HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-03-24 Public Comment - M. Brown - CIPFrom:Marilee Brown
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]CIP
Date:Tuesday, December 3, 2024 1:43:02 AM
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From the chair and executive director of GAP (Gallatin Alliance for Pathways)
Dear Commission,
I need to be brutally honest. I’m not trying to be disparaging toward anyone in particular but
we quite frankly are at the end of our rope and you need to know the problems that we havebeen encountering for the last 5 years.
Five years ago, GAP (Galla10 Alliance for Pathways) entered into a partnership with the City
to build a multiuser pathway on Frontage Road between the Cherry River Fishing access near7th and the Valley Center Spur. There was significant donation and other potential partner
funding available to complete this community project. We were enthusiastic and eager tosupport the effort in any way possible. Most of the path either has been or will be built soon
by developers leaving only a short section between Cherry River Fishing access and Springhillto be built by the City/Partners.
DISCOURAGING UNILATERAL CHANGES
In the last five years, the Commission and the Trans Boards have repeatedly made the Path apriority project . You, the Commission, have been wonderful! Over 3,000 Citizens signed a
petition originally. Funding from the Commission was approved more than three times fordesign, feasibility studies, and right of way acquisition. But Staff has repeatedly either spent
the money elsewhere, delayed it, or withheld it - and called the path a low priority.
Never in that 5 years have we received a friendly "heads up” or asked to have a status meetingwith us to discuss the possibility of making changes and delays. For instance, we had to find
out now that the project had once again been delayed in the CIP by reading the agenda for aBoard meeting and then finding the demotion in the fine print. No call or email, even though
one Staff member said two months prior that they would be sending us a status update - itnever came.
FUNDING
Over the years we have held up our part. After winning the necessary TOP award to becomea City project, we raised money (enough at the time) to hire a fund-raising expert, signed up
grant writers, and took classes on fund raising while waiting for the moment that the projectcould move forward with right of way procurement and design so that money could be raised
from grants and donations for the construction. We have been waiting for that go ahead for 5years and now need to wait even more years.
We found needed contacts for the railroad right of way on the Citi’s behalf, which we thought
was our one and only hurdle left. But even though there is money dedicated in the TOPfunding to hire an expert to negotiate with the Railroad, no one has been hired. Not a single
effort in five years has been made to get approval from the railroad by the City.
Every year the price of the project has nearly doubled. Five years ago, this 1/4 mile section ofpathway was estimated at about $250,00 – now way over a $million - maybe two. And the
cost of land acquisition/easement will continue to rise every year.
Currently Major Federal funding that is available only every two years with applications duein January can’t be applied for because no planning for easement or project priority was given
to us. This delays us another 3 years (if this funding is needed) and under the next Federaladministration might not even be available.
In the last budget meeting you amended the budget to include $500,000 in FY25/26 for design
and easement acquisition - critical for moving forward. Thank you! It was then changed toFY26 not FY25 which was not in the amendment.
And now we are being relegated again to FY2028 or maybe even longer - hostage to a sewerpipe line that we are told needs to go in before a path can be built over it. Yes, a quarter mile
sewer pipe is in charge of the safety of the people. Tell that to the people that struggle tomove east and west along the north side of town and the freeway.
We are finding it impossible to sustain enthusiasm and willingness to fund raise with these
continued setbacks. Big changes need to happen. For one, I’m retiring soon (maybe now tothe joy of staff LOL) and a replacement is needed that can see a brighter future ahead and
believes the City is actually supporting this path.
SAFETYEvery day I see people struggling to walk or ride bikes on the road that has no shoulders.
Imagine, a sudden drop-off only four inches on the other side of the white line and no where toride or walk except inside the white line where thousands of speeding vehicles travel. There is
no alternative route due to the East Gallatin River and mountains beyond. Cars wiz by at50mph and often put themselves at risk of head on crashes to avoid the people trying to cope
walking or riding on the road. This is possibly the most dangerous section of road in the City(or even the State) for a person operating under their own power. Kevin died while riding his
bike there. And the Citizens that witnessed his death tell me that they still struggle with thememories of holding him in their arms while he died.
Discussion with Staff at one time included a temporary dirt path or putting in a section of
unconnected sewer pipe. But Staff has refused to hold status meetings with us to discuss howto move this forward - saying they are swamped with more important work and we were a low
priority "per the Commission”.
