February 2021
Greetings to our Helena Bike Walk Montana members. You also make up Bike Walk Helena, which rather than a separate stand alone non-profit, is an affiliate of our state-wide group, with Helena’s interests covered through two board members from Helena. Doug Habermann is now sharing Bike Walk Montana executive director responsibilities with Bonnie Fedchock, who is quickly assuming full duties as executive director, a process that will finish after the legislature ends and Bonnie completes her probationary period in May. Bonnie lives in Bozeman and we are going to a virtual office format with staff working remotely.
Doug will focus on Bike Walk Helena activities at that point while still providing support to Bonnie and the Bike Walk Montana board as a volunteer. The city's easement with Montana Rail Link for the Centennial Trail is almost complete. We are beginning the process of designing, funding and building a bridge at Henderson to eliminate the steep and loose gravel crossing there. We hope to partner with Queen City Wheel House on a spring bike swap, hold the second annual Community Gardens ride next fall, and continue to support our local Non-Motorized Transportation Advisory Committee as they help Helena become a safer and more accessible place to walk, bike and stroll.
Thanks to all of you who have continued to support us in this challenging time. Please visit our website at bikewalkmontana.org and consider making an additional donation, or encourage your friends to join, to help us continue. We see a positive future for Helena and plan on being part of it!
5-Point Intersections & Corridor Connections Multimodal Traffic Study
We are urging you to take a look at the draft study regarding the major corridors and 5 point intersections and make your comments known. Comments on the draft study are due by Friday, February 19, 2021, to Project Manager Scott Randall by email at srandall@rpa-hln.com, by phone at 406-447-5005, or by mail at 3147 Saddle Drive, Helena, MT 59601. Along with providing input during the early part of the study, we have made additional comments which you can see here (will need link).
Here is the City’s description of the project:
“After seeking public input in Sept. 2020, the City of Helena has developed a draft multimodal traffic study to address safety, operations, access, and connectivity needs at the Lyndale Avenue/Montana Avenue/Helena Avenue and Last Chance Gulch/Helena Avenue/Neill Avenue five-point intersections and corridors connecting the Downtown and Midtown areas of Helena.
The two five-point intersection have non-standard layouts and geometrics. The configurations can cause driver confusion and impact operating efficiency, particularly during peak hours. Past studies have identified concerns regarding safety, the lack of suitable non-motorized infrastructure, and access to businesses. Improvements to Last Chance Gulch through the Downtown area have also long been discussed. Improvement options and recommendations from past planning documents vary, but in general, they have envisioned Last Chance Gulch as a complete street that accommodates multimodal traffic, integrates green infrastructure and streetscaping, and maintains the existing character of the area.
Recommended improvements are intended to address areas of concern identified through evaluation of transportation and environmental conditions in the study area and to reflect the needs and desires voiced through public and stakeholder outreach. The improvements offer a range of short-term and long-term strategies to facilitate travel within and between the Downtown and Midtown areas of Helena by supporting modal choice, improving the function and circulation of key intersections, enabling access for disabled individuals, and providing enhanced comfort and visual appeal for all users while minimizing impacts to adjacent properties and land uses, aligning with the community vision, and enabling reasonable, feasible implementation.”
Project Contacts:
Mark Young – Transportation Engineer, myoung@helenamt.gov, 447-8099
Scott Randall – Robert Peccia & Associates (RPA), srandall@rpa-hln.com, 447-5005
Project Resources:
City of Helena’s Non-Motorized Transportation Advisory Committee is seeking members
Do you want to have more impact on Helena’s active transportation system? Are you a Helena citizen? The Non-Motorized Transportation Advisory Committee (NMTAC) is looking for several new members. NMTAC meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 5:15 – 7:00 pm. The meeting is currently held online but traditionally has met in person.
NMTAC suggests and evaluates proposed projects, makes recommendations to city staff, participates in walk audits and helps shape policy and practices for the City of Helena. The NMTAC includes county health representatives, city engineering staff, a city commission member and other interested parties and is well worth considering if you want to learn about and have an impact for pedestrians and bicyclists in Helena.
For more information, email Mark Long from the city of Helena at myoung@helenamt.gov or Committee Chair Wilbur Rehman at wilbur@wt.net.
The application for appointment is available here and city’s brief description of the committee is here (page 4). You can print, fill it out and mail it in or download, fill it out electronically and attach it to an email.
Please consider joining!