Fowler Avenue Connection

What matters most for the future Fowler Ave?

• Share Thinking years ahead rather than just about tomorrow's commuters on Facebook Share Thinking years ahead rather than just about tomorrow's commuters on Twitter Share Thinking years ahead rather than just about tomorrow's commuters on Linkedin Email Thinking years ahead rather than just about tomorrow's commuters link

  Thinking years ahead rather than just about tomorrow's commuters

  by Beth A, about 4 years ago
  Please consider how we could plan for the longterm future with this important connecting path. Instead of business as usual, why not make a really useable bike path and a separate bus-only road through the area? This could help preserve neighborhoods and most of the existing habitat, allow for transportation, and provide a model or test for an innovative solution. If it works here, such connectors could be expanded to other parts of the city. More roads for easy, single-driver commuting will only lead to more cars, pollution, noise, and eventual gridlock.

  Please consider how we could plan for the longterm future with this important connecting path. Instead of business as usual, why not make a really useable bike path and a separate bus-only road through the area? This could help preserve neighborhoods and most of the existing habitat, allow for transportation, and provide a model or test for an innovative solution. If it works here, such connectors could be expanded to other parts of the city. More roads for easy, single-driver commuting will only lead to more cars, pollution, noise, and eventual gridlock.
• Share Paving paradise on Facebook Share Paving paradise on Twitter Share Paving paradise on Linkedin Email Paving paradise link

  Paving paradise

  by Bozeman, about 4 years ago
  Diplomacy doesn’t work in Bozeman. The agenda is set. Human hegemony will continue to reign supreme—as the city systematically murders the last of our local ecological habitats, stomping out our collective cultural nature-based heritage. Nobody will want to live here someday. Because every decision is myopic and nearsighted. Why not raise extra money and create an artistic and nature-based thoroughfare that people far and wide will want to visit and enjoy? Instead of the anxiety ridden plans for speed and efficiency. The death knell of our joy and purpose and happiness.

  
  

  Where is your heart Bozeman? Where is your imagination... Continue reading

  Diplomacy doesn’t work in Bozeman. The agenda is set. Human hegemony will continue to reign supreme—as the city systematically murders the last of our local ecological habitats, stomping out our collective cultural nature-based heritage. Nobody will want to live here someday. Because every decision is myopic and nearsighted. Why not raise extra money and create an artistic and nature-based thoroughfare that people far and wide will want to visit and enjoy? Instead of the anxiety ridden plans for speed and efficiency. The death knell of our joy and purpose and happiness.

  
  

  Where is your heart Bozeman? Where is your imagination? Find it! Use it!

  
  
• Share Community Petition? on Facebook Share Community Petition? on Twitter Share Community Petition? on Linkedin Email Community Petition? link

  Community Petition?

  by Theodore , about 4 years ago
  In the notes to the recent city commission meeting, the lead transportation engineer announced that Fowler Road will be built. This, of course, raises questions about the purpose of this forum. Is it just theater? The comments are decidedly against a four-lane connector road, removal of the mature trees, submerging of the existing creek, and removal of the quiet and well-used walking path. If the forum really can impact the project, then the city would reconsider or scale back plans for the connector.

  
  

  How can the community push back about decisions that, according to the lead engineer, have already been... Continue reading

  In the notes to the recent city commission meeting, the lead transportation engineer announced that Fowler Road will be built. This, of course, raises questions about the purpose of this forum. Is it just theater? The comments are decidedly against a four-lane connector road, removal of the mature trees, submerging of the existing creek, and removal of the quiet and well-used walking path. If the forum really can impact the project, then the city would reconsider or scale back plans for the connector.

  
  

  How can the community push back about decisions that, according to the lead engineer, have already been made? Can we circulate a petition? Contact members of the city commission or the mayor? Aside from expressing our displeasure in this forum, what concrete steps can we in the community take to stop this egregious project?
• Share What does Bozeman care about? on Facebook Share What does Bozeman care about? on Twitter Share What does Bozeman care about? on Linkedin Email What does Bozeman care about? link

  What does Bozeman care about?

  by Landa, about 4 years ago

  Bozeman claims to deeply value and appreciate what makes it a great town - the mountains, trees, creeks, fresh air and peaceful surroundings. The Fowler Avenue connection will be a testimony to the truth or lie of that sentiment. Hundreds of Bozemanites daily use the path that is scheduled to be replaced with a multi-lane connector street. The current path is utilized all day long for running, walking dogs, biking, and taking kids to the nearby parks. It also connects neighborhoods to a variety of elementary schools in the area. This beautiful path runs from Durston to Babcock, in a... Continue reading

