Bozeman commission pauses College Street redesign after heated public input; asks staff to reopen talks with MSU

Nick Ross, the city’s director of transportation and engineering, outlined a proposal to redesign College Street between 8th and 11th streets that would rebuild sidewalks, add a south‑side shared‑use path and a raised mid‑block crossing with a rectangular rapid flashing beacon, and remove the south‑curb parking lane to make room for a boulevard and path.

Ross told the commission the corridor carries about “8,200 vehicles per day,” has 13 driveway cuts and five alleys in roughly 900 feet, and shows peak parking utilization of up to 80 percent during class periods. He said the mid‑block location between 9th and 10th has the highest observed pedestrian crossing demand along the corridor and that staff favored retaining the existing all‑way stop at 8th rather than installing a mini‑roundabout.

Businesses and residents pushed back at length during public comment. Pickle Barrel owner Jen O’Brien said losing roughly two dozen on‑street spaces would be “detrimental to me,” and other merchants warned that removing parking or driveway access could jeopardize deliveries and customer access. Several residents and business owners called for additional negotiation with Montana State University to address campus parking availability and suggested selectively closing campus lot access as an option.

Commissioners pressed staff on alternative designs, driveway consolidations, the potential for diagonal parking, and construction phasing. Staff said many features, including trees and landscaping, would be refined in final design and that phased construction could limit long closures.

After hearing public concerns, the commission and city manager agreed to pause major decisions on the project and asked staff to reengage MSU and return with options that better balance pedestrian safety, business access and parking. The commission did not take a formal vote on any specific design elements at the meeting.