Viewpoint: Why Missoula’s Higgins Avenue (speed limit 25MPH) needs to change (What about Reserve Street – Speed Limit 45MPH!)

Editor’s note – Simply replace “Higgins” with “Reserve Street” in this article and increase all of the numbers.   Why isn’t Reserve Street the focus of even more efforts to improve it and make it safer?

We have a problem with Higgins Avenue. Too many people are getting injured. Left-turn restrictions and one-way streets make it difficult to access parking and businesses. Bike lanes end abruptly, forcing cyclists to use the sidewalk or compete with cars in the driving lanes. Wide intersections and poorly defined bus stops make it difficult to walk and use transit. Narrow lanes next to parking lead to sideswipe crashes and leave little room for snow storage. As a key gateway and connection to downtown, Higgins needs to change.

Jeremy Keene [email protected] is the Director for Public Works & Mobility at the City of Missoula. He is a licensed Professional Engineer with 28 years of experience working on transportation solutions in Missoula.