I must say that as a Missoula native, and having all the efficient routes for getting around the city already embedded into my subconscious memory, I was very upset with the re-routing of Malfunction Junction (intersections of Hwy 93 [brooks st.], Russell St. and South Avenue). As South Avenue has always been an artery for my travels, it really forced me to reroute all my travels. I learned really quickly that I too am subject to resisting change but I recently accepted and adopted the new routing and I’m pleased.

Some things they did, like adding stop signs and way too much curbing (we are not children/cattle that need to be corralled) I think is ridiculous, sometimes causing more congestion and potential accidents. All-in-all, I think it is a little easier to get around and I understand some of the reasoning behind their decisions. An overpass or restricting any left turns on south avenue from Johnson Street to Stephens would’ve been smarter (learn from other cities), but I have now accepted the Malfunction Junction makeover.

Now the Broadway Diet - plain idiotic. Even if part of the reasoning is to try clean up the area and turn what is essentially an artery between Russell St and Downtown into a slower-moving, business-friendly area I think they are making serious mistakes. And to change traffic flow and lights and lanes due to a few isolated traffic incidents in the middle of the night and with alcohol involved proves that we are very re-active and not pro-active enough. Heck, after the little boy was bit by his own dog on Chestnut Street (I believe) I was suprised that a study wasn’t kicked off whether to add another stoplight or make it a one-way…

If we spend a little time looking at other cities and the growing pains they have faced, perhaps we could plan a little better. I don’t think the success of North Reserve is any surprise and to me, it resembles the success of Division Street in Spokane Washington about 15-20 years ago. One thing they had to do is turn the entire street into a one-way to handle traffic (poor planning) and re-route traffic in the opposite direction down Ruby Street (a back road behind the businesses). I fear we will face the same fate. I would love to see developers/planners take a little more time to plan ahead and study a few other places - it’s better to over-compensate than under. Adding one more lane each way on N. Reserve would’ve taken 20 feet - yes considerable cost for the several-mile stretch, but if the plan was to make Missoula “the shopping destination” for western Montanan’s, why not study the places that we are replacing and what mistakes they made?

I’m happy to see Missoula grow. I’m only 28, but I remember riding my bicycle down a 2-lane road called Reserve Street not too long ago.

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