  Bozeman claims to deeply value and appreciate what makes it a great town - the mountains, trees, creeks, fresh air and peaceful surroundings. The Fowler Avenue connection will be a testimony to the truth or lie of that sentiment. Hundreds of Bozemanites daily use the path that is scheduled to be replaced with a multi-lane connector street. The current path is utilized all day long for running, walking dogs, biking, and taking kids to the nearby parks. It also connects neighborhoods to a variety of elementary schools in the area. This beautiful path runs from Durston to Babcock, in a quiet neighborhood along Fowler Street, but the matures trees and creek continue from Durston to Oak. One can only imagine the loss as the city begins ripping out every one of those trees and buries the creek in a culvert under the asphalt, or isolates it between four lanes of traffic. For the past two years neighbors have held a “save our path” concert and gotten signatures in hopes of saving the path. This neighborhood is not set up for a high traffic five-lane street, nor any multi-lane connector street. Unlike Ferguson or Cottonwood, the houses on Fowler street and other neighboring streets don’t have a buffer between homes/yards and the street. This is a small, R1 residential, community-oriented and kid-friendly neighborhood. This will devalue homes and a nice neighborhood, harm the environment (which burying streams and removing habitat for birds and other wild life does), create a dangerous atmosphere for the multitude of elementary students who walk through this neighborhood daily to and from school, and be a scar on the hearts and beauty of this place we call home. Is this what Bozeman is becoming?
• Share Our Northwest Version of the Gallagator Trail on Facebook Share Our Northwest Version of the Gallagator Trail on Twitter Share Our Northwest Version of the Gallagator Trail on Linkedin Email Our Northwest Version of the Gallagator Trail link

  Our Northwest Version of the Gallagator Trail

  by Zehra Osman, about 4 years ago

  Since you’ve already procured the necessary easements, this Fowler connection should be our west-side version of the tree-lined Gallagator Trail (for pedestrians not cars) that Northwest neighborhoods could use to walk to destinations on Huffine. This kind of pedestrian/bike connection has potential to get us out of our vehicles, which would cut down on emissions. If your plan is that this connection is a sidewalk along the edge of a connector road (like on Ferguson, Durston, or Babcock)- - well that is NOT a pleasant experience or safe walking/biking route. What we have on our side of town is a... Continue reading

  Since you’ve already procured the necessary easements, this Fowler connection should be our west-side version of the tree-lined Gallagator Trail (for pedestrians not cars) that Northwest neighborhoods could use to walk to destinations on Huffine. This kind of pedestrian/bike connection has potential to get us out of our vehicles, which would cut down on emissions. If your plan is that this connection is a sidewalk along the edge of a connector road (like on Ferguson, Durston, or Babcock)- - well that is NOT a pleasant experience or safe walking/biking route. What we have on our side of town is a sea of houses set up for vehicles and set up to commute. On the other side of town, we have walkable neighborhoods that have walkable destinations connected by continuous trails. Ferguson is not that far away from Fowler. If this project to punch a road through our neighborhoods does happen and does cut us up even further with a car-oriented model, then let’s deter traffic from cutting over to Fowler along streets like Cascade - maybe more stop signs along these neighborhood streets will prevent that cut-over traffic from impacting our neighborhoods. However we’re not yet finished talking about this idea of using the easements you’ve procured to provide a west-side Gallagator trail rather than another connector road. So, let’s keep talking!
• Share Use other, smarter alternatives. on Facebook Share Use other, smarter alternatives. on Twitter Share Use other, smarter alternatives. on Linkedin Email Use other, smarter alternatives. link

  Use other, smarter alternatives.

  by Tony, about 4 years ago
  As a resident of the neighborhood around Babcock and Fowler, I greatly appreciate the undeveloped path between Babcock and Durston and use it for biking and walking. Much better than riding or walking on streets and sidewalks. The city should avoid doing things the old way of building more streets to accommodate more traffic. Instead, let's be smarter and reduce traffic with public transportation and better designed alternative routes. I ride public transportation, and will continue if it can preserve a more natural areas like this path. City government take note: this neighborhood doesn't want a road here! We love... Continue reading

  As a resident of the neighborhood around Babcock and Fowler, I greatly appreciate the undeveloped path between Babcock and Durston and use it for biking and walking. Much better than riding or walking on streets and sidewalks. The city should avoid doing things the old way of building more streets to accommodate more traffic. Instead, let's be smarter and reduce traffic with public transportation and better designed alternative routes. I ride public transportation, and will continue if it can preserve a more natural areas like this path. City government take note: this neighborhood doesn't want a road here! We love the current path. Use other, smarter alternatives!
• Share Please consider residents of the area on Facebook Share Please consider residents of the area on Twitter Share Please consider residents of the area on Linkedin Email Please consider residents of the area link

  Please consider residents of the area

  by patiencewithaP, about 4 years ago

  While I understand the population of Bozeman and Gallatin County has grown exponentially, as a member of this neighborhood and frequent user of the Ponds trails, I disagree with turning Fowler into a 3- or 4-lane roadway.

