HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-13-24 Public Comment - M. Egge - Fowler Avenue Design Work Session - Multimodal ConsiderationsFrom:Mark Egge
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Fowler Avenue Design Work Session - Multimodal Considerations
Date:Saturday, July 13, 2024 1:43:52 PM
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Commissioners,
As you consider the preliminary design of the Fowler Corridor, I'd like to
call to your attention that Bozeman's current transportation plan (the 2017
Transportation Master Plan) calls for an overpass or underpass connectingthe to-be-constructed Fowler Avenue shared use paths with the MSU and
Huffine Lane shared use paths (see project SPOT-39, page 91).
The City is investing significantly in the cost of developing a high qualityshared use path (or paths) along the Fowler Avenue corridor. To get the
best value from this investment and to improve our regional active
transportation network, these trails should be connected to the shared use
path along College Street that connects to MSU.
According to guidance provided by US DOT Federal Highway
Administration, a well-designed bicycle network should be
safe, comfortable, connected, and provide unbroken flow. A gradeseparated crossing (tunnel) at Fowler and Huffine connecting the Fowler
path to the MSU path would improve our active transportation network in
all of these regards. I fear that it's only a matter of time before someone is
seriously injured while crossing Huffine by a distracted motorist turningright on red. If a tunnel isn't built as part of this project, who can say
when—if ever—this improvement will be made?
Principles for Activity Transportation Network Design (source)
Additionally, I'd like to call it to your attention that Fowler has been
identified as an ideal alignment for a future High Frequency Transit route,
which would provide connectivity along the Fowler and Garfield corridorconnecting from the Billings Clinic to MSU.
High Frequency Transit describes bus service with frequent arrivals (10
minutes or less between buses). Typically, this service is combined withTransit Oriented Development (planned areas of higher density along
transit corridors) and supported by Bus Rapid Transit features such as
signal priority of transit vehicles, dedicated right of way for transit
vehicles, and at-grade boarding platforms. The evidence is abundantlyclear that the most effective mechanism to get individuals to choose to
ride the bus rather than drive alone is to provide bus service that is
frequent and convenient. Infrastructure that helps transit vehicles move
faster than other traffic is an important strategy to improve its appeal anduse.
If the City were to choose in 2024 to dedicate right of way for future bus
service along the Fowler corridor and to also update its Future Land Use
Map and zoning to accommodate additional commercial activity anddensity along this corridor, in twenty years time this could be a highly
vibrant corridor along which walking, biking, and transit would be the
dominant modes of transportation.
Forty years from now, this corridor could be the primary alignment for
light rail service running from MSU to Belgrade (operating in the future on
the bus rapid transit right of way dedicated today).
I urge you to give careful consideration to the multimodal potential of this
corridor. Let's not allow Fowler to be a missed opportunity to build a more
sustainable, less car dependent future.
Mark Egge, AICP
1548 S Grand Ave
Bozeman, MT 59715