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City of Belgrade Engineering Department 215 Wings Way Belgrade, MT 59714 Phone: [PHONE REDACTED] Fax: [PHONE REDACTED] www.ci.belgrade.mt.us April 12, 2023 Dave Holien, PE Montana Department of Transportation PO Box 201001 Helena, MT 59620 Transportation Alternatives Program – Madison Avenue Sidewalk Improvements Belgrade, Montana Dear Mr. Holien – Please find the enclosed Transportation Alternatives (TA) application to fund the Madison Avenue Sidewalk Improvements project located in the City of Belgrade, Montana. This project includes the installation of a new crosswalks with rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB’s) at the intersection of South Broadway and Madison Avenue that would connect to a new 0.25 mile, 5-foot wide, ADA compliant, concrete sidewalk with curb and gutter along the north side of East Madison Avenue. This project would connect existing sections of sidewalk located on West Madison Avenue and East Madison Avenue. The project would also upgrade the mid-block crossing just west of the intersection of Main Street and Oregon Street to meet current ADA standards and include an RRFB. If you have any questions or need additional information for your review, please feel free to call me at [PHONE REDACTED] or email at [EMAIL REDACTED]. Sincerely, Camaree Uljua, PE, Senior Staff Engineer Enclosure ---PAGE BREAK--- MDT-ENG-746 12/22 Page 1 of 6 Montana Department of Transportation MT Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program Capital Improvement Project Please refer to the instructions for additional details regarding completion and submission Please see the Instructions for Capital Improvement Projects before filling out the application. Fill in all of the following sections and do not leave any blank. 1. Project Name: Madison Avenue Sidewalk Improvements 2. Project Sponsor: City of Belgrade 3. Project Sponsor Contact Information: Name: Camaree Uljua Title: Senior Staff Engineer Address 215 Wings Way City Belgrade State MT Zip Code 59714 Email [EMAIL REDACTED] Phone Number +1 (406) 388-3578 4. Is the Project Sponsor a Tribe? No 5. Project Location Population: use 2020 census information Population 5,000 - 50,000 6. Cost Table Total Cost TA Federal Share (100% or 86.58%) Match (N/A or 13.42%) Additional Contribution Preliminary Engineering (PE) $308,766.12 $267,329.71 $41,436.41 Construction (CN) $771,915.30 $668,324.27 $103,591.03 Construction Engineering (CE) $192,978.83 $167,081.07 $25,897.76 Right-of-Way (RW) $2,400.00 $2,077.92 $322.08 Incidental Construction (Utility Involvement) (IC) $115,787.30 $100,248.64 $15,538.66 Subtotal $1,391,847.55 $1,205,061.61 $186,785.94 IDC (10.71% SFY23) $149,066.87 $129,062.10 $20,004.77 Grand Total $1,540,914.42 $1,334,123.71 $206,790.72 Match Type: Local Match State Match: Local Match: $206,790.72 Additional Contribution: $0.00 Estimated Project Sponsor Cost: $206,790.72 ---PAGE BREAK--- MDT-ENG-746 12/22 Page 2 of 6 Montana Department of Transportation MT Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program Capital Improvement Project Please refer to the instructions for additional details regarding completion and submission 7. Project Description (10 points) The proposed project is located in the City of Belgrade, Montana and includes upgraded pedestrian crossings at the intersections of South Broadway and Madison Avenue and Main Street and Oregon Street, in addition to a new 0.25 mile, 5-foot wide, ADA compliant, concrete sidewalk with curb and gutter along the north side of East Madison Avenue (see Appendix A for a Project Exhibit). This project would provide an east-to-west connection between existing sections of sidewalk located on West Madison Avenue and East Madison Avenue, as well as a connection to the sidewalk that runs along the east side of Minnesota Street. Rectangular rapid flashing beacons are proposed at the two upgraded intersection crossings. Although a formal traffic study would need to be completed, preliminary pedestrian counts and MDT’s most recent AADT data indicate that warrants may be met for an enhanced crossing with pedestrian actuated beacons (See Pedestrian Count Data in Appendix At each crossing, there will be ADA-compliant ramps with truncated domes. A typical cross section for this proposed project is also provided in Appendix A. This cross section is representative of the narrowest section of right-of-way (R/W) in