HomeMy WebLinkAbout20260414_Commission_TrafficSafetyWorkSessionBozeman Traffic Safety
Work Session
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Bozeman City Commission
April 14, 2026
What is Safe System Approach?
Holistic approach to traffic safety focused on preventing severe and fatal injury crashes
Modeled after “Vision Zero” strategy first developed in Sweden (1997).
Assumes mistakes (crashes) are inevitable and works to reduce
severity
Defines a systems approach over any single responsibility
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SOURCE: USDOT
Bozeman SAFE Plan
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Bozeman SAFE Plan in Action
Vehicle speed is the leading factor in severe injury or death
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SOURCE: NACTO
Bozeman SAFE Plan in Action
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POLICY:
•Safe Speeds for Bozeman
projected completed in 2023
•Lowered speed limits on 11
miles of city-controlled streets
•Max speed limit of 35mph
•Consistent across street types
•Emphasis on School and Park
zones
Bozeman SAFE Plan in Action
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POLICY:
•UDC revision completed in 2026
•Updated Traffic Impact Study and Level of Service standards
Bozeman SAFE Plan in Action
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POLICY:
•Prioritization of safety projects
in Capital Improvement Plan
•Awarded ~$30m in Federal
transportation grants
•Began utilization of A&C
funding for corridor,
intersection, and shared-use
path projects
•Created STR20 Annual
Multimodal Improvements
($150k) in Street Maintenance
Fund
Bozeman SAFE Plan in Action
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PHYSICAL:
•Completed Engineering Design Standards revision
SOURCE: NACTO
Bozeman SAFE Plan in Action
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PHYSICAL:
•Adopted roundabouts as primary intersection control
Bozeman SAFE Plan in Action
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PHYSICAL:
•Adopted shared-use paths as preferred bicycle facility on all arterial and
collector routes
SOURCE: FHWA
Bozeman SAFE Plan in Action
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POLICING:
•Enforcement is just one
component of traffic safety
•The goal is to change driver's
behavior, either by warning or
citation
•Focused on:
•speed
•conflict-related infractions
•crash areas
Bozeman SAFE Plan in Action
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POLICING:
•Steps taken:
•Reimplemented traffic unit:
new vehicles
•Patrol team focus
•Consistent communication
with Transportation and
Engineering
•Grant application for
additional traffic officer
Bozeman SAFE Plan: What’s Next?
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POLICING:
•Next Steps:
•Motorcycles in season
•Dedicated supervisor
•Additional dedicated
officers
•More hours of traffic
enforcement
•Additional focuses:
Bozeman SAFE Plan
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PROMOTION:
•Education - talking to
driver's ed classes
•Message Boards
•Community engagement
•Effective communication
•TDM & SRTS
Bozeman SAFE Plan: What’s Next?
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POLICY/PLANNING:
•Complete Safe Streets for All (SS4A)
Safety Action Plan
•Incorporate safety plan and projects into
Transportation Master Plan update
INFRASTRUCTURE:
•Oak and Ferguson Signal Safety
•College: 8th-11 th
•N 27th & FAC
•Arterial Crossing Improvements
•Neighborhood Traffic Calming
•Uncontrolled Intersections
Bozeman SAFE Plan: What’s Next?
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Questions for Staff
&
Policy Discussion
Traffic Safety Work Session
Bozeman City Commission