The Daily Inter Lake

If a car sits for more than 25 seconds in a line of stopped traffic, then engineers want to take a look at that intersection.

At noon on any given day, cars are idle an average of 92 seconds in traffic trying to work its way north through the U.S. 93 and Idaho Street intersection.

It gets worse for drivers traveling west on Idaho Street at the end of the afternoon: Cars at the Meridian Road light are idle an average 95 seconds.

These figures come from numbers crunched by a consultant helping Kalispell update its traffic-flow-and-improvements plan through 2030. The city last updated this plan in 1993.

The consultant, Robert Peccia and Associates of Helena, briefed the Kalispell Technical Advisory Committee on its studies Thursday. Peccia is looking at 94 intersections within and just outside Kalispell so that intersections, traffic lanes and speed controls can be revamped.

The most clogged intersections are along U.S. 93 between Idaho Street and Third Street, and along Idaho Street between Seventh Avenue EN and Meridian Road.

In the morning, drivers entering major intersections along these stretches can wait 31-55 seconds. The 55-second waits go to southbound traffic on U.S. 93 backed up from the intersection with Idaho Street.

At noon, many of the waits are longer - between 50 and 57 seconds. Also, 92-second average stops await traffic going north through the intersection.

In the late afternoon, cars at downtown stops are idle for almost one minute.

The biggest traffic jams snag drivers on Idaho Street who want to cross Meridian Road. The average stop is 95 seconds for westbound traffic; 74 seconds for eastbound.

Peccia still must study additional factors before it can recommend ways to speed up traffic, said Jeff Key, manager of the Peccia traffic and transportation division.

Kalispell's annual population growth of 3 percent, and the Flathead County average growth of 1.59 percent have to be factored into any calculations. That translates to about 16,000 more Kalispell homes - with 2.5 people in each home - through 2030.

Those new people will create more businesses, with most expected to locate along or near U.S. 93.

Another complicating factor is that U.S. 93 between 13th Street East and Center Street cannot handle the same volumes of traffic elsewhere on U.S. 93. Peccia plans to include the U.S. 93 bypass into its studies on helping traffic through 2030.

Flathead County Commissioner Gary Hall also said that problems are increasing of pedestrians - especially children - crossing U.S. 93 near Kalispell Junior High School and the Kalispell Regional Medical Center area.

Peccia's study will soon look at traffic and pedestrian dynamics at the Evergreen schools and two Kalispell schools.

Peccia is seeking public input into its work.

It tentatively hopes to discuss its traffic studies with the Kalispell City Council at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 and at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 with the city Planning Board. Both meet at City Hall.

The consultant also hopes to set up a public forum in Kalispell that week.

Peccia wants to have a draft plan ready for public comment by April 15, with a final plan May 15.

Read more about the plan on the Web at www.rpa-hln.com/kalispelltrans06/index.htm.