HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-10-24 Public Comment - C. Wood - Fowler Expansion Project CommentsFrom:Caroline Wood
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Fowler Expansion Project Comments
Date:Wednesday, July 10, 2024 12:43:38 PM
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Dear City Commissioners,
I have lived on Davis Lane directly east of the Fire Station and slightly north of Oak for 7 years. I find
it to be very easy to travel south to Huffine without delays or congestion.
There are SO many options from the major streets of Cottonwood to Ferguson to various minor
streets such as New Holland, Meagher, Hunter’s Way and 25th. These City streets are already
WORKING just as Willson Avenue, College Street and Peach Street do.
I have 4 points to make about the Fowler Expansion Project that I truly hope you will consider from a
resident’s point of view.
1. I do not believe this expansion is necessary as there does not seem to be much demand to
travel from the area of Davis and Oak to Huffine. There is currently no congestion along any
routes and there are multiple existing streets to reach various points on Huffine. I cannot see
why there would be much demand for those on the south side of Huffine to travel into a
residential area with very few commercial businesses.
2. The City of Bozeman owns a beautiful piece of land with mature cottonwoods west of 19th
which could become a beautiful trail through the trees right along the irrigation stream. It
would be perfect for a west side public pool with parking as well. So many options are better
than a road. In 30 years, will we be grateful the city put a road there or that we didn’t?
3. My opinion is that residents West of 19th are heading EAST, not SOUTH. The hospital,
fairgrounds, downtown core, Cannery district, better parks, community events, trails such as
Glen Lake, Cherry Creek, the M, Drinking Horse, Peets Hill and ski areas of Bridger Bowl and
Crosscut are ALL to the EAST. Target, Walmart, Winco, Smiths and multiple businesses and
outdoor stores are ON 19th. Once the developments go in west of Davis, south of Valley
Center, where are they going to want to go? EAST by utilizing I-90 to Main or Valley Center to
19th. Those who want to go to Big Sky aren’t going to want to enter Huffine any sooner than
they have to and we have multiple routes to get to Jackrabbit or Huffine already in place.
4. Rather than investing time and financial resources to develop a route that is not even needed
(YET), I believe the City of Bozeman needs to focus on routes already available to expand. Oak
Street is MAJOR route to get to everything mentioned above on 19th and beyond. The west to
east approach on Oak to the 19th intersection is a total mess. There is no right turning lane
which means traffic trying to enter Oak from Stoneridge has to rely on the kindness of
someone waiting at the light to let them in. Those exiting retail businesses from the north by
the liquor store trying to turn left have no turning lane to enter. They too are relying on
kindness to get into one of the two lanes on the other side already filled with people waiting
for the light. At various times of the day, it is very easy to see traffic backed up beyond
Woodland Drive meaning it will be 3 lights before you can proceed. In addition to this, the
route goes to only 1 lane on each side by Rose Park which especially heading east results in
speeding and road rage as those who are supposed to merge instead speed up to pass so they
get one spot ahead in the line up at 19th.
I do hope you will take my comments into consideration because while I am all for smart growth in
this City I’ve called home for 30 years, I think we need to be wise when it comes to how money is
spent and whether it adds to the character or takes away. Fixing existing routes, adding additional
West side amenities such as trails and a community pool all seem like good uses of funds. Throwing
away money on a route that hasn’t ever been needed and still is not needed feels like a total waste
to me.
Take care,
Caroline
Caroline Bach Wood
Independent Travel Advisor
Affiliate of Travel Experts – a Virtuoso Agency
Conde Nast Top Travel Specialist 2005 – Present
House of Beyond Member