the project area. In areas where the R/W is wider, street parking and boulevards would be included. This proposed project would connect the area to existing sidewalks that would provide safe pedestrian access to the commercial center along Jackrabbit Lane, downtown Belgrade, several single and multi-family residential homes, Triangle Park, and Lewis and Clark Park. As shown in Photos located in Appendix C, there are currently no pedestrian sidewalks located on a majority of the roadway. Other nearby roads, such as East Jefferson Avenue, offer some sections of sidewalk, but they are fragmented and do not connect to a larger network. This leads to pedestrians routinely walking unprotected along the shoulder of East Madison Avenue. This is unsafe and poses a severe risk of pedestrian/vehicular interactions. Photos also show there are currently no safe east-to-west crossings for pedestrians at the intersection of Broadway Street and Madison Avenue. This is a high traffic volume intersection with an atypical configuration and is unsafe for pedestrians trying to cross. Belgrade has consistently been at the top of Montana’s fastest growing cities and is one of the fastest growing communities in the nation. The risk of unsafe pedestrian/vehicular interactions is only expected to grow. The Belgrade Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) Long-Range-Transportation-Plan-2017?bidId=) was finalized in 2018 to serve as a guide for development of and investment in the community’s transportation system in a comprehensive manner. As part of this plan, recommendations to improve the non-motorized network were developed. It was recommended that improvements be made to the intersection of Broadway Street and Madison Avenue including continuous sidewalks to better define the free-flow traffic movement that is unsafe for pedestrians. The LRTP also recommended construction of pedestrian facilities along East Madison Avenue between Broadway Street and Oregon Street in order to create a more direct connection. This proposed project also directly aligns with the goals and strategies of TranPlan MT docs/TPMT-SUMMARY.pdf) to provide accessibility and connectivity by improving pedestrian facilities. This area of Belgrade is served by some storm water facilities. The project would include the installation of curb and gutter and it is proposed to direct drainage to an existing inlet near the intersection of East Madison Avenue and Oregon Street. The proposed project is located in a residential neighborhood and the proposed new sidewalk would cross approximately 8 existing driveways. ---PAGE BREAK--- MDT-ENG-746 12/22 Page 3 of 6 Montana Department of Transportation MT Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program Capital Improvement Project Please refer to the instructions for additional details regarding completion and submission 8. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance (No score - pass/fail) Check the most most appropriate box. If your project will not be ADA compliant, explain why and if there is a technical infeasibility. Project will be fully ADA compliant (no explanation needed) Project will not be ADA compliant due to technical infeasibility (explanation required below) Explanation of technical infeasibility: 9. Describe the operation and maintenance plan for the facility. (No score - pass/fail) The City of Belgrade has established City Ordinances that regulate the maintenance of sidewalks in the City. Adjacent landowners are responsible for cleaning, maintenance, and repairs to existing sidewalks. The City of Belgrade’s Design Standards and Specifications (2017) further require that new residential construction include sidewalks with a minimum width of 5-feet, so the proposed sidewalk route would be perpetuated even as the neighborhood undergoes changes. Ordinance 7-2-2 (Obstructed or Unrepaired Sidewalks) that states: “It shall be the duty of the occupant of any premises within the city limits, or in case the same are unoccupied, then the owner or his agent, to keep the sidewalks in front of and adjoining his premises clean and safe for pedestrians, and to repair the same from time to time, and such occupant, owner, or agent shall, with all reasonable dispatch, remove snow, ice, slush, mud, or other impediments to safe and convenient foot travel.” Ordinance 7-3-2 (Removal Required) that states: “Every person owning, in charge or control of, or occupying as