HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-09-25 Public Comment - A. Kimmel - Serious Traffic Issue Dear Bozeman City Commission Office, regarding a serious traffic issue.
name Audrey Kimmel, and I am writing to you today g
Hii. My is d an avid member of the Gallatin Gateway Community. For this reason,
nature e the road I live on. The speed limit on Gooch
I am a senior at Gallatin High of the dangerous but the realistic average
I feel compelled to inform yspeed of 50 miles per hour,
Hill Road needs to be lowered, even at the posted
'l per hour.The dangerous nature of this rural road needs to be
speed is between 60 and 70 miles P 'call used for farm traffic
addressed. ears. It is typ Y
Gooch Hill has been a notoriously rural road for many Y eased traffic volume
d runners. But recently, residents of the road have seen a significant
and recreation, such as bikers an highway adjacent. Because of the have been
er as typically rural as it may
traffic increase due to construction Highway
the
I, Gooch Hill is no long Highway 191, there
from recent construction on Hig
Huffine Lane and Hig Y
classified many years ago. Since it is a residential road connecting
connection with it. The current speed limit on Gooch nd rural natureis°0
of farmland in con police presence is a large percentagebut due to the limited p per hour.These
miles per hour,which may not seem very fast, Beds present a
realistic s eed that cars typically travel at is between 60 and 70 miles p
the road, the reap P the road, as
on a road that is not built to withstand such travel back and at forth along
dangerous speeds assed, which
are limited.They are frequently tailgated and p
multitude of issues.First of all, farm traffic finds it difficu t t this road is still
the speeds of their wide load equipment
dangerous situation for everyone. Secondly)
makes driving regularly on this road co°e cre orners, shoulder drops, and large hills. In the winter, there
Marl
rural, meaning that it is full of sharp e Gooch Hill Road
'dents. But, there is also a large number of accidents
ents on the road regularly
speeds.Finally, these high speeds m longer do so
are an extensive number of accidents, this road can no long
due to the negligence of recommended sp lace along the road
impossible to enjoy recreationally• Bike races that used to take P le don't even walk along
p eed traffic. Many people along a highway-
because
of the increased volume of high-sp because it's like walking per hour. Although this
anymore, even if it's just to their mailbox down the street,
that the speed limit on Gooch Hill Road be lowered to speed on this proad,while the
1 propose o. out that the average speed limit, even just
may not seem significant, its necessary to P per hour over. A small decrease in
regular limit is set at 50, is still 10 or 15 miles p an e.This is good
g seed on the road. Because Gooch Hill is not it chat gcontrolled road)
a speed limit by 5,will lower the overall average PThankfully,
, a Gooch Hill
Department of Transportation does not have to approveY
the Montana Dep conquered to make change.
because it is one less boundary that
petitio has to n gain Y change for this road, as the
push ain city attention for a requested lower speed limit.
resident has already tried to P
petition, Citizens have to work with the local cite done to
unsuccessful, it has shown that the local community wants to see o b
ThoughP,speed study needs t
majority of Gooch Hill Residents signed this P gain a speed study.
government to enact change, and in this case, tog posted speed.This is the right course of action
g e speeds are significantly above the p 1 too fast.This road was
prove that the average P are traveling on this rural road are simply
take because the speeds that people es have proven this.The
to speeds, and the dangerous corners and slop en on rural
not built for high traffic at high sp s that 9 out of 10 fatal crashes in Montana Kapp
Montana Department of Transportation say m this statistic. lace, so we might
roadways. This is our chance to contribute to changing take action and make a
Everyone wants to change the world, this is no secret. But the o world is a big p
community you, w
this letter if I didn't
You can help. I wouldn't be writing you for your
as well start in our community,
itO, I know ur needs department cares.Thank
difference. I know you can
gen
uinely believe that this issue mattered and that someone in this
time, and I appreciate any feedback or next steps you ma
community, and I hope to hear from p Y Y have. Thank you for all that you do for our
you soon. I .kfmmel@bsd7students.or
Sincerely, can be reached at audrey g
Audrey Kimmel