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Residents press DOT for safety fixes at Bowman's Corner; DOT says data and funding limit options
Summary
Representative Zach Worth and local residents urged improvements at the Bowman's Corner intersection on US‑287 and MT‑200, citing recurring crashes and risk to school bus users. The Department of Transportation noted prior safety upgrades, low severity metrics since 2012, and limited funding; the committee later tabled the resolution by roll call vote.
Representative Zach Worth opened the hearing for House Joint Resolution 3 by describing a decades‑long history of crashes at Bowman's Corner, the two‑highway junction in Lewis and Clark County. Worth said local ranchers and residents have long asked for improvements and handed out a timeline of historical concerns.
Duane Williams of the Montana Trucking Association and local resident Christie Levine told members they support turn lanes, improved signing and other low‑cost safety measures. Levine said the intersection is used as a bus stop and recounted a recent collision involving a horse trailer.
Larry Flynn, deputy director of the Montana Department of Transportation, told the committee the department sympathizes but must prioritize projects where data support federal or state safety funding. Flynn said DOT installed rumble strips and flashing lights in a 2012 project and reported "0 fatalities, 0 serious injuries" at Bowman's Corner since those improvements. He said the department’s needs currently outstrip available funding by roughly 3 to 1 and cautioned that adding projects outside the prioritization process could jeopardize use of limited federal Highway Safety Improvement Program funds.
Gabe Preebe, a traffic and safety engineer, explained that the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP, 23 U.S.C. §148) requires a data‑driven benefit‑cost approach and that DOT produces an annually updated five‑year prioritized plan. He noted that low‑cost fixes in the past were done with maintenance crews for tens of thousands of dollars, while adding a left‑turn lane could reach seven figures and a roundabout multiple millions, depending on right‑of‑way and widening needs.
The exchange between local advocates and DOT staff focused on whether Bowman's Corner's crash history merits a higher priority. Representatives asked about alternative funding, previous studies, and the process for nominating sites. Worth closed by saying he wanted to be the "squeaky wheel" for his community.
In executive action later in the meeting, members debated an amendment to HJ3 that replaced the word "prioritize" with "seriously consider." After additional debate about precedence and federal funds, Representative Staffman moved to table the resolution. The committee voted by roll call: 10 in favor, 4 opposed; the motion to table passed and HJ3 was placed in the committee packet for possible reconsideration.