tenant any building or lot of land within the city which fronts on, abuts, or contains within a public use easement a sidewalk, shall remove and clear away, or cause to be removed and cleared away, snow, ice, slush, mud, or other impediment to safe and convenient foot travel from so much of said sidewalk as is in front of, abuts on, or is contained within said building or lot of land. It is further such person's duty to prevent accumulation of the same upon such sidewalks.” A failure to comply with these City Ordinances will be deemed a violation. If work is not carried out by the property owner as required, the City will have the work completed at the property owners' expense. The intersection of Broadway Street and Madison Avenue and the pedestrian crossing on Main Street are located on MDT facilities and therefore, MDT has and will continue the maintenance responsibilities at these locations. ---PAGE BREAK--- MDT-ENG-746 12/22 Page 4 of 6 Montana Department of Transportation MT Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program Capital Improvement Project Please refer to the instructions for additional details regarding completion and submission 10. Project Benefits (45 points) This proposed project would significantly improve pedestrian connectivity for all users, regardless of ability, and increase access to businesses downtown and along Jackrabbit Lane, residential homes, and recreational opportunities at Triangle Park and Lewis and Clark Park. There is currently a small section of existing sidewalk on the east end of East Madison Avenue that allows neighborhood residents to walk to Lewis and Clark Park and an existing sidewalk on West Madison Avenue that connects the area to the commercial section of the City. Connecting the two sections will provide a direct, logical route from one end of Belgrade to the other. A new Belgrade Public Library facility will soon be constructed next to Lewis and Clark Park. The project has broken ground and is expected to be substantially complete in 2024. The new library will host a number of programs for adults and children. The new Library complex will also include a new community center, Belgrade’s largest conference room, a larger children’s area for after-school programs, and an outdoor play space for children. A safe crossing for pedestrians on Main Street at this location is necessary to accommodate the current pedestrian users and anticipated increase in pedestrian traffic. The existing mid-block crossing near the intersection of Main Street and Oregon Street is frequently used and difficult to cross, even with a marked crossing and signs. It is not uncommon for pedestrians to experience several vehicles failing to stop before being given the opportunity to cross. Installation of a rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB’s) appears warranted at this intersection to stop traffic and create suitable crossing gaps. If this application is unsuccessful, MDT should consider conducting a traffic study and completing a separate project to upgrade this crossing. During the development of the Belgrade LRTP, crash data was reviewed for a five-year period and data indicated that Broadway Street and East Madison Avenue included a non-motorized crash. The plan assigned this intersection a crash severity rating of 1.93. Including RRFB’s at this intersection would allow pedestrians to cross safely by alerting motorists on these high traffic roadways to crossing pedestrians. In 2019, the Belgrade City Council adopted the Parks and Recreation Master Plan DocumentCenter/View/146/Belgrade-Parks-and-Recreation-Plan-2020-as-Adopted-PDF). This plan is a guide for the City of Belgrade to improve parks and recreational facilities in the Greater Belgrade area over the next 10 years. As part of this plan, a sidewalk was proposed in front of Triangle Park, which is directly proportional to this proposed project. As stated above, there are no existing sidewalks in this area of the City that would connect the commercial areas of Belgrade, a large residential neighborhood, and Triangle Park and Lewis and Clark Park. Pedestrians in this area must walk on the side of the street as shown in Photos located in Appendix C. This is unsafe and poses a severe risk of pedestrian/vehicular interactions. An additional safety concern is the lack of available crossings at the intersection of Broadway Street and Madison Avenue. Ramps are present on the west side