HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-28-26 Public Comment - C. Werre - Safety of Willson_Dickerson IntersectionFrom:Clarissa Werre’s
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Safety of Willson/Dickerson Intersection
Date:Thursday, April 23, 2026 7:43:27 AM
Attachments:Willson_Dickerson Intersection.pdf
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April 22, 2026
To: City of Bozeman, Transportation and Engineering Department
Attention: Nicholas Ross and Taylor Lonsdale
I am writing to express concern for the safety of people using the crosswalk at WillsonAve./Dickerson Street intersection.
I have worked at Longfellow Elementary School for 16 years, serving as crosswalk guardon this intersection. There has been a significant increase in traffic density and speed over
the last decade. I also have observed a great increase in vehicles on Willson Avenuedriving through my flashing stop sign as I hold it up to create a safe path for students to
cross this road. Since the start of 2026 I have had more than 15 vehicles ignore my stopsign, not slowing down to stop at this crosswalk. One vehicle seemed to not notice my stop
sign until right before the intersection. The driver then slammed on their brakes right beforethe crosswalk zone. It was quite fortunate that the driver in the vehicle behind this car was
alert and aware of the crosswalk, and thankfully s/he did not collide with the car thatstopped so abruptly.
I believe a large cause of drivers not heeding the crosswalk signs and my stop sign is thatmany (5+) vehicles park on the east side of Willson Ave, south of the intersection. This
blocks north-bound traffic from seeing the pedestrians approaching the intersection as theywalk (west-bound) from Longfellow. These parked cars also impede the drivers’ view of me
and my stop sign.
Installing taller, more visible signs on both sides of the road would definitely help drivers
notice that there is a crosswalk at this intersection. Signs that have flashing lights when apedestrian pushes a button would also help catch drivers’ attention as they approach this
crosswalk.
I personally observe the danger for pedestrians crossing Willson Ave when I am serving as
a crossing guard. However, there is also another bus stop later in the afternoon droppingstudents off in this neighborhood from other schools. These students are dropped off at
Longfellow Elementary on Tracy Ave., and then many students continue walking home bycrossing Willson through this crosswalk on their own, without a crossing guard. This is
another strong reason for installing crosswalk alert signs with lights when a pedestrianpresses a button.
Bozeman Officer Thomas Giermek and another Bozeman officer visited this intersectionearlier this month. They came and observed the intersection from 3:10-3:30pm, while I was
serving as the crossing guard. Their observations were similar to mine: It is time to improve
the visibility of this crosswalk, for the safety of children walking to and from school, as well
as other pedestrians needing to cross this high traffic “collector” street at any other time of
the day or night.
Thank you for your attention to this situation,Clarissa Werre
210 S. Bozeman Ave.
April 22, 2026
To: City of Bozeman, Transportation and Engineering Department
Attention: Nicholas Ross and Taylor Lonsdale
I am writing to express concern for the safety of people using the crosswalk at Willson
Ave./Dickerson Street intersection.
I have worked at Longfellow Elementary School for 16 years, serving as crosswalk guard on this
intersection. There has been a significant increase in traffic density and speed over the last
decade. I also have observed a great increase in vehicles on Willson Avenue driving through
my flashing stop sign as I hold it up to create a safe path for students to cross this road. Since
the start of 2026 I have had more than 15 vehicles ignore my stop sign, not slowing down to
stop at this crosswalk. One vehicle seemed to not notice my stop sign until right before the
intersection. The driver then slammed on their brakes right before the crosswalk zone. It was
quite fortunate that the driver in the vehicle behind this car was alert and aware of the
crosswalk, and thankfully s/he did not collide with the car that stopped so abruptly.
I believe a large cause of drivers not heeding the crosswalk signs and my stop sign is that many
(5+) vehicles park on the east side of Willson Ave, south of the intersection. This blocks
north-bound traffic from seeing the pedestrians approaching the intersection as they walk
(west-bound) from Longfellow. These parked cars also impede the drivers’ view of me and my
stop sign.
Installing taller, more visible signs on both sides of the road would definitely help drivers notice
that there is a crosswalk at this intersection. Signs that have flashing lights when a pedestrian
pushes a button would also help catch drivers’ attention as they approach this crosswalk.
I personally observe the danger for pedestrians crossing Willson Ave when I am serving as a
crossing guard. However, there is also another bus stop later in the afternoon dropping
students off in this neighborhood from other schools. These students are dropped off at
Longfellow Elementary on Tracy Ave., and then many students continue walking home by
crossing Willson through this crosswalk on their own, without a crossing guard. This is another
strong reason for installing crosswalk alert signs with lights when a pedestrian presses a button.
Bozeman Officer Thomas Giermek and another Bozeman officer visited this intersection earlier
this month. They came and observed the intersection from 3:10-3:30pm, while I was serving as
the crossing guard. Their observations were similar to mine: It is time to improve the visibility of
this crosswalk, for the safety of children walking to and from school, as well as other pedestrians
needing to cross this high traffic “collector” street at any other time of the day or night.
Thank you for your attention to this situation,
Clarissa Werre
210 S. Bozeman Ave. cwerre@gmail.com
Bozeman, MT 59715 406-581-3407