Complete Streets Viewpoint
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John Juras
May 31, 2012, 1:42:52 AM5/31/12
to tribl...@greatfallstribune.com
Dear Trib Editorial Board,
Please consider publishing my following letter as a Viewpoint before the June 5th Commission meeting. If the letter is not right for Viewpoint, please include as a Letter to the Editor. Most of you on the Board know that I am a long time promoter of all things bicycling in Great Falls and a Civil Engineer with TD&H Engineering. Please call me at work with any questions, 761-3010. Thanks in advance for your consideration. - John
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Complete the Streets
Our City streets need help. Bicyclists and motorists in Great Falls frequently don’t know how to Share the Road. Signs and pavement markings on several key routes would help everyone understand what they should do. Look at any other City’s streets in the country and you will see bike lanes, bike routes, and other pavement markings. Great Falls doesn’t have a single block of bike lanes or a single “sharrow”. Even Shelby has bike lanes! Every other big Montana City has sharrows. Why don’t we?
A wide ranging group of our citizens has come together to try to make our streets friendly for all users. Bicyclists, walkers, seniors, bus riders, handicapped advocates, parents of school kids, as well as City staff members want the City Commission to pass a “Complete Streets Resolution”. A group of opponents want the resolution rejected. Here a discussion of some of the major concerns presented by opponents.
Some opponents say making the streets safe for walkers, bicyclists and bus riders is too expensive. They say Great Falls is broke and can’t afford sidewalks, bike lanes, or safe pedestrian crossings. They are dead wrong.
First, City Street Funds are set aside for just this type of maintenance and improvement. They are not connected to the General Fund. Taxes to pay for them have been in place for a long time. Second, federal, state, and private funds are already in place for many key improvement projects that will hopefully move forward if the City Commission passes a Complete Streets Resolution. Finally, most of the needed improvements are relatively cheap anyway. Installing signs, pavement markings and fixing sidewalks is a drop in the bucket for our City’s street budget.
Some opponents say they don’t want to share the road with bicyclists. They say that making provisions for bicycles and walkers will take away from their driving options. I’ve been riding in Great Falls for many years and I don’t think we need THAT much room to be safer. Bike lanes on already wide City streets like 2nd Street or Fox Farm Road will not restrict traffic flow or parking at all. Bike routes on parallel streets to help channel bikes and pedestrians off of busy roads like 10th Avenue South or 38th Street will only help vehicle traffic.
Lots of other common sense Complete Streets treatments that will make the streets safer for all are REALLY needed. However, we don’t need as many bike lanes as cities like Missoula. Never fear opponents, Great Falls will never become another Missoula.
While many of us have a choice, it is simply not fair that the many people who can’t afford to drive are prevented from safely walking or bicycling in Great Falls. While Rivers Edge Trail is by far the best recreational trails for pedestrians and cyclists in Montana, it is not well connected to City streets. Complete Streets would help people get to the trail without driving and even use the trail to get where they are going.
Our City streets need help. Bicyclists and motorists in Great Falls frequently don’t know how to Share the Road. Signs and pavement markings on several key routes would help everyone understand what they should do. Look at any other City’s streets in the country and you will see bike lanes, bike routes, and other pavement markings. Great Falls doesn’t have a single block of bike lanes or a single “sharrow”. Even Shelby has bike lanes! Every other big Montana City has sharrows. Why don’t we?
A wide ranging group of our citizens has come together to try to make our streets friendly for all users. Bicyclists, walkers, seniors, bus riders, handicapped advocates, parents of school kids, as well as City staff members want the City Commission to pass a “Complete Streets Resolution”. A group of opponents want the resolution rejected. Here a discussion of some of the major concerns presented by opponents.
Some opponents say making the streets safe for walkers, bicyclists and bus riders is too expensive. They say Great Falls is broke and can’t afford sidewalks, bike lanes, or safe pedestrian crossings. They are dead wrong.
First, City Street Funds are set aside for just this type of maintenance and improvement. They are not connected to the General Fund. Taxes to pay for them have been in place for a long time. Second, federal, state, and private funds are already in place for many key improvement projects that will hopefully move forward if the City Commission passes a Complete Streets Resolution. Finally, most of the needed improvements are relatively cheap anyway. Installing signs, pavement markings and fixing sidewalks is a drop in the bucket for our City’s street budget.
Some opponents say they don’t want to share the road with bicyclists. They say that making provisions for bicycles and walkers will take away from their driving options. I’ve been riding in Great Falls for many years and I don’t think we need THAT much room to be safer. Bike lanes on already wide City streets like 2nd Street or Fox Farm Road will not restrict traffic flow or parking at all. Bike routes on parallel streets to help channel bikes and pedestrians off of busy roads like 10th Avenue South or 38th Street will only help vehicle traffic.
Lots of other common sense Complete Streets treatments that will make the streets safer for all are REALLY needed. However, we don’t need as many bike lanes as cities like Missoula. Never fear opponents, Great Falls will never become another Missoula.
While many of us have a choice, it is simply not fair that the many people who can’t afford to drive are prevented from safely walking or bicycling in Great Falls. While Rivers Edge Trail is by far the best recreational trails for pedestrians and cyclists in Montana, it is not well connected to City streets. Complete Streets would help people get to the trail without driving and even use the trail to get where they are going.
Please show your support for Complete Streets by urging our Mayor and Commissioners to pass the Complete Streets Resolution that is posted on the City’s web site. Attend the City Commission meeting on June 5th to show your support when this Resolution is brought up for discussion.
Linda Tracy
May 31, 2012, 12:12:56 PM5/31/12
to walkbike...@googlegroups.com
Hi John,
Thanks for the update and your impassioned support for the proposed complete streets resolution. Do keep this group updated on whether your letter is published and on the outcome of the vote.
Best, Linda Tracy
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