of the intersection but lacking on the east side. Providing crosswalks with RRFB’s at this location would allow pedestrians to safely cross this busy intersection by alerting motorists to the crossing pedestrians. In addition, the mid-block crossing off Main Street is heavily used by pedestrians as shown in the Photos located in Appendix C. Providing RRFB’s at this crossing would allow the pedestrians to cross safely to Lewis and Clark Park and the new Belgrade Public Library. As stated previously, if this project is unsuccessful, MDT should consider improvements to this crossing as a stand-alone project. ---PAGE BREAK--- MDT-ENG-746 12/22 Page 5 of 6 Montana Department of Transportation MT Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program Capital Improvement Project Please refer to the instructions for additional details regarding completion and submission 11. Risk Analysis (45 points) BUDGET: The budget for this proposed project was developed by Robert Peccia and Associates and the City of Belgrade using quantities, pricing, and expertise from similar recent MDT projects. The cost estimate (located in Appendix D) includes an itemized breakdown of each bid item with estimated quantities for the construction of the proposed project. As recommended, 2 years of 5% inflation and a contingency calculated at 30% of the inflated construction amount was added to account for unexpected costs and potentially higher bids than anticipated. The budget also includes an estimated Preliminary Engineering cost calculated at 40% of the final construction cost. This would include the work for design of the project, a detailed pedestrian study for the crossings at Broadway Street and Madison Avenue and the mid-block crossing on Main Street if needed, and encroachment permits from MDT. Construction Engineering on the project was calculated at 25% of the final construction cost and includes the construction inspection required during the construction of the project. During the development of this application, the City of Belgrade called for a utility locate in the area of this proposed project in order to determine if utilities would be encountered during the construction of this project. The locates indicate overhead power and fiber optic run parallel to East Madison Avenue, with periodic, perpendicular gas and water main crossings. Utility conflicts are anticipated for this project and have been included in the project budget. Therefore, an additional cost for utility work during construction of the project has been estimated at 15% of the total construction cost. According to plats for the project area, additional permanent right-of-way (R/W) will not be required as part of this project. To accommodate the new sidewalk on the north side of East Madison Avenue, on-street parking will be eliminated. However, all residential properties along this stretch have driveway parking available and on-street parking is rarely used currently, due to the narrowness of the roadway. While permanent RW acquisition is not anticipated, construction permits will be required in order to properly slope and revegetate adjacent properties. Costs associated with construction permits have been included in the budget. The cost for construction permitting for this project was estimated using MDT’s Right-of-Way Operations Manual Guidelines in Section 3-1.23 for Minimum Payment for Temporary Use of Property. The manual states that when parcel acquisition only includes acquiring temporary rights to occupy including construction permitting, the minimum payment for each parcel should be $300. Copies of these plats and R/W plans furnished by MDT for the project area are located in Appendix E. As required, the project budget also includes the MDT Indirect Cost Rate (IDC) of 10.71%. The proposed project budget is estimated at $1,540,914.42 for the construction of approximately 0.25-miles of concrete sidewalk, pedestrian crossings at the intersection of Broadway Street and Madison Avenue, and improvements to the existing mid-block crossing on Main Street. The matching funding has been calculated at 13.42% for each phase of the project and is readily available and committed to this project by the City of Belgrade. