Based on the exchange last month with DOT regarding the loss of the Badger ped/bike overpass without notice and no designated (signed) detour, and the current motor vehicle snarl in that area, empirical evidence suggests bicycles and pedestrians are pretty low on the priority list.
Having ridden my bicycle daily through that area at rush hour both ways and being cut-off and dealing with the road-enraged motor vehicle drivers I can tell everyone from first hand-experience, triangle borded by the US Hwy 12/18 beltline, US Hwy 14, and Rimrock Road area is a mess right now. P.S. To get to Rimrock Road from the Vilas neighborhood area, I take a short-cut through the back parking lot of the expo fair grounds (a.k.a. "Alliant Energy Center"). -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Larry D. Nelson Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 6:11 PM To: 'Steve Arnold'; 'Robbie Webber' Cc: 'Bikies'; [email protected] Subject: Re: [Bikies] Rimrock & Cty Hwy MM closure: may affect your commute route It would be very helpful if we could get a schedule for the completion of Post Road from Fitchburg. My most recent contacts indicated "maybe in the next 5-years....maybe". I think that more than 10 years is the limit of anyone's patience, and much longer than that of Alder Bruer. This neighborhood needs additional access. At this time, it is effectively Madison's largest cul de sac. The Perry Street Overpass concept may prove short sighted. Given the potential for re-development on both the north and south side of the Beltline Highway, an full mode underpass should also be evaluated. Regardless, it would be very helpful if Fitchburg would jointly finance this bridge/underpass with the City of Madison. Money talks, everything else goes over the Beltline/Fish Hatchery Bridge. And, yes, I have suggested this option to Fitchburg staff some months ago. I shall await with interest the approval of the 2011 City of Fitchburg budget, and I am thankful for the support of Alder Arnold for both the Post Road project and, hopefully, the bridge/underpass beneath the Beltline @ Perry Street. Larry D. Nelson, P.E. 1506 Cameron Drive Madison, WI 53711 608 630 6532 (C) -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Steve Arnold Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 4:38 PM To: Robbie Webber Cc: Bikies; [email protected] Subject: Re: [Bikies] Rimrock & Cty Hwy MM closure: may affect your commute route On 8/10/2010 12:15 PM, Robbie Webber wrote: > According to a news report today, the intersection of Rimrock Rd and > Cty Hwy MM wil close Wednesday and remain closed for a week. > http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/article_95ebc646-a49b-11df-b33e- > 001cc4c002e0.html > > Since many bicyclists use Rimrock to cross the Beltline, and since > there are few alternate routes to cross the Beltline - especially > since the Badger Rd overpass has been taken down, and it is unclear > whether bicyclists will be able to transition from Rimrock Rd to the > Cap City Trail, you may have a long detour. > > Too bad the Perry St overpass was never built. That would allow > cyclists on the Cap City Trail to ride up Seyne Rd and cross easily to > the area adjacent to the South Transfer Point. > > Anyone with knowledge of possible bike routes from the Cap City Trail > across the Beltline in this area? > > This is Fitchburg, so I haven't check with City of Madison staff, but > I am cc'ing Dane County Hwy staff and our bikie friend on the > Fitchburg City Council, Steve Arnold. I just spoke to Adam Kopp of the DOT, who is managing this project. We reviewed that the nearest ways to cross the E-Way and Beltline on bike are Cap City Trail to Southtown Dr (east) and Syene or Fish Hatchery Rds to the Fish Hatchery Beltline Crossing (west). That's a long way out of the way! Adam agreed to looking into ways to keep the intersection open for bicyclists. Walking your bike on the shoulder or hoisting over a ditch may be required (but hey, it's cyclecross season!)--he'll let me know and I'll relay here. I haven't given up on Perry St. Ald. Tim Bruer tells me that connecting Post Road is a higher priority for him, but Fitchburg is moving ahead with that project. Land has been acquired and engineering done, and more money was allocated in the Capital Improvement Program for 2011 to finish the job. I'll be arguing to Tim that while he may not want to complete the Perry St Beltline overpass before Post Rd is done, it's reasonable to start planning it, as we are certainly well along on the Post Rd project. Your support of this project will be welcome! 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 _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org
