Comments for “2023 Billings Urban Area Long Range Transportation Plan - Draft Projects”
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Can't we just shut down Broadway between 1st & 4th and create a walking mall with outdoor seating for the restaurants in this area? It would be an incredible downtown gathering location and perfect for all the downtown events that occur here.
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ReplyI would settle for a brick intersection to better mark the space during events- especially if the original brick could be uncovered!
Like Liked 3 timesOr try seasonal closing to encourage summer Sunday strolling, cycling, skating. Weekly active transport events are great.
Like Liked 3 timesAn aside... Shadow Lawn Ct. lots should be higher condo units to generate the tax revenue that the Rocky condos on Poly create. Single family homes aren't appropriate in this high value area where medical staff and students would congregate and enliven downtown Billings.
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Having a great pedestrian/bicycle trail along the canal to the west and toward the east of this point would be beneficial. Some kind of safe connection (not exposed to 6 lanes of traffic traveling at nearly 60mph sometimes) would give great access to Alkalai Creek and the heights.
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ReplyHere's what a canal tunnel path would look like. All the connection, none of the traffic or snow plowing. It would provide increased monitoring potential for rimrock debris rolling into this critical area of the canal. www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/paw-paw-tunnel.htm
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If there is some way to extend a pedestrian/bicycle trail along this canal, it would be incredible!
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ReplyIt really would be. Sometimes I think about how many people would be served by a Billings Canal Trail stretching from the Zoo through a canal tunnel to Lake Elmo (and beyond) relative to the number of households served by the Inner Corridor path. The historic ‘Ditch’ touches every Ward, colleges, recreational areas and is the lifeblood of our agricultural roots. A treasure worth celebrating.
Like Liked 4 timesA fully accessible canal trail would even be a better ‘marathon’ event loop stretching to the Heights / Elmo and back along the river. Shade trees would make any event much more pleasant -a great way to include the whole town.
Like Liked 4 timesThere’s no time like the present to ask for project funding. www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A?fbclid=IwAR2BsyYje6V84EiJI4Lly6UvtoxX30lNjRvq_CwvYJAOgKnFa34BGOYYAyU
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Creating a much safer pedestrian/bicycle crossing here is a *must*. Standing at this intersection and waiting for the light to change is being in an extraordinarily vulnerable position. Cars are speeding by and frantically trying to make their turns onto 5th. It's terrifying.
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ReplyReintroducing street trees where there are double wide sidewalks to the first eight blocks of Grand will slow traffic and improve the area in many ways. A great project to coordinate with property owners to improve land value. www.reliance-foundry.com/blog/11-benefits-street-trees
Like Liked 4 timesStudent clubs should have free rein the maintain this as a black and orange bronc artwork intersection. It could be a place to try a complete pedestrian exchange light in which all traffic stops briefly (no right on red) and walkers cross in all directions - even diagonally.
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Creating a much safer pedestrian/bicycle crossing here is a *must*. Standing at this intersection and waiting for the light to change is being in an extraordinarily vulnerable position. Cars are speeding by and frantically trying to make their turns onto 14th. It's terrifying.
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Grand Ave/ 14th St W
Creating a much safer pedestrian/bicycle crossing here is a *must*. Standing at this intersection and waiting for the light to change is being in an extraordinarily vulnerable position. Cars are speeding by and frantically trying to make their turns onto 13th. It's terrifying.
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24TH ST W
The intended terminus of this Bicycle Trail is the Meyers Trail, which is impassible for almost anyone with a bicycle. People who seek that kind of challenge do not need the City to create a designated path to it. Everyone else would be better served applying resources to some different bicycle destination.
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This intersection is a 3-way with only one stop sign. The traffic before and after school is horrible. There are near misses here weekly, even with a crossing guard present. I would love to seeing flashing crosswalk signs, the crosswalk moved to directly in front of Highland, and a crosswalk added at 7th and Parkhill.