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT: The City of Belgrade staff, including Tom Eastwood (City Engineer), Jason Karp (Planning Director), Steve Klotz (Public Works Director) and Camaree Uljua (Senior Staff Engineer), held several internal meetings to determine where in the City assistance of TA funding would be the most effective in achieving the goals of the TA program. This proposed project was determined to be a good fit for the TA program. The City of Belgrade held an informational public meeting on the proposed sidewalk improvements on March 22, 2023, at 5:00 PM at the Belgrade City Hall located at 91 E. Central Avenue. Notices for this meeting were posted in the Bozeman Chronicle on Wednesday March 15th, 2023, the Belgrade News on March 16th, 2023, and posted on the City of Belgrade’s online calendar. Flyers notifying City residents of the meeting were also placed in City Hall, the City Library, and the Senior Center. A project page was set up on “Be Heard Belgrade” beheardbelgrade.com/belgrade-sidewalk-improvement-projects) that details information on the proposed project for ---PAGE BREAK--- MDT-ENG-746 12/22 Page 6 of 6 Montana Department of Transportation MT Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program Capital Improvement Project Please refer to the instructions for additional details regarding completion and submission 11. Risk Analysis cont. those who were unable to attend the public meeting. This site will be updated regularly during the development of this project. Approximately 15 area residents attended the public meeting. The proposed project has a great deal of community support as shown in the support letters received (Appendix MDT COORDINATION: Although the majority of this project is not located on MDT facilities, Broadway Street and Main Street are MDT facilities and the pedestrian crossings proposed at these intersections are critical components of the proposed project. Prior to initiating the application process, the City consulted with Dave Holien, MDT’s Transportation Alternatives Engineer, to review previous City TA applications and discuss elements that make for a successful project. Dave’s input was vital in the development of the proposed project and application. A meeting between Dave Gates, Butte District Preconstruction Engineer, and City personnel was held to discuss some advantages and possible disadvantages of the proposed project and how best to move forward with an application to the TA Program. During discussions, Dave noted that this project was favorable due to the direct connection between two existing pieces of infrastructure. Additionally, Matt Maze with MDT and City personnel visited the proposed project area to give Matt an idea of the project location and what was being proposed. Matt believed that the project fit well within the scope of the TA Program due to the short, logical connection between two pieces of existing sidewalk. The right-of-way (R/W) corridor for the project has been thoroughly researched for this proposed project. As shown on the plats for the project area located in Appendix E, R/W in the project area will not be required but construction of the new sidewalk will eliminate on-street parking on the north side of East Madison Avenue. Construction permits will be required in order to properly slope and revegetate adjacent properties. The proposed sidewalk route will cross near the front property boundary of residential parcels and impact 8 driveways. Costs for landscaping and driveway aprons have been included in the cost estimate for the project. As mentioned previously, this area of Belgrade is served by some storm water facilities and the proposed project would include the installation of curb and gutter. It is proposed to convey drainage to the existing inlet on Oregon Street. No environmental concerns are noted. The area of disturbance for construction of the project is expected to be less than one acre. Therefore, a would not be required. Construction of the proposed improvements may cause temporary disturbances to vehicle traffic on roadways within the project area. A traffic control plan will be implemented to ensure that alternate routes within the community area are available and that work areas are marked to ensure that local traffic is safely accommodated during construction. The Montana Department of Transportation will require encroachment permits for work located on Broadway Street and Main Street. ---PAGE BREAK--- APPENDIX A PROJECT EXHIBITS ---PAGE BREAK--- Lewis & Clark Park New Public Library Triangle Park MADISON AVE MAIN ST NEVADA ST DAVIS ST OREGON ST BROADWAY ST JEFFERSON AVE KENNEDY ST