HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-15-15, Hall, Speed Limit, Public CommentDear Mayor Krauss,
We are located on the short stretch of highway between Springhill and 7th Avenue, directly across the road from the North Park Subdivision owned by the city of Bozeman. There are 7 residences (including teenagers that are of driving age) along that stretch, with private driveways that access Frontage Road. In
addition, there are several small businesses and a daycare facility whose patrons use the small roads off of Frontage. There are no shoulders nor turn lanes in this area, and it is an area with a highly-used wildlife
corridor. Between the wildlife crossings, the school buses stopping here for school children, the teenagers
leaving for school, the parents dropping off their toddlers for the daycare center, and the residences needing to leave and return to their homes, this area has been a safety concern for many years. We have
only lived here since 2008 but have seen several accidents in front of our home as a result of motorists’
speeds and/or animals crossing the road. A few of them were not serious; however, others resulted in injury and one in death. Last year, the MDT temporarily reduced the speed of Frontage Road from 60mph
to 50mph, which has resulted in much safer conditions for those of us who live here, the wildlife that
cross Frontage, and those who access businesses in this area. Additionally, bicycle and pedestrian/jogger traffic has increased on this strip, perhaps because the reduced speed limit created a sense of safer
conditions than before. It is our understanding that the MDT is considering increasing the speed again in this area by sometime
in early November, which has those of us who live here very concerned. Although we are not currently
within the city limits, we know that Bozeman has influence on this particular area of Frontage Road. We are asking that the City of Bozeman make a recommendation to the MDT to set the speed limit between
7th Avenue and Springhill Road to 45mph. This would extend the existing 45mph speed limit of 7th
Avenue by Murdochs – an area that has a similar concentration of driveways to access the businesses – through to Springhill Road. We also ask that the passing zones on this section of Frontage Road be
eliminated so that we can safely enter or leave our driveways. Thank you for your time and consideration of this situation.
Scott and Terry Hall 27383 Frontage Rd