Traffic on 5th Ave West Public Comment from Scott Brownlee Aimee Brunckhorst
From: Dawn Brownlee <piggypea@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 2, 2024 3:10 PM
To: Susie Turner
Cc: Aimee Brunckhorst;Jarod Nygren;Jordan Venezio; Keith Haskins; Gene Come
Subject: EXTERNAL Re: Traffic on 5th Ave West
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Hello Susie,
Thanks for the response. We have lived on this street for 3 years and knew, when we bought the house, it was a busier
street.
Hard to say if the actual number of cars has increased over those years, but it certainly seems like it. I am assuming,
since it is residential,
that the posted speed limit is 25 mph. I can say with certainty, that many, if not most of the through traffic, is doing more
than that. Not
only when school lets out, but when I am cutting the grass or raking leaves, they go whizzing by, many not even slowing
down when I am near the curb.
I am sure this street has seen ups and downs of flows over the years, however, with the valley growing, my concern is
that we are not
funneling too much traffic through this route. The noise has definitely increased at all hours of the days and seeing as
there are no
emissions in Montana, all the obnoxiously loud vehicles go by. As resident and taxpayers we should have some
expectation of
maintaining some semblance of normal residential quality of life. After all, this is not Main Street, and it is not a business
district.
Anyway, thanks again for getting back to me. I hope some of these items are taken into consideration when decisions are
made
as to how we can make these street safer and a little less intrusive to residential living.
Scott Brownlee
On Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 09:51:27 AM MDT, Susie Turner<sturner@kalispell.com> wrote:
Hi Scott,
5th Ave W was reviewed as part of the Safe Streets for All(SS4A) planning and grant efforts.A Main Street Safety Action Plan
was developed,which identified priority corridors and recommended safety actions based on information defined by the
United States Department of Transportation-National Roadway Safety Strategy.The City applied for Phase 1 SS4A
Demonstration Grant funding for improvements to the 5th Ave W corridor,as developed in the action plan.These
improvements include high-visibility crosswalks,rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) at crosswalks,and dynamic speed feedback
signs.We expect to learn whether the City was successful in securing the demonstration grant by November of this year.
Below is a snippet of the safety description for 5th Ave W included in the grant application.For more detailed information,
please visit the Safe Streets for All I Kalispell,MT website to review the final SS4A Plan and supplemental documents.
The Main Street Safety Action Plan also identified 5th Ave W,from Wyoming Street to 11 th Street, as a priority
location due to its role as a north-south corridor connecting neighborhoods separated by US 2(Idaho Street).
This corridor provides access to six schools, as well as key community destinations, including the Kalispell
Center Mall,Flathead County Fairgrounds, and Parkline Trail. 5th Ave W also connects to multiple east-west
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streets on the High Injury Network. Demonstration Activity#3 will introduce traffic-calming measures along
5th Ave W,such as high-visibility crosswalks,painted curb extensions with flex posts,RRFBs, and dynamic
speed feedback signs. These measures,which include FHWA Proven Safety Countermeasures like high-visibility
crosswalks and RRFBs, are designed to increase visibility for pedestrians, bicyclists, wheelchair users, and
other mobility device users. Research indicates that RRFBs can result in motoristyielding rates as high as 98%
at marked crosswalks, depending on roadway conditions.
The most current data collected for the 5th Ave W was volume and crash data based and did not include speed data.The
volume to capacity ratio maintains a level of service between A-C,indicating currently there are no capacity restraints. 5th Ave
W is a minor arterial and designed to support higher traffic loads,as you indicated below,it is designed to be through street
and collect traffic.Nonetheless,the City believes the recommended improvements for 5th Ave W are important due to its role
as a key north-south connector in the neighborhood and therefore has included these improvements in the Phase 1 grant
application.
Public Works (PWs)will collect speed data over the next several weeks and conduct a speed study.The results of this speed
study will be shared once available. Once the speed study is complete,KPD or PWs will set the temporary speed feedback signs
to help remind drivers of the speed limit through the 5th Ave W corridor. Please contact Jordan Venezio,Kalispell Police Chief,
if you have any questions on patrols and enforcements.
If you have any questions,feel free to email or call,my contact information is provided below.
Regards,
Susie Turner, P.E.
Public Works Director
406-210-9191
201 1st Ave E, Kalispell, MT 59901
www.Kalispell.com
OTT
KALISPELL
From: Aimee Brunckhorst <abrunckhorstCa)-kalispell.com>
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2024 8:50 AM
To: Susie Turner <sturner kalispell.com>; Jarod Nygren <jnygren kalispell.com>; Jordan Venezio
<jvenezio(c�kalispell.com>
Subject: FW: EXTERNAL Traffic on 5th Ave West
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From: Scott Brownlee <piggypea(c)_yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2024 3:49 PM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment <publiccomment(c)-kalispell.com>
Subject: EXTERNAL Traffic on 5th Ave West
Hello City Council,
I live just north of the high school on 5th Ave West. I am writing to express my concern with not only the amount of traffic
now going down
the street, but the speed at which people drive. It has gotten a little ridiculous. Is there any policing or enforcement, of any
kind, on this street. If there is, I must be missing it because the noise and speeding have definitely become worse.
I know this is a through street, however, it is still residential, and it is starting to feel otherwise. They even speed in the
school zone of El Rod Elementary during school hours. I fear this will only get worse, with growth, and the changes
coming to Main Street. Please do
something to address not only the amount of traffic, but the speeding as well. Thank you for your assistance.
Scott Brownlee
412 5th Ave W.
Kalispell
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