Missoula Chamber Formal Statement

 
FINAL SURVEY RESULTS

Letter to Elected Officials & MDT

Final Beartracks Bridge Reduction Survey Results

IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER AND WOULD LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE SURVEY, PLEASE CONTACT KIM@MISSOULACHAMBER.COM FOR THE LINK

Share your opinion directly with the decision makers (emails below).

• Email for the Mayor  HessJ@ci.missoula.mt.usQ1
• Email to the Montana Department of Transportation  mlong@mt.gov
• Email to the City Council of Missoula council@ci.missoula.mt.us

FEBRUARY 14, 2023
CHAMBER ADVOCACY PROCESS TIMELINE FOR THE BEARTRACKS BRIDGE REDUCTION  

1.30.2023 The Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee (Chamber Board) received an Advocacy ACTION form regarding the Beartracks Bridge Proposed Reduction.  

2.1.2023 @ 1:00 p.m.  A City Council hearing was set for the vote on the proposed Beartracks Bridge Reduction.       

2.1.2023  The Missoula Chamber sent a letter to the Mayor and City Council requesting additional time to inform the Chamber membership and provide them an opportunity for input on this proposed plan.   The Chamber was provided a two-week comment period to allow our members to provide their votes and comments on this process.   

2.2.2023 The Chamber sent out the membership survey.
   
2.8.2023  Survey results were shared with the Mayor, City Council, and Montana Department of Transportation at the mid-point of the two weeks.

2.14.2023 The final survey results were sent to the City, Mayor, and Montana Department of Transportation.  

2.14.2023 The final survey results are being shared with all the Chamber members.

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FEBRUARY 2, 2023
INITIAL LETTER REGARDING THE BEARTRACKS BRIDGE REDUCTION AND
MEMBER SURVEY OPPORTUNITY

After three years of construction, the Beartracks Bridge (Higgins) opened to 4-lane traffic.   There is a current city concept/plan to reduce lanes from 4-lanes to 3-lanes or possibly 2 lanes.  Note that the proposed street configuration comes from the Higgins Avenue Corridor planning process.  This corridor planning effort began in the Spring of 2021 (attached, please refer to the pages summarizing public engagement through the planning process).  
The Chamber’s advocacy process has requested and been provided a two-week extended comment period to provide your feedback as a member of the Missoula business community directly to the Mayor, City Council, and MT Department of Transportation (grant funders) this concludes 2.15.2023.

Please find links for background information: 

• Complete the Chamber’s THREE question survey to ensure we have a representation of where our Chamber members are on this issue: Contact Kim at kim@missoulachamber.com for the survey link.
• See the letter from the Chamber requesting time for membership input – Chamber letter to City Council and Mayor
• See the proposed concept and plan :
  • Link:  https://www.engagemissoula.com/higgins-avenue-corridor-plan (Also posted below)
  • Survey from Engage Missoula for providing comments on the plan: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NJXLSVJ
• Lastly, please take time to send your position to the following emails to ensure your voice has been heard:
  • email for the Mayor  HessJ@ci.missoula.mt.usQ1
    
  • email to the Montana Department of Transportation  mlong@mt.gov
  • email to the City Council of Missoula council@ci.missoula.mt.us
  • email to the Chamber Board of Directors: kim@missoulachamber.com
    

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City Engagement Summary