Here's an article on the fee issue from May of 2001
Bicyclists to pay fee for Capital City Trail
[Reprinted from Capital Times , May 10, 2001]
By Lee Sensenbrenner
But it may not be permanent.
Bicyclists using the Capital City Trail, a paved path that runs along the southern border of Madison, will soon be required to pay a fee.
The Dane County Parks Commission voted Wednesday evening to require bicyclists and in-line skaters to buy a state trail permit, but Parks Department Director Ken LePine said the decision could be reversed if state or county transportation funds become available to pay maintenance costs.
To forgo the fee this year, though, would mean either cutting from another area of the Parks Departments budget or abandoning maintenance on the trail, which last year cost $18,400.
"What I'm not going to do is let the trail go to hell, and then complain I don't have the funds to take care of it," LePine said, adding that the user fee will be reviewed next year.
Under an agreement with the state Dpartment of Natural Resources, the county would sell state trail permits and receive 70 percent of the revenue from the permits issued. Annual permits cost $10; daily passes are $3.
Area cyclists protested the fees in e-mails and phone calls to the Parks Department, saying that the user fee amounted to a toll for their method of transportation.
LePine acknowledged that the Capital City Trail, since opening last year, has been popular with commuters, but he added that the route is also ideal for recreation: it's sheltered from traffic and it links several parks and scenic wooded areas.
And since it is used for recreation, the trail falls under a broad spectrum of parks facilities that are supported by maintenance fees, LePine said. The county also charges for use of off-road and cross-country ski trails, boat launches, dog parks and other recreational facilities.
Parks commission decisions to charge user fees do not need further county review, but can be modified along with the rest of the county budget. Supervisor Al Matano, a Sierra Club member who represents Madison's west side on the County Board, said he will push to have the fee rescinded.
But Topf Wells, chief of staff to County Executive Kathleen Falk, said the trail permit is in keeping with other user fees the Parks Department has charged.
"I appreciate the fact that they're trying to be equitable," Wells said.
"Alison Dwyer, Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Prepare to pay a fee for use of the Capital City Trail in the near future.
A fee will be charged for the use of this County and State Trail (to pay
for maintenance of it), and the question at hand is HOW it will be
implemented. The issue will be discussed at an upcoming County Park Board
Meeting-see below. (the meeting is not to discuss IF it will be implemented)
Meeting at the Parks Department Office
Wed., November 13th
5:15pm
4318 Robertson Rd.
East side between Milwaukee St. and Cottage Grove Rd., East of Hwy 51.
_______________________________________________
Bikies mailing list
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
Do you Yahoo!?
HotJobs - Search new jobs daily now
