This is what happens when communities pin all their hopes on funds that are subject to road and bridge building industry influence (see article below)
P.S. Don't forget to submit your comments on the Draft Regional Transportation Plan 2030 for the Madison Metropolitan Area and Dane County. The deadline for submitting written comments (to MPO, 121 S. Pinckney Street, Suite 400, Madison, WI 53703) is October 18th.
Madison Area's Transportation Future at a Crossroads
http://madison.indymedia.org/feature/display/50272/index.php
Mike Neuman
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Fitchburg-to-Madison bike trail won't get paved for 2 years
Budget cuts hamper 6-mile stretch
By Maureen Backman
Correspondent for The Capital Times
FITCHBURG - Due to minimal funding for bicycle projects in Wisconsin's Transportation Enhancement budget, a six-mile stretch of the Badger State Trail between Madison and Fitchburg will not be paved for two years.
"We feel left high and dry in the state transportation budget," said Fitchburg Ald. Steve Arnold.
Arnold - along with Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, Rep. Terese Berceau, D-Madison, Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts, D-Verona, and Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin Executive Director Dar Ward - expressed concern over lack of state funding for bicycle projects at a press conference Monday.
Black said the 2005-07 budget for the Department of Transportation was an "unfortunate decision" by the state Legislature that devastated the state's bicycle projects. The budget totaled $5.8 billion, but Transportation Enhancements amounted to less than 0.2 percent of that budget. Black said the Legislature agreed to take away 70 percent from the bicycle fund, leaving 92 projects in the state unfunded.
According to Arnold, the completion of the Badger State Trail is integral for Fitchburg and the Allied Drive neighborhood. The 6-mile stretch begins at Lovell Road in the Allied Drive neighborhood and runs to Sun Valley Parkway near Fitchburg. Arnold said this is the most popular trail in the state, with 150,000-200,000 visitors per year.
The Allied neighborhood wants to see the completion of the trail because it brings visitors to the neighborhood, creating "more eyes for the streets" and thus preventing crime, according to Arnold. The trail would also connect the neighborhood to employment and entertainment centers to the south, enabling residents to find jobs.
"This in so many ways affects our quality of life," Arnold said.
In addition to the paving of the Badger State Trail, Black said lack of state funding will also hinder completion of the Fitchburg Bicycle Hub and phase one of the Cannonball Trail.
"I think these losses are very foolish and mistaken," he said. "We're not talking about taxpayer money. This is federal government money."
Black said Wisconsin has a history of failing to support bicycle projects, adding he first introduced legislation 18 years ago. Other states have been able to attract tourists and bicyclists by enhancing their trails, he said, meaning Wisconsin is falling behind.
"We could be a star in this regard," he said.
Black said he plans to hold several more press conferences around the state to gather support for the projects.
In Fitchburg, Arnold said he is working with Ald. Andy Potts to put out press releases advocating more funding for the Badger State Trail, and might put a resolution before the City Council.
Published: October 10, 2006
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/index.php?ntid=102526
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