  The old-growth cottonwoods are irreplaceable and paving over another stream would be killing what tiny bit of Bozeman is left. The area is habitat for birds, fish, and several small animals, and the trees provide a barrier from the traffic and shade in the summer. This is a park used by many in town, not just the neighborhood. Covering the stream would only... Continue reading

  While I understand the population of Bozeman and Gallatin County has grown exponentially, as a member of this neighborhood and frequent user of the Ponds trails, I disagree with turning Fowler into a 3- or 4-lane roadway.

  The old-growth cottonwoods are irreplaceable and paving over another stream would be killing what tiny bit of Bozeman is left. The area is habitat for birds, fish, and several small animals, and the trees provide a barrier from the traffic and shade in the summer. This is a park used by many in town, not just the neighborhood. Covering the stream would only inhibit the growth of new trees and destroy wildlife habitat. Disturbing the creek and trees along Fowler would add additional costs to this project that could perhaps be better spent elsewhere. Routing heavier amounts of traffic through areas with high numbers of pedestrians, cyclists, pets, and school children would be a huge safety risk to the residents of this neighborhood.

  Ferguson is only a few blocks away and is easily accessed from this area. Please, let’s do right for the community and wildlife and keep it a two-lane street. Extending a road doesn’t have to be that invasive.
• Share Very much needed on Facebook Share Very much needed on Twitter Share Very much needed on Linkedin Email Very much needed link

  Very much needed

  by John , about 4 years ago
  This project is very much needed! It would divert thru traffic away from residential streets such as Meagher and Yellowstone. Bozeman isn't getting smaller, people and traffic will continue to increase.

  
  

  I do agree with saving the walking path that goes between Durston and Babcock.

  This project is very much needed! It would divert thru traffic away from residential streets such as Meagher and Yellowstone. Bozeman isn't getting smaller, people and traffic will continue to increase.

  
  

  I do agree with saving the walking path that goes between Durston and Babcock.
• Share Preserve Wildlife Pocket on Facebook Share Preserve Wildlife Pocket on Twitter Share Preserve Wildlife Pocket on Linkedin Email Preserve Wildlife Pocket link

  Preserve Wildlife Pocket

  by Jen G, about 4 years ago

  A few years ago, my daughter and I rode our bikes through this area to grab a bight to eat. On our way home, we stopped to watch 3 juvenile hawks messing around in the front yard/dead-end street near the greenway between Babcock and Durston. It was magical and I felt so fortunate to be able to sit on a curb and watch these critters, whose presence was made possible by the small stand of forest less than a block away.

  Here is an easy opportunity to put a small but productive wildlife habitat ahead of human conveniences. Do not... Continue reading

  A few years ago, my daughter and I rode our bikes through this area to grab a bight to eat. On our way home, we stopped to watch 3 juvenile hawks messing around in the front yard/dead-end street near the greenway between Babcock and Durston. It was magical and I felt so fortunate to be able to sit on a curb and watch these critters, whose presence was made possible by the small stand of forest less than a block away.

  Here is an easy opportunity to put a small but productive wildlife habitat ahead of human conveniences. Do not disguise this as benefiting climate and lowering emissions by providing direct routes and spreading traffic. It is a small inconvenience to go around. By putting even a narrow road through here will have catastrophically destructive consequences for this small ecosystem and the wildlife that live there.

  Zoom in on this location and ask yourself, is this habitat's destruction really necessary and worth the goal you seek? For once, can't we live in their world and not the other way around? The latter will result in displacement or death. Come ON, Bozeman!
• Share Enough!!!! on Facebook Share Enough!!!! on Twitter Share Enough!!!! on Linkedin Email Enough!!!! link

  Enough!!!!

  by Enough!!!!!!, about 4 years ago
  Please stop this road project! There are enough roads throughout these small neighborhoods for people to commute! This area is one of the last beautiful, quiet, peaceful, and original areas left in Bozeman!!! I’ve lived here since the 70’s and have seen enough growth please keep and preserve this little bit of what Bozeman use to be!

  Please stop this road project! There are enough roads throughout these small neighborhoods for people to commute! This area is one of the last beautiful, quiet, peaceful, and original areas left in Bozeman!!! I’ve lived here since the 70’s and have seen enough growth please keep and preserve this little bit of what Bozeman use to be!