CENTRAL AVE JEFFERSON AVE WASHINGTON ST MISSOULA AVE ASPEN LN GALLATIN AVE SILVER BOW AVE MINNESOTA ST W NORTHERN PACIFIC AVE IOWA STREET OREGON ST CUSTER AVE DAVIS S KENNEDY ST NORTHERN PACIFIC AVE MONTANA ST GALLATIN AVE COLORADO ST WEAVER ST MISSOULA AVE MADISON AVE Madison Avenue Sidewalk Improvements Date: 4/12/2023 Path: F:\highways\23503_000 Belgrade TA Application\GIS\SW_Imp_02.mxd Ü 0 80 160 240 320 Feet Install New Crossing Upgrade Crossing Connect to Existing Sidewalk ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- APPENDIX B PEDESTRIAN COUNTS ---PAGE BREAK--- Date Daily Total Hourly Avg. Peak Hourly Avg. 3-Day Hourly Avg. 3-Day Peak Avg. 4/8/2023 64 5 14 4/9/2023 54 4 12 4/10/2023 46 3 11 3-Day 4 12 Date Daily Total Hourly Avg. Peak Hourly Avg. AM School Peak PM School Peak 5/6/2021 70 5 16 15 19 Crossing on Main St, Near Oregon St Counts all non-motorized users. Clearly identified children count double. Intersections of Broadway St/Madison Ave/Colorado St Only counts non-motorized users utilizing east side of intersection (no sidewalk) or crossing east-to- west. Total users is higher. Clearly identified children count double. ---PAGE BREAK--- APPENDIX C PHOTOS ---PAGE BREAK--- PHOTO 1 – EAST MADISON AVENUE ---PAGE BREAK--- PHOTO 2 – EAST MADISON AVENUE AT EXISTING SIDEWALK ---PAGE BREAK--- PHOTO 3 – EAST MADISON AVENUE ---PAGE BREAK--- PHOTO 4 – INTERSECTION OF BROADWAY STREET/COLORADO STREET/MADISON AVENUE ---PAGE BREAK--- PHOTO 5 – MID-BLOCK CROSSING WEST OF MAIN STREET AND OREGON STREET PHOTO 6 – MID-BLOCK CROSSING WEST OF MAIN STREET AND OREGON STREET ---PAGE BREAK--- PHOTO 7 – MID-BLOCK CROSSING WEST OF MAIN STREET AND OREGON STREET PHOTO 8 – MID-BLOCK CROSSING WEST OF MAIN STREET AND OREGON STREET ---PAGE BREAK--- APPENDIX D COST ESTIMATE ---PAGE BREAK--- East Madison Avenue Sidewalk Improvements Cost Estimate Item Quantity Unit Unit Price Total Price Mobilization (10%) 1 LS $48,961.70 $48,960.00 Miscellaneous Work 1 LS $5,000.00 $5,000.00 Contractor Survey and Layout 1 LS $10,000.00 $10,000.00 Traffic Control 1 LS $25,000.00 $25,000.00 Detectable Warning Device 11 SQYD $600.00 $6,600.00 Sidewalk - Concrete 4 in 586 SQYD $220.00 $128,920.00 Sidewalk - Concrete 6 in 278 SQYD $280.00 $77,840.00 Curb and Gutter 860 LNFT $150.00 $129,000.00 Signs - Aluminum Refl Sheet XI 141.0 SQFT $50.00 $7,050.00 Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon 3 EA $10,000.00 $30,000.00 Sig Standard Type 1-200 6 EA $2,500.00 $15,000.00 Push Button-Pedestrian-Tactile 6 EA $1,700.00 $10,200.00 Foundation-Concrete 6 CUYD $2,800.00 $16,800.00 Post - Tubular Steel Sq. Perf 329 LB $20.00 $6,580.00 Reset Signs 2 EA $1,325.00 $2,650.00 Words and Symbols - White Epoxy 1 GAL $450.00 $450.00 Striping - White Epoxy 3 GAL $135.00 $405.00 Driveway Gravel 196 CUYD $50.00 $9,800.00 Sodding 222 SQYD $20.00 $4,440.00 Topsoil 37 CUYD $100.00 $3,700.00 Seeding 0.50 ACRE $364.00 $182.00 Sub Total Construction Cost - 2023 $538,577.00 Number of Years Until Construction 2 Inflation Rate 5.00% Sub Total Construction Cost - 2025 $593,781.00 Contingency @ 30% $178,134.30 Total Construction Cost $771,915.30 Preliminary Engineering (40%) $308,766.12 Construction Engineering (25%) $192,978.83 Utility Costs $115,787.30 Right of Way $2,400.00 Subtotal $1,391,847.55 MDT IDC Rate (10.71%) $149,066.87 Project Total $1,540,914.42 TA Share (86.58%) $1,334,123.71 Match (13.42%) $206,790.72 ---PAGE BREAK--- APPENDIX E PLATS ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- APPENDIX F PUBLIC SUPPORT ---PAGE BREAK--- Safer Bozeman and Gallatin Co. 1201 Highland Blvd., Suite D-308, Bozeman, MT 59715 April 11, 2023 Mr. David Holien, P.E. Transportation Alternatives Engineer Montana Department of Transportation P.O. Box 201001 Helena MT 59620-1001 Dear Mr. Holien, Safer Bozeman and Gallatin County supports both of the two TA applications the City of Belgrade is submitting. The main beneficiary of those two proposals is school children, our most vulnerable group of travelers. Belgrade is to be commended for their insight in submitting these two proposals. One connects to two different schools. I applaud this. The other connects some loose ends in Belgrade’s existing sidewalk system. It also increases access to an existing city park and thus benefits not only school age children but also youth and adults. Great!! Who are we? We originated about a decade ago in response to a fatality in a crash outside Bozeman. Our