I talked to Paul Woodard, DPW of Fitchburg. He informed me that the WIDOT did not have sufficient Enhancement Funds to proceed with this project in 2009.
Fitchburg is in the process of retaining a consultant to design the work in Mid-May and Fitcburg has submitted the paving of the Badger Trail as a Stimulus Project (ARRA.) Without Stimulus Enhancement funding, the WIDOT could bid the work after July 2010. With Stimulus funding and the completion the plans, the work could begin in Spring 2010. ________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Troy Thiel Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 3:07 PM To: [email protected]; Meiers, Steve Subject: Re: [Bikies] Badger Trail Delayed I was really bummed to read this....why is "paving" required? When Jeff Schimpff and I rode this last summer, it's pretty clear that there's a base already there that just needs to be improved south of Whalen...the path is crushed gravel at its completed spots....and south of PD it just needs to be cleared as well with a few crossings improved or created (across Seminole south of Lacy)....the north of PD area could initially be rerouted to the bike lanes along Seminole...that crossing site north is where the biggest work is...but south of PD its in easy to get done condition....I hope they revisit that delay Troy Thiel = --- On Mon, 3/30/09, Meiers, Steve <[email protected]> wrote: From: Meiers, Steve <[email protected]> Subject: [Bikies] Badger Trail Delayed To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Date: Monday, March 30, 2009, 2:28 PM >From today's State Journal Completion of the Badger State Trail in southern Dane County has been delayed until next year. Fitchburg engineer Ahnaray Bizjak said the city had hoped to begin paving the last segment of the 33-mile bicycle trail that runs from Illinois to Madison. When completed, riders will be able to go as far south as Freeport, Ill. But not this year. A $1.1 million federal grant will come too late, she said. [http://www.madison.com/wsj/wsj_img_2006/links_117.gif]<http://www.madison.com/post/forum/index.php?c=5> * Badger Trail site<http://www.badger-trail.com/> "There's no way it can be built this year," Bizjak said, adding that paving will start next spring. The project began more than six years ago when the state Department of Natural Resources started leasing an abandoned rail line from the state Department of Transportation, DNR property manager Steve Johnston said. In July 2007, the southern segment, which is surfaced with finely crushed limestone, opened between Illinois and Purcell Road in Fitchburg. Paving the last 6.1-mile segment between Purcell Road and Madison's Southwest Path will allow it to be used by bike commuters, Bizjak said. The DNR estimates the trail had 176,000 users last year. Johnston said the count includes about 8,000 snowmobilers who use the portion from Paoli south. The number also includes some who use the trail every day. "It's had an incredible amount of use," he said. For information, see www.badger-trail.com<http://www.badger-trail.com/>. - Dee J. Hall Got a question? We'll find the answer. Send them all to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> or Just Ask Us, PO Box 8058, Madison, WI, 53708. Steve Meiers Safety educator (608) 267-1102 [email protected] _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org
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