At 12:45 PM 6/27/2006, Doug Adler wrote:
As someone who commutes by bike along the "nasty" Fish Hatchery route
almost every day, I have a few thoughts.
Would it make more sense for the long term to focus efforts on a "rails
plus trails" from John Nolen to Cap City Trail and potentially beyond to
Oregon along the north-south railway? For serious bike commuting a rail
line can't be beat. MM and Seyene may be ok now but have potential for
higher volume as the area grows. Bikers from the south crossing at Perry
are still destined for FH (albiet without the nasty Beltline crossing) or
a nastier yet Park Street to get downtown. The rail line goes straight
into Oregon and would be a great north-south complement to the Cap City
Trail. I do realize that this may be more expensive, involves multiple
jurisdictions, and rails plus trails are (I think) new to
Madison. However it would be a very nice scenic route for commuting and
recreation.
Alternatively, would it make more sense in the short term to improve the
bike and ped crossings at Fish Hatchery? Perry Street seems a bit off the
beaten path as far as destinations someone might walk or bike to.
Proximity to the bus transfer point is a big plus, but the area south of
the Beltline is mostly warehouses and low density industrial.
Hi Doug,
actually, part of the impetus for the overpass is the industrial land use
(i.e. jobs) south of the beltline, and the fact that many folks just north
of the beltline need to get to those jobs. I've heard that the desire to
get across the beltline there is so great that the chainlink fence that
barricades the beltline has been cut before by folks wanting to get across.
An overpass would serve both very local needs and the longer distance
travel needs of residents outside the city.
This is not to say that your other ideas aren't good. Indeed, I think they
would be very welcome additions to our transportation network in Dane
County. But as long as the Beltline exists as a barrier to bicyclists and
pedestrians, it should have facilities for bikes and peds to safely get
across it between every interchange, just as well designed streets have
crosswalks (whether they're actually marked or not) at every block. An
overpass at Perry St is perhaps the next logical place to put one.
thanks,
chuck
All this being said given the timing I will send an email supporting the
Perry St bridge because I understand it has been proposed before, and I'm
sure these other potential alternatives are not new ideas. And I have not
seen details of the proposed MM-Seyene corridor so maybe it would be
almost as good as a rail+trail but cheaper.
Lastly Steve thanks for all your efforts in trying to push Fitchburg in a
better direction away from sprawl.
Doug Adler
Space Science & Engineering Center
University of Wisconsin-Madison
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
608-265-9908
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Members of the Fitchburg Transportation and Transit Commission have been
discussing (among other things!) commuter bicycle routes. I hope to have
three north-south bicycle commuting corridors in the comprehensive
plan. From west to east: (1) the Badger State Trail along Seminole
Highway to the Madison Southwest Bike Trail and Camp Randall, (2) Fish
Hatchery Road to Park Street, and (3) Oregon to the Green Tech Village,
South Metro Transfer Point, and Park Street via MM, the eastern rail
corridor, and Syene Road.
There is much to be done to make safe bicycle commuting available in
these corridors, but we have an opportunity next week to dramatically
advance the cause of the eastern corridor. That corridor requires an
overpass over the Beltline at Perry Street. It would make commuting by
bike easier for both people in Fitchburg going to Madison and people in
Madison going to Fitchburg (e.g., Berbee, Promega, and the Tech Campus).
Next Tuesday, June 27, 6 PM, the Madison Pedestrian/Bicycle/Motor
Vehicle Commission (PBMVC) will be holding a public hearing to receive
input on bike/ped capital projects that need to be built. I would love
to have a whole bunch of people come to ask for the Perry Street
Overpass. This thing really needs to be built, and we need to show
support for it.
If you can come and testify, that would be great. If others want to come,
that's fine too. If you can't come, you could send written comments to
the Secretary and ask that they be distributed at the meeting.
Important points to make:
o This has regional significance since it links residential and
commercial/office locations in two municipalities.
o Fish Hatchery Road is not a good alternative now, and the Cannonball (west
of Fish Hatchery Rd) is too far west.
o It also will be a huge recreational benefit.
o Seyne Road is a good recreational and commuter route, but if you
proceed north of the Cap City Trail, you will get dumped on Fish
Hatchery Road. Nasty.
o Fitchburg's planning a 6000-resident, 10,000-employee transit-oriented
development along this route.
If you are not able to attend, but would like to submit comments, you
can send them to David Dryer who staffs the committee:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
I will not be able to attend because of a conflicting City Council
meeting, but I will send a letter of support.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Regards,
Steve Arnold, Fitchburg Alder, District 4, Seat 7
2530 Targhee Street, Fitchburg, Wisconsin 53711-5491
Telephone +1 608 278 7700 · Facsimile +1 608 278 7701
[EMAIL PROTECTED] · http://www.Arnold.US
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