membership consists of engineers, lawyers, other professionals, and just "plain" citizens. While we are not officially affiliated with any government, we have working relationships with all relevant local transportation officials. Obviously we stress safety. We speak on transportation projects and issues throughout the Bozeman, Belgrade, and Big Sky area. Our officers have testified at meetings of public advisory boards, Bozeman City Commission, County Commission, Planning Board, State Transportation Board, and State legislative committees, etc. Respectfully, Ralph W. Zimmer, P.E. (inactive) Deputy Director and Chief Engineer Land line: (406) 586-9152 Email: [EMAIL REDACTED] ---PAGE BREAK--- VFW Post 12112 Belgrade, Montana VFW Post 12112 P.O.Box 92 Belgrade, MT 59714 To whom it may concern: On behalf of the members of VFW Post 12112, I am writing in support of the Belgrade Sidewalk Improvement Projects. Having been an active member of the Belgrade community for 25 years, having 2 children go through Belgrade schools, one currently in Belgrade High School, and one currently in Saddle Peak Elementary, I can attest to the need for safe travel of not only students, but pedestrians in general, along the two proposed routes. Both of my older children grew up on the south side of Belgrade and crossed at the intersection of Main Street and Oregon Street every day on their way home from school. As Belgrade continues to grow, the crossing here sees more foot traffic, and more vehicle traffic. This traffic will only continue to increase after the construction of the new library is completed and as the community and its airport continue to grow. Many children also choose to cross at the intersection of South Broadway and Main Street and travel down South Broadway to East Madison before traveling down East Madison to Oregon Street. East Madison is currently not a safe route for pedestrian traffic primarily due to the lack of sidewalks along this route. Having this path will put many parent’s minds at ease. As the three schools in the heart of Belgrade continue to grow, so does the need for safe travel of our students heading east from the middle school and Saddle Peak Elementary, as well as a need for the students from the high school headed west. The path from North Hoffman through Helen Drive to Spooner provides all of this and a safe crossing where there currently isn’t one. This addition also provides the opportunity to add to this path in the future and provide a safe route for our students who will travel from the schools to the Belgrade Youth Sports Complex to the north. We humbly ask, in the interest of the safety of our children, students, and community, that you support the City of Belgrade in these projects, Respectfully, James D. Matter Jr., Adjutant/Quartermaster Post #12112 Veterans Of Foreign Wars P.O. Box 92 Belgrade, Mt. 59714 [EMAIL REDACTED] (406) 209-2739 ---PAGE BREAK--- Subject: Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program grant – East Madison Ave. Belgrade To Whom It May Concern, On behalf of the Belgrade Community Coalition, I am writing to express our support for the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program grant funding application for the Belgrade Sidewalk Improvements Project – E. Madison Ave in Belgrade, Montana. In recent years, the Gallatin Valley has gained national interest as a year-round travel and outdoor recreation hot spot. Because of this attention, growth throughout the valley has been substantial, bringing more and more people to not only visit but also move to places like Belgrade. As growth continues, accessible sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and safe routes to parks and other public places are desperately needed. The City of Belgrade is dedicated to expanding the city’s sidewalk network, enhancing safety, improving access, and promoting pedestrian activity in the city. The proposed work for the E. Madison Ave Sidewalk Improvement Project includes ADA- compliant sidewalk and curb and gutter along a road that does not currently have a continuous span of sidewalk, marked pedestrian crossings at three major intersections, and investigation of the inclusion of rectangular, rapid-flashing beacons - all in an area that is seeing more and more vehicle and foot traffic each year. The E. Madison Ave Sidewalk Improvement Project with funding from the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program