This petition to Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) calls for local public engagement, context sensitive design, and, ultimately, protection of mature trees adjacent to the 7th Avenue North project site at Peach and Oak Streets in Bozeman, Montana.
How did we get here
On June 19, 2025, MDT invited the public to an open house to learn more about plans to improve 7th Avenue (Ave) North. MDT provided textual information about planned improvements and what to expect during construction slated to start July 28, 2025.
There was no mention about the planned cutting of multiple mature trees adjacent to the project site. There were no drawings or visuals of the planned design.
An astute Midtown resident discovered that trees would be cut down in order for MDT to achieve its envisioned design. This was blindsiding to even the most engaged Midtown residents.
Inadequate stakeholder engagement during the design process
No one seems to know when, if any, stakeholder engagement occurred during this project’s needs assessment and design process. What resulted is a design that does not represent stakeholder interests - including students and parents commuting to Whittier Elementary School, Headwaters Academy, and Bozeman HIgh School; neighboring residents and businesses; customers of Genuine Ice Cream; and citizens across the City who understand the importance of expanding Bozeman’s urban forest canopy.
The irony
Federal funds granted for this project are to be used to improve congestion and air quality.
Mature trees are important for IMPROVING air quality.
The Arbor Day Foundation states:
“Trees play a critical role in creating healthier, safer, and more connected communities. They clean our air, filter our water, and even slow storm surge and flooding in our cities. Trees also provide shade and cool our cities by up to 10 degrees,…
Even as social and economic issues fracture our society, trees continue to connect communities, cultures, and generations. Neighborhood trees have shown the ability to reduce stress, improve overall health and development in children, and encourage physical activity. And a healthy community-wide tree canopy fosters economic advantages as well as an increase in civic pride among residents.”
Another blow to Midtown
Bozeman’s officially recognized Midtown neighborhood has borne the brunt of tremendous development pressure and has already suffered losses of mature trees along the 7th Ave corridor. Despite the hardship, neighbors work with the City of Bozeman to improve the 7th Ave corridor with beautification, walkability and livability being some of its goals. Mature vegetation and the benefits trees provide are a key component to Midtown’s and 7th Ave renewal success.
While this project is aimed at relieving congestion (and improving air quality), the existing trees arguably serve as an important traffic calming feature in a 15 mph school zone and crosswalk next to Whittier Elementary and Genuine Ice Cream.
The ask
We ask MDT to:
1. Conduct in-person local public engagement to understand our shared community values. For example, we value mature trees and the shade, aesthetics, ecosystem services, and increased property & economic values they provide to us, humans. In order to be most fair and productive, the public engagement would enlist the professional services of an independent conflict resolution facilitator.
2. Use MDT’s own Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) approach to design because, according to MDT itself, CSS “is a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach that balances the interests of various stakeholders in providing a transportation facility that fits its setting. It is an approach that leads to preserving and enhancing scenic, aesthetic, historic, community, and environmental resources, while improving or maintaining safety, mobility, and infrastructure conditions.”
3. Work to exhaust all options in saving the mature trees that currently exist adjacent to the 7th Ave North project site as opposed to removing them all.
Additional project information
Planned improvements include:
- Upgrading signals and sidewalks to be American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant
- Widening Peach Street to provide a dedicated west (to south) bound left turn lane onto 7th Ave
- Widening Oak Street to restore the shoulder
- Crack sealing and adding a seal and cover (chip seal) on 7th Ave North between West Main Street and the Nikles Drive/Wheat Drive intersection
- Milling and paving sections of the road with deep ruts
- Applying final pavement markings
What to expect during construction:
- Intersection sidewalks will be closed, and pedestrians will be detoured [NOTE: This includes Peach Street and will affect young student commuters to Headwaters Academy and Bozeman High School.]
- On-street parking will be briefly disrupted during pavement work
- Flaggers may direct traffic at times
- Temporary lane closures are anticipated
- Speed limits will be reduced
- Delays of up to 15 minutes are possible
- Wide loads may be restricted at times
For more information about the project: andy@rbci.net
For more information about this petition: bozemantreecoalition@gmail.com