The Hammond Report

The Missoula City Government Council is considering slapping a two cent tax on gas to help pay for some much needed road work and repair.   With fuel prices at record levels and people struggling to make ends meet (thanks to the Democrat controlled congress and environmentalists), the local government has decided they need to increase taxes to make their ends meet.  Have they considered making some hard choices and cutting some expenses and programs?  My family certainly has.  I didn't consider going to my employer and asking for a raise because right now, I'm happy to have a job and a paycheck.  My employer had to make some difficult choices and cuts.  So did I. So should our local government.  Just don't take any more out of my pocket!

Keep reading →

I read with pleasure today that the Higgins Roundabout project in Missoula may be delayed.  This is another fad traffic project that will not work. (see Broadway Road Diet)  It is being pushed through by the very vocal and well organized bicycle special interests and those who want to see much less or eliminate automobile traffic downtown.

Keep reading →

Some of the first posts I ever did was about the Broadway Road Diet here in Missoula. I have been against it for years yet the city continues to ignore the businesses downtown and force the road configuration down their throats.

Keep reading →

The Missoulian ran a fantastic opinion piece yesterday entitled «Sprawl: The ultimate scapegoat» by Robert Bruegmann. The online version of the Missoulian doesn't have the piece but I have linked the same piece from the LA Times which they titled «Gridlock, schmidlock». I think the Missoulian ran it because they wanted to add different (correct) point of view to the discussion on sprawl, light rail or transit, and building/expanding roads. He focuses on Los Angeles but it can easily apply to Missoula and the Bitterroot considering the recent push for light rail, the road diet, etc.

Keep reading →

There was another pedestrian/vehicle accident on West Broadway in Missoula on Saturday night. Although it was not fatal, it was the kind of accident that the infamous «Road Diet» was supposed to prevent. When watching the newscast, it was clear that the real problem with safety is lighting and alcohol, not the amount of lanes. The drunk pedestrian was leaving the bar and crossing the middle of the street and the sober driver did not see him until he was on top of the hood of the car!

Keep reading →