City collecting comments on changing Sixth Street to one-way

The Havre Police Department has put out a survey to people in the community regarding changing Sixth Street between Seventh and 12th avenues from two-way street into a one-way.

This change has been discussed by the City Council Streets and Sidewalks Committee, members of which have expressed that that area of road may benefit from the change by becoming safer.

When asked about the possible change Havre Public Works Director Dave Peterson and Havre Mayor Doug Kaercher said the issue is still at the committee stage and deferred to Streets and Sidewalks Committee Chair Denise Brewer

Brewer said the discussion mostly came at the request of Havre Police Chief Gabe Matosich, who told them his department is constantly dealing with sideswipes and similar issues on that street.

She said based on data collected on the street there doesn’t appear to be a pervasive speeding issue, but the road is seeing an excessive amount of traffic, which appears to be the root of the issue.

She said an average of 815 westbound vehicles and 637 eastbound vehicles travel that road every day, and that level of volume is potentially problematic, hence their recent efforts to brainstorm solutions.

Brewer said the idea would be to change the street into an eastbound one-way road, and for people to use Fifth Street to go westbound.

The survey asks people about specific aspects of the street’s safety and the changes they would like to see, asking if they agree with the posted 15 mph speed limit, whether they would support increased police enforcement in the area and at what times of day, as well as whether they think that section of street should be changed to one way.

The survey also asks about respondents’ use of the street, whether they live on it, and how often they drive it.

The survey was put out on Facebook by the Havre Police Department, which said in the post that the survey is meant to provide the city with a deeper understanding of citizens thoughts on the matter whether they live in that area or frequent it as motorists.

Brewer said fellow committee member Josh Miller lives on that street and is going door-to-door asking residents about the possible change, because they want to make sure that they get their input.

“That’s the most important part, how they would feel about that,” she said.

Brewer said the survey will probably remain open for a few weeks and she encouraged everyone to respond to the survey with their feedback which is always appreciated, or to reach out to the committee directly if they like.

A paper version of the survey is also available at the Police Department and City Hall, or by calling 406-265-4361, the post says.