Concerns Over Traffic Safety and the Tronstad Meadows Whitetail Crossing Subdivision Public Comment from Dan Munzing Aimee Brunckhorst
From: Dan Munzing <dmunzing@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2024 1:55 PM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL Concerns Over Traffic Safety and the Tronstad Meadows Whitetail Crossing
Subdivision
10/30/2024
To: Kalispell City Council
[City Council Members' Names]
201 First Avenue East
Kalispell, MT 59901
Dear City Council Members,
As a longtime resident, homeowner in both the city and county, and a taxpayer in Kalispell, I am writing to
express my deep concerns regarding the proposed Tronstad Meadows Whitetail Crossing subdivision,
particularly in relation to the significant impact this development would have on the Level of Service (LOS) and
safety on Tronstad Road. I urge you to either vote against this development or to impose strict conditions on its
approval to ensure compliance with the city's own transportation standards and the safety of our community.
One of the key issues that must be addressed is the existing blind hill located 0.7 miles east of Highway 93 on
Tronstad Road. This major safety concern was not fully accounted for in the traffic study provided by the
developer, yet it poses a significant risk to all who use the road. The hill, which sits approximately 1000 feet
east of the proposed development, is on an unimproved section of Tronstad Road, meaning it will remain as is
even after the development is completed. Without improvements to this section, including the blind hill, safety
issues will only worsen as traffic increases.
On September 18, we conducted a series of tests under optimal conditions5E"sunny weather with dry
roads5E"on this specific blind hill to measure vehicle stopping distances. Here are the findings:
• At 35 mph, a vehicle was able to stop easily before hitting an obstacle (in this case, a 3-foot orange
post).
• At 45 mph, a vehicle could stop right at the obstacle but only just.
• At 49 mph, the vehicle could not stop in time and overshot the obstacle by as much as 30 feet.
• At 60 mph, the vehicle passed the obstacle by as much as 72 feet, making it impossible to avoid hitting
an object at this speed.
Furthermore, when we tested visibility for a baby stroller placed on the downside of the blind hill from an
approaching vehicle, the maximum distance the stroller could be seen was just 207 feet whether coming from
the east or west. Given the frequent presence of pedestrians in this area, including families pushing strollers,
this is an alarming safety hazard. It's important to note that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) guidelines indicate that a vehicle traveling at 40 mph requires 159 feet to stop, while a vehicle at 50
mph requires 221 feet. On a hill, these stopping distances increase due to gravitational factors. This means
that speeds over 45 mph on this blind hill are unsafe under the best conditions, yet the average speed during
the developer's traffic study was 41 mph and 85% speed was 49 mph with vehicles regularly exceeding that
limit.
Now consider the projected increase in traffic. The Abelin Traffic Services study conducted in March 2023
reported that current traffic on Tronstad Road is approximately 1,349 vehicles per day (VPD). With the full
development of the Tronstad Meadows/Whitetail Crossing subdivision, this will increase by an additional 3,348
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trips per day, for a total of 4,800 VPDa€"an increase of nearly 300%. Even with just Phase 1, the
development would add 1,000 VPD to Tronstad Road. The road itself, measuring only 20-22 feet wide, is not
equipped to handle this level of traffic, particularly given its blind hills and steep ditches on both sides.
It is critical to note that the traffic study was conducted during the winter months when the roads are often wet
or icy, yet no mention was made of these hazardous conditions in the report. Furthermore, the study indicated
that 75%-79% of vehicles exceeded the speed limit, with an average speed of 44 mph. The 85th percentile
speed was 49 mph, and the top speed recorded was 73 mph. This excessive speed, combined with poor
visibility on the blind hill, creates a perfect storm for accidents, especially with the dramatic increase in traffic
that this development would bring.
As per the NHTSA, 17% of speeding-related fatalities occur on roads classified as collectors, such as
Tronstad Road. The blind hill and the projected increase in traffic create a significant risk for serious accidents.
Yet, the traffic study from the developer failed to address this critical blind hill, and the Planning Board
approved the subdivision on October 8th without conditioning the project on addressing these safety issues.
Kalispell's Design Standards for Transportation Systems state that any development must maintain or
improve the existing LOS on roadways. However, the data clearly show that this development will cause the
LOS to drop to unacceptable levels unless substantial improvements, such as modifying the blind hill and
installing a fully functional traffic signal at the intersection of Highway 93 and Tronstad Road, are made before
the project begins.
Therefore, I respectfully urge the City Council to either:
1. Vote against approving the Tronstad Meadows Whitetail Crossing subdivision as it currently stands
due to these unaddressed safety concerns and the risk to public well-being; or
2. Condition any approval on the immediate installation of a fully operational traffic signal at the Highway
93 and Tronstad Road intersection before Phase 1, and the modification of the blind hill to ensure
visibility and safety for all road users.
Approving this development without these safety measures in place is like allowing a ship to set sail without
addressing the holes in its hulls€"it's only a matter of time before disaster strikes, and the consequences will
affect the entire community.
Thank you for your attention to these critical concerns. I trust that you will take the necessary steps to ensure
the safety of Kalispell's residents, both current and future, by requiring these infrastructure improvements
before allowing this development to proceed.
Sincerely,
Dan Munzing
Member, Alliance for Responsible Development in the Flathead Valley
213 Tronstad Road & 139 East Swift Creek Way Kalispell
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