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ReplyA continuous sidewalk would slow down traffic in this area and allow opportunity for vehicles on 8th Street to make their turn safely onto Parkhill. It's difficult to see approaching vehicles from 8th Street - mainly because drivers on Parkhill are typically driving 10 mph over the posted speed limit.
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Avenue D/ 12th St
This future bike path Broadwater and 12th could be a multiuse feature is Spring Creek were daylighted to run down 12th, switching to Plainvirw - right down to meet with the Suburban Ditch at Amend Rec Center. A green corridor to cool the area, add to the water table, support pathside greenery and better manage storm water. Long range idea… www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/09/daylighting-is-a-new-trend-that-s-transforming-cities/
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ReplyYou can see such streams and ditches in the "topography' view of the map. It helps see the natural features and heritage waterways (ditches) that could be better used as green corridors linking neighborhoods and managing storm and irrigation water simultaneously.
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Long range. This would be a great Rec Center Light Rail transit stop with service arching up through the 'Wye' junction to the downtown 5th Avenue & 27th stop. Why not start planning?
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ReplyWouldn't in be amazing to actually put your public Rec Center investment to use to raise your tax revenue by making this Terry neighborhood more livable, safer and connected to Amend Park and beyond. Do good and do well at the same time: https://americas.uli.org/active-transportation-real-estate-next-frontier/
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Wicks Lane – Governors Blvd to Bench Blvd
Having the light on Wick changed to have a designated turn signal to turn on Nutter and Lake Hills from Wicks would be beneficial. This would help provide safety in the morning and at dismissal as elementary students cross Wicks during the rush for high school students during their arrival and dismissal.
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There is only one way in and out of Eagle Cliffs Elementary. Currently there are 440 students attending the school and about 10 are bussed. There needs to be a walking/bike path or road from Marias to Wicks or from Marias to Constitution. The traffic before and after school at the crosswalk of Kootenai and Marias is slow, backed up and inefficient. A three way stop might help alleviate some of the congestion. Parents are frustrated at arrival and dismissal and this is not good for kids, staff or the parents! Please, please consider looking into this request/concern. We have been asking for support with this for the past five years.
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At Governors and Constitution, there needs to be a turning lane and some way to let drivers know this is a very busy street where elementary, middle and high schoolers cross before and after school. There needs to be a flashing street crossing sign, speed bump or something to slow the drivers down!
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BROADWATER - SRTS
Traffic around Broadwater Elementary School is very congested from 7:45-8:15 and 1:00-3:00 on school days. This creates the potential for danger to students as they are walking to/from school. Traffic control devices and/or pedestrian crossing controls are needed for the intersection of 4th Street west and Broadwater and 4th and Wyoming. Additionally, curb extensions and flashing pedestrian signs would also be beneficial for all intersections around the perimeter of the school; 4th-5th street west, Broadwater-Wyoming Avenue. Additional school parking along the south side of Wyoming, adjacent to the school would allow students to be dropped off at the school and they would not need to cross any intersections.
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ReplyThis is such a crucial, hard- working neighborhood school, it seems like even more drastic measures could be taken to save children’s lives. What’s stopping the city from simply closing 4th Ave to through traffic? This would extend the safe drop off and walking zone on Wyoming. Additionally, on Broadwater, instead of the unnecessary turning lane, why not set up a green tree-filled center island in front of the school: calm traffic, narrow the crossing, reduce noise for students, soak up some pollution.
Like Liked 2 timesYou could do something fun for students and decorate the alley leading up to 4th behind United Methodist if that block of 4th had bollards blocking traffic.
