HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-11-26 Public Comment - K. Jennings - Transportation Safety From: Karin Jennings
To: Bozeman Public Comment
Subject: [EXTERNAL]Transportation Safety
Date: Saturday,April 11,2026 9:37:07 AM
Attachments: BozemanDail<hronicle 20260411 A06 O.odf
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Please take as many of Mark Egge's recommendations in his OpEd from today (attached) into
account during the upcoming safety work session - and beyond. I specifically support fully
implementing (funding?) the SAFE Plan, and pushing the state legislature to loosen the
restrictions on how transportation funds can be used(toward non-motorized safety).
A couple of specific requests regarding needed transportation safety measures are:
1) a safe crossing of Bridger Drive (yes, it's a state highway) from Story Mill Park to Ghost
Town Coffee/Zeeks -before a child(or anyone) is killed there
2) fixing the alignment of the Story Mill Road bridge over Bridger Creek. It is narrow and the
sight distance is terrible because it is askew and motorists come down the hill (from the N) too
fast. With the creation of BikeEll I expect that there will be more bicycle travel to that park,
who will be putting their lives in jeopardy.
I feel the City has done a great job with its transportation plan over the years, particularly in
providing car-mover thoroughfares like 19th, Oak, Kagy. (I moved here before 19th (north)
existed...) I also recognize the investments in our bike lane and trail system that goes a long
way toward moving non-vehicular movement safely. It is great to have bike lanes on these car-
mover thoroughfares,but there remain pinch-points on Oak at 7th and west of 19th, with
thrust bikes into the lanes with motorists who are not necessarily expecting bicyclists.
More needs to be done to prevent needless deaths. Thank you.
Bozeman Daily Chronicle - 04/11/2026 Page : A06
BOZEMAN DAILY CHRONICLESATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2026
Ka I I ie Kujawa,community member
EDITORIAL BOARD Charles Rinker,community member
Sam Worthington,publisher Shelby Bouma,community member
Jeff Welsch,managing editor Daniel Bierschwale,community member
OPINIONMike Hope,community member
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: DESK@DAILYCHRONICLE.COM
Will we finally focus on safer streets for cyclists, runners?
MARKEGGE nothing changes.And then some- starting next year,and some proj- project. The upcoming transportation
Guest columnist one else dies. ects like South 3rd Avenue do City staff say they don't have the master plan will shapeBozeman's
The question before the Com- appear genuinely driven bymul- money for standalone safety proj- streets for a generation.If it ranks
On Feb.26,Leslie Brown was mission now is whether this time timodal needs.But the city's bud- ects,pointing to restrictions on projects the way the current capi-
killed in a marked crosswalk on will be different. get for safety features like flashing how transportation revenue can tal program has historically—by
Oak Street while out for a morn- There are reasons for cautious beacons on existing streets is still be spent.Even ifthafs correct,it is vehicle throughput,with safety as
ing run.She is the latest in a series hope.The Commission has a road just$150,000 per year—roughly not the end of the conversation— a secondary consideration—we'll
of cyclists and pedestrians killed safety work session on April 14, half of 1%ofthe city's transporta- it is the beginning of one. fail to improve the safety of our
on BozematA high-speed,multi- and a new transportation mas- tion budget. The city could lobby the legisla- streets and people will keep dying
lane roads. ter plan is in development— The pace is not commensu- ture to loosen those restrictions.It on them.
In 2019,Alexa Dzintars was moments where priorities get rate with the problem.People are could put a dedicated safety levy April 14 is the next chance to
killed riding her bike home from locked in for years.But Boze- dying now,on streets the city con- before voters.Bozeman residents break the cycle.The Commis-
work on 19th Avenue.In the fall man has had moments like these trols now consistently say they want safer sion's work session is open to
of 2022,Richard Evers was killed before,and the pattern has held. The bigger picture remains lop- streets for walking and biking. the public,and commissioners
on his bike crossing Huffine Lane, In 2023,the Commission sided.The Kagy Boulevard recon- Has anyone actually asked them read every message sent to com-
and weeks later Kelly Fulton—a adopted its Streets Are For Every- struction carries a total budget of to fund it? ments@bozeman.net.
Bozeman High math teacher bik- one(SAFE)Plan.It is a good plan. $31.7 million.It includes shared- We know what works.Swe- If you have ever worried about
ing to work with a green light— Its full implementation could have use paths and pedestrian tun- den adopted Vision Zero in 1997 crossing a busy five-lane road,try-
was killed when a driver ran a red saved Leslie Brown's life.A safer nels,and those are welcome.But and has since cut its road fatality ing to bike downtown,or walk-
light on Oak Street.Now Leslie crossing.A road diet.A lower the project exists because of a per- rate by more than 70%—not by ing r kids nt to sayy school,this so.Show up.Send
is the
Brown,on the same street. speed limit.Consistent traffic ceived need to widen from two to demanding perfection from driv- mome
After each death,the same enforcement. four lanes. ers,but by designing streets where a comment.
cycle plays out.The commu- Credit where it's due—the The pattern persists:Active human error doesn't equal death. Tell the Commission what kind
of streets you want to live on.
nity grieves.Cityleaders express direction is improving.The city transportation improvements Bozeman has a plan built on
concern.Residents urge the City has programmed$2.7 million most often get funded when they this principle.Implementation Mark Egge,AlCP,is a Bozema n resident
Commission to act.And then for shared-use path construction hitch a ride on a road-widening has been tepid and slow and transportation safety advocate.
April 11,2026 9:28 am(GMT-6:00) Powered by TECNAVIA