Polson Area Transportation Plan discussed
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POLSON — Jeff Key, a transportation planner from Camp Dresser and McKee, Inc., gave information about the Polson Area Transportation Plan at the Polson Business Community meeting on Dec. 9. The plan will look at ways to improve Highway 93, Key said. The answer might be a bypass or might be improvements on Highway 93. The study is funded by the city of Polson, Lake County, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, and the Montana Department of Transportation.
Utilizing Quantm software, Key said, he and his team can enter areas that need to be avoided, such as schools, the airport, public water wells, cemeteries, archaeological and cultural sites and hazardous waste.
“The study is based on publicly available information,” Key explained including state of Montana databases. Key also emphasized that the study is not a design, not construction and not an environmental study. An environmental study would come after the study, but MDT doesn’t have the funds to commit right now.
Basically, the study will decide, “yes, it’s feasible or no, it’s not.”
During the question and answer session, PBC member Russ Stone from Wildhorse Framing asked about the advantages of a bypass.
Key said Hwy. 93 traffic is approaching capacity, about 15,000 vehicles a day for a two or three lane highway, and crashes are higher than on other highways plus there are livability issues. The public doesn’t like getting back and forth across 93. Also, Key said future growth needs to be factored in.
Local realtor Irene Marchello said she was hesitant about a bypass because it would attract motels, fast food businesses, etc.
Key said that history shows that where an alternate route connects to another route, that’s where gas stations, etc., spring up.
Steve Todd, CEO from St. Luke’s, asked how Key and his group would decide if a plan was feasible.
“In the old days,” Key said, “There was lots of public opinion and politics.”
With Quantm the biases can be cut out, Key said, and “total avoid areas” can be entered to get three or four or five different routes to be discussed out of up to 300 alignments on a ‘spaghetti map.’”
Rob Swenson asked, “What if you built a bypass and no one chooses to use it?”
“You can’t force people to do anything,” Key said adding that one way to get people to use a bypass is to make it more convenient.
Terrace Floral owner Gerry Browning asked how Kalispell’s new bypass as affected downtown businesses.
Bypasses take 20 to 30 years to develop, Key said, so decisions for the Kalispell bypass were made many years ago. The bypass leads right into new business developments, such as Home Depot, Costco, etc.
“The MDT will do traffic counts,” Key explained, “but it’s really too early to get information from Kalispell.”
Another question centered on whether it would be realistic to expect money for the project from the State of Montana or the Federal government.
Key said no, it’s not realistic but he added that “wild cards such as TIGER grants and recovery money” might be available.
“There is not a magic pool of money to develop parks and bike paths,” Key said.
While there is no ready money, Lake County Commissioner Bill Barron said it’s an opportune time since the Skyline project construction will begin in the spring, and Back Road is being finished.
Polson Mayor Pat DeVries said she has been going to different groups just to listen to what people have to say about the PATP.
“I hope we can come to a consensus so we’re not the only place on Hwy. 93 that’s not finished,” DeVries said.
The 12-month study is in month five, Key said, and clipping right along.
A website for the transportation plan is www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/active_projects.
