On Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 8:54 PM, Michael D. Barrett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > ....And still our alders--each and every one of them--as well as our > 'green' mayor, are working feverishly on a budget dominated by massive road > expansions out into the 'burbs. The message below is NOT aimed at Mike Barrett, because he will do what he wishes,and say what he wants, regardless of suggestions from anyone else. However, others on this list may be wondering what CAN influence policy in the city, state, or country. Instead of being so defeatist, and leading the Bikies to believe that there is nothing that can be done to change the current trend, I would like to suggest a different tact. We are at a crucial point, where even the most car-dependent areas of our country are feeling that we need to have more transportation choices. Alders in far-flung areas of town are begging for transit service to their neighborhoods. There is growing support for bicycle and pedestrian projects. Even some rail skeptics are starting to come around. Instead of throwing up our hands and thinking that all is lost, perhaps now is the time to redouble our efforts to point out that road building is not the future. Ask for what you want to happen instead of bigger roads. Be very specific in your request. Point out roads that are in the budget that should not be built. Then suggest projects that would be undertaken instead. Keep in mind that road projects are usually part of the capital budget - undertaken with borrowing and paid for over time, while things like Metro operations are part of the operating budget - paid for each year as a continuing expense. It is best to make suggestions for replacing capital projects with capital projects, and operating expenses (parks maintenance, snow plowing, leaf pick up, police salaries, library operating, etc.) with other operating expenses. The Pedestrian/Bicycle/Motor Vehicle Commission and the Metropolitan Planning Organization have both developed an extensive list of ped/bike capital projects that could be funded with road building savings. Many people on this list already know the names of many of them: Sherman Flier, Starkweather Creek path - east branch, Junction Road overpass, Perry Street overpass, extension of the East Isthmus Path farther east, bike boulevards, Cannonball Path, repaving various paths, etc. One or two voices are not enough to counteract all the citizens that are asking for bigger roads for their commutes and shopping. But a few more people CAN have an impact, and if everyone on this list actually took the time to write to his/her alder and the Mayor, it would have a HUGE impact. Here are some sample messages: It has taken the United States and Madison specifically 50-60 years to get to the point where we are: car-dependent land use, expectations that everyone will drive and never be stuck in traffic, the constant pressure to expand roads. It is going to take a long time to get out of this mess. But we can't wait any longer. We must plan for the future, and that means aggressively funding all types of transportation that allow people to NOT be dependent on their cars. This will set Madison ahead of other cities in our region and the US as driving takes an ever increasing percentage of family budgets. We must plan for and fund "other than driving." Fix It First! Make sure that all our existing infrastructure is in good condition before building more of it. At every level of government, roads, bridges, sewer lines, dams, and other infrastructure are deteriorating. We must fix this critical infrastructure first before we take on any more new infrastructure construction projects. This is especially true in the area of roads. We have been on a road-building binge for 50 years, and now much of those roads need to be fixed. Don't build new ones until the ones we have are in good condition and accessible to all users.
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