Uncategorized
Transportation district, BSCO align to leverage community center funds
Published
5 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Bay Stephens EBS STAFF WRITER
BIG SKY – The Big Sky Transportation District has partnered with the Big Sky Community Organization to seek funds from the state to make a portion of the planned community center in Big Sky Town Center a transit hub with indoor space for passengers awaiting buses.
The transportation district board, which has access to annual funding from Montana Department of Transportation for capital projects like buses and bus facilities, agreed in a Feb. 20 meeting to apply for approximately $225,000 to contribute to the community center for which BSCO is currently raising funds. If granted, the funds would allow a warm place and public restrooms for bus users as well as partially relieve fundraising pressure for BSCO and the community.
“From BSCO’s perspective, we’re just trying to leverage outside funds to get whatever we can [for the community center],” BSCO Executive Director Ciara Wolfe said at the meeting. She added that the funds would not make or break the project but would help keep money in the pockets of Big Sky community members as BSCO prepares to launch a community campaign for the project.
The bus stop along Ousel Falls Road in Town Center serves as a transfer point for many bus users traveling from Big Sky Resort to Meadow Village Center or Bozeman. However, late-night riders don’t have warm places to wait for buses except in nearby bars and restaurants. The transit hub stands to remedy that by giving these passengers access to a 1,900-square-foot lobby with couches and chairs open to the public, as well as restrooms.
The transit hub would have vehicle pullouts to accommodate Skyline’s large 35-passenger buses and shift the bus routes to allow those heading up the mountain to make safer left-hand turns.
Envisioned as a future hub for Big Sky’s trail system, Wolfe said she hopes the community center will facilitate local use of public transportation instead of personal vehicles.
Transportation district looks to expand boundary
The transportation district is also seeking to add a boundary expansion onto the next ballot.
The expanded boundary would match that of the Big Sky Resort Area District and better reflect the service area of the public transit services, transportation district coordinator David Kack wrote in an email to EBS. The current transportation district boundary was established in 1991 when Big Sky was far smaller, he added.
Kack said aligning the two boundaries makes sense because the resort tax board is the largest source of local matching funds for the transportation district and, as was discussed at the Dec. 5 Eggs and Issues hosted by the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce, the more that the unincorporated area’s slew of special districts share boundaries, the better.
A copy of the petition states: “There is no cost to expanding the boundaries of the District, as there are currently no property taxes levied to support the Big Sky Transportation District.”
To be on the next ballot, 20 percent of the registered voters living in the area to be added must sign the petition: 150 people from the Gallatin County side and 75 from the Madison side who don’t reside in the transportation district but are part of the resort tax district.
“Signing the petition isn’t saying you are for or against expanding district boundaries, only that you want to have the vote,” Kack said.
Petitions can be found at BSCO, Big Sky Owners Association, Big Sky Chamber of Commerce, and Lone Mountain Land Company, along with a list of registered voters who live outside the current transportation district boundaries, but inside the resort tax district boundary.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
march, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy
more
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy that tells the story of Toby and Melinda, two lonely people whose lives are forever changed the night they encounter a starving coyote at their apartment building. Over time they grow to expect him, leaving ritual offerings to entice the coyote every night. Toby and Melinda forge a connection over this visitor and share curiosity and concern about his presence in the city. The coyote expands their world–until, one night, their world is shattered. Their lives are pushed suddenly into uncharted territory, sending them on a surreal odyssey that changes their city–and the world–forever.
Directed by LX Miller. Starring Max Schneider and Denise Hergett
Verge Theater is continuing their mission to provide accessible theater to our community. Tickets for My Barking Dog are Pay What You Wish with a suggested price of $35. Audience members are offered the opportunity to select the price point that is comfortable for them when purchasing tickets.
My Barking Dog runs March 15-17, 22-24, 28-30
Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays begin at 7:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees offered at 3:00 p.m.
Suitable for ages 16 . No animals are harmed in the staging of this production.
Tickets are available online at www.vergetheater.com
Time
15 (Friday) 7:00 pm - 30 (Saturday) 8:30 pm
Location
Verge Theater
Event Details
Area parents are encouraged to bring their young children to Symphony Storytime with a Bassoon which will be presented at the Bozeman Public Library’s Community Room during
more
Event Details
Area parents are encouraged to bring their young children to Symphony Storytime with a Bassoon which will be presented at the Bozeman Public Library’s Community Room during their regular Toddler and Preschool Storytime on Wednesday, March 20, at 10:15 a.m. The free program, presented by the Bozeman Symphony is especially for children ages 3 to 5. Children will be able to listen to Montana Shakespeare in the Parks actor Emma Rather, who will be joined by Bozeman Symphony Bassoonist Sam Macken. The goal of the program is to encourage a love of music, literacy, and discovery. Additional programs are scheduled at the Library on April 10 and June 12. For more information, visit www.bozemansymphony.org or call 406-585-9774.
Time
(Wednesday) 10:15 am - 10:45 am
Location
Bozeman Public Library
626 E. Main St, Bozeman, MT