And consider that this path is needed to help get people to the newly proposed popularrecreational facility at Snow Fill which will now be built before our path. Additionally a new
office building holding thousands of workers is about to open on the path.
DISCRIPTION DISPARAGING THE COUNTY AND BELGRADEAnd to make things even worse - yes it can get worse - the description of the project now
disparages the Gallatin County and Belgrade Governments. Here is the most recentdescription of the project:
This project will construct a 10-foot shared use path along Frontage Road
between Cherry Riverfishing access and Springhill Road. This is an initial portion of the overall
Frontage Pathway fromBozeman to Belgrade, however, no County or City of Belgrade support has
currently been identifiedto complete the path outside of city limits. Additional funding for this project is
provided through aTrails, Open, Space and Parks (TOP) grant and through private fundraising
identified in the TOPapplication. This project was identified in the 2017 Transportation Master Plan as
SP-34. Right ofWay agreements are required before this project can advance to construction.
The Bozeman SAFE Plan of 2023 identifies separated bicycles facilities as a
priority improvement. Further need for project prioritization is requested in the next Transportation
Master Plan.
This is how wrong the above underlined portion of the description is:
1) This is a CITY project. The TOP award was an “initial portion" of the Frontage
Pathway from 7th to the Valley Center Spur where it would connect with the ValleyCenter pathway - NOT to Belgrade.
2) The long range project is to go all the way to Three Forks. The County has made
sure that funding is available for that end.
3) The County has agreed to split half the cost with the City at the Valley Center Spurfor a pedestrian crossing study.
4) Belgrade and the County have made sure that developers are required to put in
pathway along the route in their jurisdictions.5) The County will be building half of the TOP project when the reclamation transfer
station on City property is built.
6) The County offered for us to apply for a $50,000 grant which the City told us not todo.
7) The County opened positive discussion with the railroad earlier this year.
8) This path has already been identified as a safety issue in every plan as a major
priority with robust support. Please do not request a new prioritization as asked for inthe description unless it is equally asked for on every single other transportation project.
Poor Action from the Transportation Board - need for training.
At the most recent Transportation Board meeting I brought up all the above points andwatched as members and Staff nodded their heads in agreement that this was an important
path, possibly needing a temporary solution, and that the description of the County andBelgrade participation needed to be changed. When calling for the motion to accept the CIP
(and therefore allow discussion), the chair had to coerce members to make the motion - clearlymembers were uncomfortable making a motion to accept the CIP as presented. No discussion
on the path was held. And I believe no motion was offered because they simply did not knowthe procedures for doing so. There has been no training of Boards on Roberts Rules and the
procedures for Board members. Formality prevails and members only speak up when askedby the chair. And the chair did not suggest that an amendment could be considered.
ACTION NEEDED TONIGHTPlease make the following amendment:
1) Change the descriptive wording of the path back to most of the previous years CIP
description, adding that the project is a City project ending at the Spur and connecting toValley Center pathway. And eliminate commentary on Belgrade and the County. Suggested
wording:
This project will construct a 10’ shared use path along Frontage Road between CherryRiver fishing access and Springhill Road. This will complete the City portion of
Frontage Pathway between 7th and Valley Center Spur connecting to the Valley CenterPathway. Initial funding for this project is provided through a Trails, Open, Space and
Parks (TOP) grant and through private fundraising identified in the TOP application.This project was identified in the 2017 Transportation Master Plan as SP-34. Right of
Way agreements are required before this project can advance to construction.
2) Ask staff to help keep your word on design and right-of-way acquisition in the City Budgetof FY25/26. Move ahead soon or allow us to do it on the their behalf.
3) Ask staff to explore temporary safety solutions and help champion the project in
partnership and cooperation with the public.
Thank you, I truly appreciate all the efforts you have made on this project. And I also
appreciate the efforts that staff have made previously. My hope is for a better workingrelationship in the future.
Marilee Brown, Director of GAP
Marilee Brown, Chair
GAP - Galla10 Alliance for Pathways
2411 Kid Curry DriveBozeman, MT 59718
406-579-5447
saferbozeman@gmail.comwww.frontagepathway.com