Roundabouts, improved intersections, quiet zones all part of transportation plan

A roundabout at Talbott Road and Fourth Avenue West. More bike paths and pedestrian-friendly street crossings. Narrowing Nucleus Avenue from three lanes to two. Create a “quiet zone” through the city where freight trains no longer routinely blow their horns.

Those are just some of the ideas of draft Columbia Falls Transportation plan that was released on Monday.

The 162-page document, completed by KLJ engineering with input from city leaders and residents, looks at all facets of Columbia Falls transportation.

If you think traffic is bad now during the summer, it will only get more congested in the next 20 years, the document predicts.

For example, Highway 2 between 12th Avenue West and Meadow Lake Boulevard in 2018 saw an annual average daily traffic count of 23,221. By 2040, that’s expected to rise to 32,221.

That section of Highway 2 is the busiest section inside the city limits.

Nucleus Avenue is busier than one might think. In 2018 it saw an average daily traffic count of 6,390. By 2040, that’s expected to rise to more than 8,800.

Part of the traffic increase will come with continued population growth, the plan notes. Right now the city has about 5,300 residents. In 20 years, that’s expected to increase to about 7,730.

As a result, some intersections will get more and more congested — and dangerous — if something isn’t done.

The intersection of the Truck Route and Highway 2 is a prime example. The intersection, which currently doesn’t have a traffic light has a level of service of an “F” during peak hours.

That’s the lowest rating possible. Most intersections in the city operate at a level of “C” or better currently.

An “A” is the highest, the study notes, meaning traffic flows freely through the intersection as designed without delays.

The plan does offer up solutions and recommendations. For example, it suggests the left-hand turn lane from eastbound traffic northward up Nucleus Avenue be extended to serve more vehicles.

At some of the city’s more odd intersections, like Fourth Avenue West and Talbott, it suggests a roundabout. It also suggests a roundabout at 13th Street West and 12th Avenue West just north of Ruder Elementary.

The study doesn’t deal with roads just inside the city limits, either. For example, it suggests an eastbound right-hand turn lane into the Teakettle River Access site.

It also looks for improvements in signal crossings and intersections at Meadow Lake Boulevard and U.S. Highway 2 and Hilltop Road and Highway 2.

At the Truck Route, it suggests a new signal. The plan also makes suggestions for pedestrian crossings to get people across Highway 2 in a safer manner.

It also outlines new plans for more “shared use” paths and sidewalks that conform with the city’s growth policy.

The city is already working on some aspects of the plan. It has already invested in preliminary plans to create a quiet zone along the railroad tracks and recently received word that it was awarded a federal grant for a shared use path/sidewalk that will run from Glacier Gateway Elementary up Railroad Street.

The plan also lays out major street and bike path updates.

One of the biggest projects is to reconstruct 13th Street West and add a sidewalk and multi-use path — the cost is estimated at $2.77 million.

Another big project is to reconstruct Fourth Avenue West from 13th Street West north to Railroad Street. That project is expected to cost $4.2 million. The city is seeking federal grants for those projects.

The Red Bridge is still on the proverbial radar, though not a top priority. Funding is a major obstacle in restoring the bridge, even to pedestrian standards.

“Regardless, the concept of restoring the Red Bridge should remain a possibility until such time as it is deemed fully unfeasible from a technical and financial perspective,” the plan notes.

For pedestrians and cyclists, the plan also calls for miles of new sidewalks, shared use paths and bike lanes on roads.

The plan also partially includes new trails north of the city, some of which are already under construction.

The public is asked to weigh in on the draft. To that end, the city has set up open houses Sept. 27 at city hall from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and then a work session with city council from noon to 1 p.m. and then a second open house from 5:30 to 7 p.m. with a presentation by KLJ at 6 p.m..

The public can send comments to KLJ Engineering, 1830 3rd Avenue East, Kalispell, MT, 59901, or by contacting KLJ Project Manager Wade Kline at (701) 271-5009 or wade.kline@kljeng.com. More information is available online at https://columbiafalls.transportationplan.net. Comments should be received by Oct. 6.

The city hopes to adopt the final plan by November.