HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-31-22 Public Comment - A. Ward - Fowler extends beyond the right-of-wayFrom:Abby Ward
To:Agenda
Subject:Fowler extends beyond the right-of-way
Date:Sunday, July 31, 2022 8:48:00 PM
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Dear Commissioners of the City of Bozeman,
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Fowler Connection project.
In public health, there is an important, intuitive concept called dose-response. This bit of
jargon refers to the notion that those who are exposed to the largest dose of something
have the greatest impact. In the case of Fowler, this concept can be applied to the adjacent
residents, who face the greatest impending exposure to noise, light, emissions, and
increased traffic, and therefore all of the potential health and economic impacts.
This road cuts through neighborhoods, neighborhoods that will be disproportionately
affected by the impacts of a minor arterial road so close to them. It applies to existing
neighborhoods as well as the future affordable housing area in discussion.
Therefore, I ask the project team and City of Bozeman respectfully to keep this phrase in
mind: nothing about us without us. Please recognize that the effects of a road do not
stop at the right of way, and include adjacent residents in the design. Let this be a
community project that we can all take pride in through close collaboration. It may be
breaking trail to do so, but let Bozeman lead the way. What a great example and legacy
that would be.
As an epidemiologist, health and data are what I know, so that is where I have dedicated
my time on this. The most helpful document I can point you to is a report that just came out
in June 2022. This was a large-scale study co-funded by the EPA and auto industry to
avoid bias. Figure 6.2 in this report shows the dose-response effect of proximity to major
roadways and exposure to emissions. In turn, higher exposures to emissions were strongly
linked with a number of health outcomes, including death due to lung cancer and
cardiovascular diseases. While the study looked at residents within 1km, my neighbors and
I on Fowler live less than 8m from the right of way.
While the pre-design report suggests one lane in each direction, these are still important
data to consider since speed limits, traffic volumes, and types of vehicles were yet not
addressed in that report. These are the types of challenges that can benefit from residents
and the City working together, in order to bring important clauses in the Bozeman
Community Plan to life, such as the very first planning principle:
“The health and well-being of the public is an essential focus and influences and is
influenced in turn by urban design and land development.”
I was born and raised in Bozeman. It is my home. We have a real opportunity here. Let’s
please work together. Thank you so much for your time and service.
Sincerely,
Abby Ward
Fowler resident
406-600-5775