Fowler Avenue Connection

Thank you for your perspective regarding the number of lanes for the Fowler project. We appreciate your interest in this development and encourage you to submit this as a public comment as well so our elected officials can consider it. Detailed information on how to submit a public comment is available on the City of Bozeman’s website: https://www.bozeman.net/departments/administration/city-clerk/public-comment.

Thank you for sharing your concerns about the 30% design plans for Fowler Avenue. We appreciate your detailed feedback and understand the points you've raised regarding the left turn lanes and connections to the east-west streets in Harvest Creek. Here’s why these design decisions have been proposed in the 30% Design plans:

Traffic Distribution: By connecting multiple streets to Fowler Avenue, we aim to distribute traffic more evenly across the network. This helps to prevent congestion on any single street, such as New Holland Drive, and improves overall traffic flow.

Accessibility and Connectivity: Enhanced connectivity provides better access for residents, emergency services, and school-related traffic, especially considering the new high school off of Annie Street. This is crucial for ensuring safe and efficient travel throughout the neighborhood. In addition, Fowler is considered a minor arterial, so the intent is to collect the majority of the Northbound and Southbound traffic from the neighborhoods in the area. For this to be successful, the local streets would need to be connected.

Safety Considerations: While it's true that more intersections can potentially lead to more vehicular conflicts, proper design and traffic control measures can mitigate these risks. Adding left turn lanes with adequate signage and potentially signalization can improve safety by providing designated spaces for turning, reducing the likelihood of rear-end collisions and other common traffic incidents.

Cost-Benefit Analysis: The initial investment in connecting these streets may seem high, but the long-term benefits of improved traffic flow, reduced congestion, and better emergency response times can justify these costs. We aim to balance the upfront expenses with long-term community benefits.

In the next phase of the project we are going to evaluate the secondary impacts of these connections. This includes looking at whether traffic control, such as four way stop signs or traffic calming, such as curb extensions or traffic circles, would be needed. Your input, along with feedback from other residents, is crucial in refining these plans. We will review the concerns about potential costs and accident risks with our design team to see if adjustments or additional safety measures are necessary.

We are committed to making Fowler Avenue a safe, efficient, and well-connected corridor for all residents. Your feedback helps us achieve that goal, and we encourage you to stay engaged as the project progresses. Thank you again for your valuable insights.

Phase one, the north section from Oak to Durston is currently expected to go to construction in 2026. Phase two from Durston to Babcock in 2027. Phase three Babcock to Huffine in 2028. The intersection of Huffine and Fowler could potentially start in 2029. All dates and timing are subject to change.

Typically, the City does not build fences along private property. At this time there are no plans to build fencing along the private property boundaries.

The City’s Parks Department anticipates to begin master planning for an “anchor route” (please refer to the Parks, Recreation, and Active Transportation (PRAT) Plan) along existing and future portions of the greenway from Bozeman Pond Park north to East Valley Center. An additional anchor route has been identified in the PRAT plan west of the Fowler corridor.

At this time, we intend to continue the shared-use paths on either side of Fowler between Durston and Oak. In addition, we hope to use mounds, topography, trees, and vegetation in lieu of fences in order to buffer the road from the adjacent neighborhoods. Those detailed design type discussions will take place during the 60% and 90% design phases.

Between the Durston and Babcock section, we expect to preserve approximately 150 of the existing 200 trees. In addition, we will be adding 250 new trees to the corridor.

During the 60% and 90% design phases, our project team will dive deeper into design, examining and refining details such as intersection crossings, boulevard trees, stormwater, and all the fine details required prior to construction.

We don’t expect, even in our most aggressive traffic projections, to require any more capacity than what is currently proposed.

There are two main sources of funding for this project. The first primary source is street impact fees. These impact fees are paid by developers the time they pull building permits. Those fees are determined based on traffic impact demand their development is expected to generate. A stipulation of the fee is that those funds can only be used for “capacity expanding projects,” such as the Fowler Avenue Connection. The other source of funding for this project is from the “arterial and collector district” assessment fee. This is an assessment fee already established on the property owner’s tax bill. No general fund property taxes will go towards paying for this project.

Only the “arterial and collector district” portion of your tax assessment will be used to complete this project. Primary funding will be through Street Impact Fees paid by development. No property taxes nor Street Maintenance District funds will be used. 

The city’s current 5-yr Capital Improvement Plan for the Arterial and Collector District is balanced without need to increase rates specifically for this project.