grant would benefit our town in the following ways: • Connect existing “islands” of sidewalk along E. Madison Ave. to provide a pedestrian- friendly, East to West connection on the South side of Belgrade. • Enhance safety and visibility for pedestrians crossing major intersections. • Improve access to commercial centers, Lewis and Clark Park, and the soon-to-be- constructed new Belgrade Public Library. On behalf of the Belgrade community, I thank you for your consideration of this grant request for the Belgrade Sidewalk Improvements Project – E. Madison Ave. The Belgrade Community Coalition is proud to partner with the City of Belgrade as we all continue to make Belgrade BelGREAT! Sincerely, Tiffany Tiffany Maierle, Director Belgrade Community Coalition Belgrade Community Coalition PO Box 127 Belgrade, MT 59714 [PHONE REDACTED] ---PAGE BREAK--- From: Camaree Uljua To: Trisha Bodlovic Subject: FW: Belgrade Sidewalk Improvement Projects - Letter of Support Date: Friday, March 24, 2023 8:04:36 AM Attachments: WGM_banner_d922236b-c768-40f1-b664-41d0c469805a.png Letter of support for both projects. From: Joe Hauck Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2023 12:08 PM To: Camaree Uljua <[EMAIL REDACTED]> Subject: Belgrade Sidewalk Improvement Projects - Letter of Support Hi Camaree, It was great seeing you again yesterday evening – and good job at the public meeting. Below is my letter of support for the sidewalk projects. I hope the City can secure the TA funds because both projects would be great benefit to the community, and I hope we can identify other opportunities like these in the future as well. To whom it may concern: My name is Joe Hauck, and I am a resident of Belgrade, Montana. I am writing to express my support for the sidewalk improvement projects that the City of Belgrade is proposing. The Helen-Hoffman project would provide important pedestrians infrastructure to our community by adding/connecting pedestrian routes and adding a safe school route. The East Madison project would likewise improve pedestrian access and safety by providing a cohesive sidewalk network and increasing pedestrian visibility at major street crossings. Belgrade is a fast-growing community, so we continue to see new economic opportunities and other great benefits. This growth also means a bigger population and increased traffic levels. It is vital that, as we grow, we continue to invest in our critical infrastructure like roads, sidewalks, bike facilities, and other transportation projects. I hope that you will help support or great community of Belgrade by approving these sidewalk projects. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Joe Hauck 1107 Biehl Drive Belgrade, MT 59714 Thanks, and I hope we get to chat again soon! Joe ---PAGE BREAK--- Forwarded message From: Elizabeth Marum <[EMAIL REDACTED]> Date: Tue, Apr 11, 2023 at 10:16 AM Subject: TA Grant Support Letter To: <[EMAIL REDACTED]> Dear Belgrade City Commission and the MT Dept of Transportation, Connectivity in Belgrade lags behind our growing need to supply it. We have to opportunities to improve this incrementally, The Helen-Hoffman Sidewalk for a Safe Route to School, and the East Madison Sidewalk grant proposal. We are now a class 1 city and growing more quickly than nearly any other places in the state. To be able to offer safe, alternatives to driving around our city reduces traffic, offers kids & parents going to and from school, those pushing strollers, or in wheelchairs a safe alternative to driving in motor vehicles. We need these sidewalks and many more, but this is a very good start. Please support the The Helen-Hoffman Sidewalk for a Safe Route to School, and the East Madison Sidewalk grant requests, as I and many others do. With kind regards, Elizabeth Marum Elizabeth Marum [PHONE REDACTED] Fear seeks noisy company and pandemonium to scare away the demons. C.G. Jung ---PAGE BREAK--- From: Camaree Uljua To: Trisha Bodlovic Subject: FW: Installation of Sidewalks for safe routs to school Date: Wednesday, April 12, 2023 2:24:21 PM From: Teri Sinopoli <[EMAIL REDACTED]> Sent: Thursday, April 6, 2023 7:40 PM To: Camaree Uljua <[EMAIL REDACTED]> Subject: Installation of Sidewalks for safe routs to school Please consider funding for the installation of Helen-Hoffman Sidewalks and for East Madison Sidewalks for safe routes to school for our children. Thank you, Teri Sinopoli 4350 Airport Road, Belgrade... grandmother.