Russell Street in Missoula is in process for getting some significant changes.  The first draft by the City of Missoula and State of Montana identified an expansion from two and three lanes to five lanes as the 'preferred' alternative.  This change is being opposed by much of the community.  Over 1,000 people signed a petition supporting a citizens' proposal called '3+ for Russell.'  While MIST generally supports 3-lane systems, we agreed to support the 3+ proposal as a compromise even though it calls for a 4-lane section from Montana St. to Broadway.

The following fact sheet was developed by MIST, along with help and support from MAST (Missoula Advocates for Sustainable Transportation):

Russell Street Issues, May 15, 2008

Q: If a 3-lane road can move traffic safely and efficiently, why does the Environmental Impact Statement identify a 5-lane road as the preferred alternative?

A: Computer traffic models use straight line projections to forecast motor vehicle traffic twenty years into the future.  The assumption is that traffic will always be increasing and that the public wants the increase.  In reality, traffic levels are very dependent on many other variables besides past trends.  The type of road that gets built largely determines the type of resulting traffic.  Reserve Street is an example of building a bigger road that resulted in creating more traffic. 

Q: Are there examples of roadways that were not widened, yet they still flowed OK?

A: Yes.  Fifteen years ago, the State proposed to widen Brooks Street along Rose Park to 4-lanes.   The neighborhood said ‘No’ and the road still functions quite well today.   More recently the State proposed to add 3 additional lanes to the northern section of Arthur Ave.  The neighborhood again said ‘No’ and now a smaller, more human scaled proposal is being worked out.  In Nashua New Hampshire, the public works department rejected a State proposal to widen a 2-lane road to 5-lanes and instead decided to replace the most congested intersection stop light with a single lane roundabout.   The roundabout is next to a school and works very well.

Q: What is the confusion about roundabouts?

A: Modern roundabouts are very different than neighborhood traffic circles and very different than high-speed, New England-style rotaries.  Single-lane roundabouts have been shown to substantially reduce both injury-crashes and congestion when compared to a traffic light.   The first roundabout on an arterial in Missoula opened in late summer, 2009, at Higgins/Beckwith.

Q: How many homes and businesses would a 3-lane Russell require to be demolished compared to a 5-lane?

A: The City has stated that a 5-lane Russell would require 16 homes and 13 businesses to be demolished.  For a 3-lane alternative, only one small home would need to be removed or relocated.  To achieve only one home being removed, the 3-lane would become a 2-lane for about three blocks of Russell (7^th to 10^th).  It is proposed that this three block section would have a four foot median that would prohibit left turns, and also curbside sidewalks to save space.  Motorists wanting to turn left would simply go to the next roundabout and make an easy U-turn.

Q: How would an improved 3-lane road affect traffic flows?

A: Traffic flows would be greatly improved with a well-designed 3-lane road.  The addition of sidewalks, bike lanes and increased bus service would allow more people to get around by modes other than driving for some or their trips.  Local surveys show that many people would bike, walk and take transit more often if these modes of transportation were safer and more accessible.  Single lane roundabouts would smooth the flow of traffic, reduce injury crashes, decrease speeds and decrease travel times- a win-win situation. 

Contact:  Bob Giordano, mist  at  strans  dot  org,   406.880.6834