HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-11-15 Cancelled PTS AgendaMembers & Friends of Bozeman (Area) Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee,
Our regular monthly meeting would normally be a week from today, March 11.
However, your officers have decided to CANCEL that meeting so the next meeting will
now be 12 noon, Wednesday, April 8.
There are two reasons for the cancellation. First, we perceived there would only be two
"major" agenda items and neither would be very time-consuming. Second, there is a distinct
possibility we might not have a quorum in part since even one of our officers would be absent.
The two potential "major" agenda items would be a legislative update and discussion about
getting City Commission adoption of the B Bozeman Community Transportation Safety Plan.
The second topic would probably not involve making any major decisions but rather would
primarily consist of listening to a report from Danielle Scharf on her efforts in moving us first to
adoption of the plan and then second on to the implementation of the plan. Suffice it to say
Danielle is working on our behalf and you WILL hear more later.
There's both bad news and good news from the legislature in Helena. I'll share with you
what you would have heard at the now cancelled March 11 committee meeting.
First the bad news. In spite of special efforts from our Interim Police Chief (and former
committee secretary) Rich McLane, myself, and others Senate Bill 278 (SB 278) never passed
the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee and thus never even got to the Senate floor.
This is the bill that would have strengthened the laws governing crosswalks. I express our
gratitude to Rich and others who lobbied albeit unsuccessfully for this bill. Among the Senate
Committee members who voted against this bill were local legislators Gordon Vance (committee
Vice Chair) of Belgrade and Scott Sales of Bozeman, Manhattan, and Three Forks.
The good news is that at least two bills (HB 280 and HB 394) have successfully passed the
House and have moved on to the Senate for its consideration. The slightly worrisome news is
both bills have now gone to the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee, the same
committee that failed to pass SB 278. HB 280 is referred to as the "bicycle cleanup" bill that
would clarify a number of laws involving bicycles. HB 394 mandates a minimum of a four-foot
clearance when a motor vehicle passes a bicyclist. (FYI, Bike Walk Executive Director Montana
Melinda Barnes has informed me their group will consider sponsoring at the next legislative
session a similar requirement when a motor vehicle passes a pedestrian.)
I would encourage each of you to consider promptly lobbying for HB 280 and HB 394.
You can get on the legislature's website and easily send a message to the entire Senate Highways
and Transportation Committee or get the email addresses and phone numbers of individual
committee members. Later, if either or both of those bills does pass the committee, than the
entire Senate could be lobbied.
FYI, here is some more news. At our February 11 committee meeting, we collectively (the
members and the City staff who were present) agreed to install a 15 MPH ADVISORY speed
sign for northbound traffic on South Church at the entrance to Burke Park and the crossing of the
Galligator Trail. I am now told the necessary sign posts cannot be implanted in the ground until
the ground thaws probably in May. The sign(s) will go up then.
At some point in time, the draft minutes of our February 11 committee meeting will be
emailed out. Watch for them.
Again, remember there will be no committee meeting next week.
Ralph W. Zimmer, Chairperson
Bozeman (Area) Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee