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Flowers Re: National Transportation Expert to Give Free Presentation on Glacier Mall]Hope you can come! -------- Original Message -------- Subject: National Transportation Expert to Give Free Presentation on Glacier Mall Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:41:45 -0500 (EST) From: Citizens for a Better Flathead <citizens@flatheadcitizens.org> <mailto:citizens@flatheadcitizens.org> Reply-To: citizens@flatheadcitizens.org To: flowers@digisys.net image strip Citizens For A Better Flathead Press Release Citizens For A Better Flathead Announces National Transportation Expert Offers a Fresh Perspective on the Glacier Mall Traffic Plan KALISPELL, Jan 16 - Nationally recognized transportation and community planning expert, Dan Burden will be in Kalispell on Monday, January 21st to provide a fresh perspective on traffic solutions for the Glacier Town Center/Mall and continued growth north from Kalispell to Whitefish on US Hwy 93. Burden will present a visual tour of the area and potential solutions in an event that is open to public, at 7:00 pm. in Ballroom A of the Red Lion Hotel at the intersection of US Hwy 93 and Center, in downtown Kalispell. "According to Albert Einstein, insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results," points out Mayre Flowers, Executive Director of Citizens for a Better Flathead, whose organization is bringing Mr. Burden here to speak. "Clearly we can't afford as a community to make the same mistakes that have led to the current traffic gridlock associated with the new commercial developments north of Kalispell," said Flowers, "but that is exactly where we are headed given the Montana Department of Transportation's (MDT) recent announcement that they have "no authority" to require a design other than more stoplights on US Hwy 93 at the proposed 485 acre Glacier Town Center/Mall. Add a federal investment of over $76 million in the proposed Kalispell Bypass that will now terminate at these proposed new stoplights and we may have nothing more than a Bypass to gridlock," concluded Flowers. "We can and must find a better solution." Burden has spent the last thirty years developing, promoting, and evaluating alternative transportation and sustainable communities at national, regional, state, and local levels. Since 2005, he has served as Senior Urban Designer and now Principal with the national engineering firm of Glatting Jackson Kercher Anglin, Inc, as well as the founder and executive director of Walkable Communities, Inc., a nonprofit corporation that helps develop walkable communities, since 1996. Time magazine has identified Burden as one of the six most important civic innovators in the world, in recognition of his efforts to create better places to live, work, and play. According to Flowers, "Mr. Burden's presentations are known for being lively, fun and inspiring." She adds, "He has an incredible reputation for coming into communities often polarized by development issues and helping them find a common vision and win-win solutions. A few years ago he accomplished this in Bigfork when that community and the Montana Department of Transportation were in disagreement on how to redesign Hwy 35 through Bigfork. Citizens for a Better Flathead sponsored an initial visit by Mr. Burden, and MDT then hired Mr. Burden to come back. As a result of Burden's work with Bigfork the community came together with a transportation solution the entire community endorsed." In a January 2nd letter to MDT, Citizens for a Better Flathead urged them to reconsider their position to allow more stoplights on US Hwy 93 and insists that MDT provide the required technical documentation justifying it for public review. The letter went on to point out that, "The stakes are high. Highway 93 will continue to be a critical thoroughfare for tourists, businesses and residents. It is crucial that this stretch of road be developed in a manner that enhances our community in the future. We only have one opportunity to get this right." The Kalispell City Council will continue their consideration of the Glacier Town Center during their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, January 22 at 7:00 PM. The official public hearing has been closed, but there is always an opportunity for the public to speak at the beginning of a council meeting under public comment. Click here <http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001HqhQoTAWDY0OX9ztisGGvWy1kEHUvuPH4qGxWPb_qtmS W3dyNQ_XcSVjCBLVWDfkLO9UMQ6HHuqmDgeOjc89QqagKgujJ_1rkDYg0AkKXONIhJRCT7BQ 666SObwp3bZmQwc0iubVb3j_sVdO5IoUVAaVuuMqVUZ9EM_qe5ZIEgJCh07aRHsX4Q==> for the background information on this issue. Click here <http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001HqhQoTAWDY1cxbkT97INZwuEF63W8e4J2LZGzubnlCir X81l1FSvBvtPWXkdyQ9iNINLXkSZip3IZEF8lyW8BSD59tWVJ_JsEfKxiaQEGRThJadhRaHO QEbwE0C9IZ-ksDi0giNrhnkqjBJxQsfswyEX3Jbtw-8CfVSvqlGERhk_rGn7olDBy7c94Pbz Y2_V> to view Dan Burden's article in Time Magazine. Click here <http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001HqhQoTAWDY0b73t9fE8Cfe1NKwTe1JnYNv_AA4jDeEyY 7OB6H11Cb5SfJoHRXig0kLgixESe3jwIAeW9L6OBQ7zYog5kr-SUHFiGfsGL3H5F5d2lfeHS iQ==> to visit the Walkable Communities website. Click here <http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001HqhQoTAWDY2huTKuNrpr211MJFFlrZzRFb8y2rm_R0dH iMV8Pg72-Y2Kr5yZci45N8E-t4Xs7jV0rpwcJCamvmW6-ReAvIWRngxAswCVpjXilm2-Ih1j LQ==> to visit the Glatting Jackson Kercher Anglin, Inc, Website. Click here <http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001HqhQoTAWDY1awSOZB933Ya8VKnaJmN1taqmeWywtaoNW K-wju5A8gEBwc2FhhszrIxl5Y84PcF-Ley_dnsAKn8V9IaIqOny0NpgA_kHb1YxBEC0zs-KJ i_1P3JAzuqxB06Y4yrIVdIblmQLwDazYyg==> to learn about the impact of a single traffic light at rush hour. About Citizens For A Better Flathead Citizens for a Better Flathead (CBF) works to inform and empower residents of Flathead County with information about the land use planning process and best practices and innovations that similar communities are using to address comparable growth related issues. CBF encourages all residents to actively participate in land use decisions and to encourage stewardship of the Flathead Valley's natural beauty and resources. CBF was founded in 1992 and has over 1400 members. Citizens For A Better Flathead citizens@flatheadcitizens.org 406.756.8993 Citizens For A Better Flathead citizens@flatheadcitizens.org 406.756.8993 Forward email <http://ui.constantcontact.com/sa/fwtf.jsp?m=1101044546896&ea=flowers%40 digisys.net&a=1101946585926> <http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?v=001J5FmpZZOGmFH6P33cWPNZSMJR 5z4crTvRqsypXlJGfI9EOJVVPLwvroXA6eqg355CiUhodJlU2neG3rjA_rHXg%3D%3D&p=un > This email was sent to flowers@digisys.net, by citizens@flatheadcitizens.org Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe <http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?v=001J5FmpZZOGmFH6P33cWPNZSMJR 5z4crTvRqsypXlJGfI9EOJVVPLwvroXA6eqg355CiUhodJlU2neG3rjA_rHXg%3D%3D&p=un > T | Privacy Policy <http://ui.constantcontact.com/roving/CCPrivacyPolicy.jsp> . Email Marketing <http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=press01> by <http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=press01> Citizens For A Better Flathead | P.O. Box 771 | Kalispell | MT | 59903 -- Mayre Flowers Executive Director Citizens for a Better Flathead PO Box 771 Kalispell, MT 59903 406-756-8993, fax 406-756-8991 mayre@flatheadcitizens.org flatheadcitizens.org