Sheridan, and parents are
coming out of the drop off zone turning BOTH right and left on Babcock).
Especially in the AM, when parents are in a hurry to drop their kids and head towork, everyone is frenzied and frustrated by the heavy traffic. I am headed
westbound on Babcock at about 8:00 AM, turning left on Fowler to circle around
the back of Hyalite School and turn east on Babcock to enter the bus zone in front
of the school. On winter mornings, it is white knuckle time for all drivers in thearea. Even if Fowler were not being extended to the north, it would be a godsend to
have a traffic signal at the Fowler/Babcock intersection. A roundabout would also
be an improvement. but blocking Babcock and Fowler for construction - even in the
summer - would create traffic headaches for residents all over that area of WestBozeman.
Altho I know this is not in the Board's jurisdiction, even better would be a traffic
cop directing traffic into and out of the parent drop off area at Hyalite. If someone
would scout this area one morning and then go a few blocks west to MeadowlarkSchool (where I also drop kids) the next day and compare the two, they would
easily see how dangerous it is at Hyalite/Fowler, compared to Meadowlark (even
with Gallatin High traffic also passing by Meadowlark). Please pass this along to
the Public Safety folks - someone (hopefully not a child) is going to be seriouslyhurt one day at Hyalite if better traffic control steps are not implemented soon. Thanks!
Mickey Smotherman (BSD bus 83)