Like Liked 2 timesA green 4th St between Broadwater and Wyoming could be a wonderful pocket park (street fest- flea markets - garden markets) with a town square quality located between church and school. No driveways affected! NRCS at the other end of the alley (3rd) may join in a green school/neighborhood grant project like this: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state/montana/news/ennis-school-gardens-growing-more-than
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This back angle parking concept in downtown is horrible. People don't know how to park in these spots. It's also not right that parking is inconsistent throughout downtown. You shouldn't have a mix of back in and pull in. It should be all one way to reduce confusing people that don't frequent downtown. This is a significant problem around the Federal Building on the corner of 4th Ave and 29th street.
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ReplyI agree the angled parking should be consistent. I like the back in parking - it's safer because I have more visibility when leaving the parking space. People will just have to go back to driver's ed and learn how to back into spaces. If people can learn to parallel park, they can learn how to back into an angled spot. I vote for back in angled parking everywhere. Studies have shown that back-in angle parking is one of the safest forms of parking. There's an excessive number of pick up trucks in Billings. And then they park right next to you. Then you can't see around them when backing out of a head-in angled spot...it's a death wish with oncoming traffic that you can't see....because of the parking configuration and the enormous pick up trucks.
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Traffic running this light seems to be a growing problem. I don't know if people aren't paying attention after work or they just don't care. Everyone coming off of 2nd ave in the evening are learning to wait 10-15 seconds after the light turns green to make sure everyone is stopping. Sometimes that isn't even long enough as people continue to run the light 5 or 6 at a time.
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General Comment - Installing the roundabouts has increased traffic noise significantly. I've heard this from others that live south of central ave and along grand (between shilo and 32nd street) where the new roundabouts were installed a few years ago. The city of billings should take this into account when thinking about installing additional roundabouts.
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ReplyThat seems odd -- a quick google search supports the idea that roundabouts are generally quieter than traffic light intersections. I wonder if it's just the increase of traffic volume in general?
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Terry Ave/Howard Ave/24th St W
The description does not match the line on the map. Seems odd to create a bike path down a gravel road (st johns from 35th to 36th).
Also, as stated in other comments, career center traffic has been using St. Johns as a main entrance to the career center. Traffic goes flying by the park and through the neighborhood at 40-50 miles per hour. This is a significant safety hazard to people utilizing the park and everyone in the neighborhood. It doesn't seem like a good idea to put a bike path here.
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ReplyOr maybe St John's needs speed bumps and more street trees to slow traffic. On a Centennial Park - future Aspen Grove property - Meadowlark - ditch trail axis This street should be calmed as a West High to Career Center Connector? Look for a way to link up St John's on 30th - maybe start a conversation with a property owner like Sisters of Leavenworth at # 24 - 28 30 th street to sponsor a carless connection for SRTS. Get am Aspen Grove trail connection too (Montclair/ St John's area.)
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36th- Central to Broadwater
This project should be dropped from future planning efforts. The neighborhood has provided substantial comments about this road going in and the concerns don't seem to be addressed.
1) The 36th street corridor from Central Ave to Kind Ave West is significantly larger (width) than the proposed road corridor from Central Ave to Broadwater Ave. This is an older neighborhood that was not designed to have a busy street run right through it. The existing houses would be within 10 feet of the new proposed road. Not only will the noise be an issue but cars crashing into the houses is a real possibility. This has been a significant issue on 35th street with the career center traffic.
2) If this project were to move forward it would add significant traffic congestion to a neighborhood that is dealing with a lot of problems now. Within the last year or two our neighborhood has seen a significant increase in traffic due to increased enrollment at the career center and the addition of the dog park. Within the last year career center traffic has been turning off 32nd at St. Johns racing down the street and turning onto 35th street then racing over to the career center on Lynn Ave. This has created significant safety concerns for not only people using the park but the entire neighborhood. If 36th were to be open it would turn into a bigger problem.
3) Tax payer dollars could be spent on better project that benefit more people. Like your proposed project to widen Broadwater ave and 32nd street west. Those are must do project before worrying about connection that hasn't existed before.
I am adamantly opposed to this project and have provided written comments to the City of Billings previously. I would be willing to discuss issues further.
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