My Page: Pete Talbot
Bozoulian | Column by Pete Talbot
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in Bozeman and MissoulaGrowth, traffic and infill are weighty matters that both Bozeman and Missoula are wrestling with. Each city has a sketchy track record – some success and numerous shortcomings – in dealing with these issues. Maybe we can learn a few things from each other. Here are some comparisons of the good, the bad and the ugly. [more]
Bozoulian | Column by Pete Talbot
Missoula’s Hottest Button: InfillIn Missoula, housing infill has set neighbor against neighbor. To some, infill evokes quaint, European-style cities with shopkeepers living above small, family-owned businesses, and densely developed neighborhoods surround parks or squares or common areas. To others, infill means squalid eyesores – tenements foisted on unsuspecting traditional neighborhoods – and more traffic, undesirable neighbors and noise.
Political fortunes have been won and lost over the infill debate. It is probably the single biggest hot button issue that Missoula has faced in over a decade and municipal candidates often campaign exclusively on the infill issue.
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Guest Column by Pete Talbot
The Tales of a “Bozoulian”: Where Bozeman and Missoula MeetRed lights don't mean much in Bozeman. Locals and transplants alike won't abide long waits at intersections. Heck, ease of getting around the valley is one of the reasons they live here. So they run those red lights more than anywhere else I've seen in Montana.
That's my first observation, coming here from Missoula. I split my time between the two cities. Don't get me wrong, Missoula has its share of boneheaded drivers. The other day on Reserve St. (Missoula's version of 19th St.) I heard someone lean on the horn when the light turned green and the car in front didn't get off the line fast enough. This sort of behavior was unheard of a decade ago.
Traffic congestion is just one of the growing pains that both cities are feeling. How we deal with this growth will dictate what our cities will look like in the not-to-distant future.
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