Population growth in and around Madison and Dane county does not explain
the rapid increases in traffic volumes of the last couple of decades. The
vehicle miles travelled (VMT) in Dane Country increased over 3 times the
county's population growth rate from 1990 to 2002: Dane County's
population increased from 367,085 in 1990 to 438,881 in 2002 -- a 20%
increase, while the annual VMT in Dane Country increased from 3.0 billion
VMT in 1990 to 4.8 billion VMT in 2002 -- a 60% increase.
The problem is unquestionably the growth in driving, and it's fueled by
the DOT's and state government's approach to "solving" the problem over
the past two decades. That "solution" has amounted to a policy of just
spending more dollars to add more and more road construction expansion to
south central Wisconsin's highway system, despite the fact that such a
widening and straightening of the highway system contributes to even more
sprawl-type development and flight to suburban communities because it
reduces travel times. The result is that the increased driving done on
the system adds to the already excessive levels of motor vehicle travel
in Dane County, which is causing increased air pollution in Dane County
and its surrounding areas, increased atmospheric greenhouse gas
accumulations, increased noise, and increased automobile collisions in
Dane Country and Madison.
Mike Neuman
--------- Original Message ----------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED],[EMAIL PROTECTED],
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2004 19:54:50 -0600
Subject: RE: No beltline on north side, panel suggests
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
On bikies, "Larry Nelson" said:
> I remember when the South Beltline was only two lanes.....in the
> thrilling days of yesteryear.
I remember those days in Madison too, Larry. Those were the days when
people who worked in Madison actually lived in Madison, and people who
lived in the country actually worked in the country, and people who moved
to Dane Country choose to live as close as they could to the place they
would be working, so that they didn't have to drive so far to work
everyday.
Something changed. People finding jobs here started choosing the areas
and communities around Madison to live, rather than live here. Many who
lived here decided to move out of Madison but keep their jobs in the
city. They weren't thrilled with the days of yesteryear either I guess.
I remember asking someone I knew why they were moving out, why they were
"escaping" the city for the country? He replied he wasn't escaping
Madison, he was being "forced" out. I dropped the subject right there.
Anyway , those were the days when Dane County had about twice as much
farmland as it does now, and 150% more undeveloped lakeshore, thousands
more acres of unfilled wetlands, and wildlife habitat that was actually
home to wildlife.
Those were the days before global warming and rising asthma levels in the
population. Before traffic congestion from the many commuters living
outside Madison but still working in or around Madison destroyed
livability here, just like what happened to Madison's neighbor to the
East.
Most of those areas are now have now been replaced by huge homesteads
with long driveways, connected by county and town highway feeder roads to
massive four and six-lane state highways, like the new U.S. Highway 12
will be, and the starter freeway East of Lake Mendota will be. That's
provided drivers can find their way around the ever growing Dane Country
airport, the source of just about as much greenhouse gas and pollution in
Madison as the Dane County, State and Federal highway system is
responsible for.
Doesn't the City of Madison ever talk to the country and state officials
about this growing problem of way too much driving and flying in and
around the city by non-city residents? It's adversely affecting the
health, public safety and quality of life of all the citizens of Madison.
Something ought to be done about it, soon!
Here is what I propose be done about it. The Mayor of Madison and the
County Executive should go talk to the Governor, the area legislators,
and the Wisconsin DOT, and tell them Dane County would like to become a
pilot for testing out the non-structural highway plan alternative of
offering financial incentives to Dane Country residents who drive
significantly less motor vehicle miles per year than average Wisconsites
do, based on formulas in the paper "Conserve, NOW", as a way to reduce
traffic congestion without expanding the highway system. If it works, we
not only save on highway system expansion, we get a cleaner, safer and
less congested city, we may even get some extra money in our pockets and
help the lower income population here as well (since many of them can't
afford to drive now the way it is).
There really is very little to lose in giving this proposal a test. It's
not like laying down another highway over the landscape (s.a. U.S.
Highway 12 around Middleton, for example). Can you get the ball rolling
on this proposal with the city, Larry? Or suggest how else one might go
about that? Thanks.
Conserve, NOW proposal can be read from:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ClimateArchive/message/229
--------- Reply Messages ------------
On bikies "Michael Rewey" said:
>> I've been giving this a lot of thought.... "Remember back when we
>> had nirvana" was the start of the problem. Too much procreation
>> created an enlarged population - babies and government
>>employees. Moderate Mike
>>
On bikies "Michael D. Barrett" replied:
> Less than 1/10 of the sprawl problem is due to population growth.
> The other 9/10 is sprawl-by-behavior. For example the Chicago
> Metropolitan Area grew by only 5% population-wise between 1985 and
> 1995; during that time it grew by 50% area-wise. Detroit actually
> shrank by 4% population-wise, yet still managed to sprawl by 40%.
> Madison's metropolitan area grew by 40% population-wise during that
> time and bloated by 400% area-wise. It is a geographic problem, not
> a procreative one. ... This bloating of urban geography was made
possible by moderate
> highwaymen everywhere. Miffed Mike
________________________________________________________________
The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand!
Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER!
Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!
_______________________________________________
Bikies mailing list
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
