Marsha wants to delay, but there is a federal mandate to replace the lead pipes next year. So we either get the street torn up twice, or once. And there is no way to do Willy St in 2012 because of other construction to be done in that year - including the rail construction. That means a several-year delay, not one year. Again, the pipes will definitely be replaced next year, so Willy will be torn up next year.
I acknowledge that there are advantages to narrowing the street, and I tried to outline them. I mostly wanted people to be aware that this is coming up TONIGHT. The current plan is 44 feet, not 42, so you can come and speak or not, but tonight is the night. As I said, there are trade-offs, and not everyone may agree whether those trade-offs are worth it. Marsha will not be at the meeting, because she has another one that she cannot miss. As to the "East side biking community" agreeing on this, I do not remember this ever coming up on this list, nor do I remember others asking other bicyclists that may use the area but not live there. Willy St is used by more than just the neighbors, and not all the bicyclists were consulted, as far as I can tell. Again, I am trying to provide information, so that anyone on this list can make their own decisions if they want to speak to the issue. Robbie Webber Bike Walk Madison Steering Committee www.bikewalkmadison.org Join our group on Facebook! On Wed, Oct 20, 2010 at 3:32 PM, tim wong <[email protected]> wrote: > Robbie has several things wrong on this. The east-side bicycling community > has been involved in this green streets redesign effort. We strongly > support the narrowing of the street, but, in addition, are urging the city > to delay this reconstruction until 2012 so that we can get the "green > streets" thing right--essentially a reversal of 60+ years of doing streets > reconstructions wrong, i.e., making streets wider, faster, and mostly > designed to get people to the suburbs faster. > > I will forward a letter we wrote to the city endorsing the narrower street > after this. The short of it is that there are three bicycling alternatives > within two blocks of Williamson St. In addition, Wmson east of Baldwin is > 42 feet wide, and no one is advocating widening it. > > The other reason to support narrowing is that it allows for wider terraces, > which permits taller trees to be planted, which provide more of a canopy, > which has been show to slow cars down, as well as more bike racks and tables > for restaurants who want outside seating. We are also hoping to have the > utilities undergrounded during reconstruction. The conduit is being put in > the ground, but the wires will stay above-ground, meaning the trees will > continue to be butchered by MGE, cable companies, etc. > > If the east-rail bike path, Jenifer, and Spaight were not so close, I might > not support this narrowing. But they are, so I do. > > I would strong urge all interested advocates, and especially 6th district > residents, to e-mail or call Marsha and urge her to support a delay until > 2012. So far she is standing with the city against the interests of the > neighborhood (it's a little more complicated than it looks). Marquette > Neighborhood Association and Schenk Atwood Starkweather Yahara (SASY) > neighborhood council have both endorsed the delay, MNA unanimously and SASY > with one dissenting vote. The alder, so far, is supporting Rob Phillips and > Engineering in their opposition to delay. Your e-mails and calls might > persuade her to support the delay. Thanks. > > tim > > On Wed, Oct 20, 2010 at 2:34 PM, Robbie Webber <[email protected]>wrote: > >> Just an FYI that the rebuild of Williamson St will be at the Board of >> Public Works tonight, in case anyone wants to weigh in on the new design. It >> looks like the public hearing will start at 6:30 PM, if I am reading the >> schedule correctly. It is item # 7 on the agenda linked below. >> >> >> http://legistar.cityofmadison.com/meetings/2010/10/8326_A_BOARD_OF_PUBLIC_WORKS_10-10-20_Agenda.pdf >> * >> * >> *The Board of Public Works meets at the Water Utility Bldg - 119 Olin >> Ave.* >> >> Sorry for the late notice, but this sort of crept up on me, (and I'm no >> longer a paid bike advocate or alder.) >> >> The reason that this particular street rebuild might require extra >> attention is that the proposal is to NARROW the street, which could have >> implications for all street users. >> >> Right now the curb-to-curb width is 48 feet. The outside lane - shared by >> parked cars and bicyclists most of the day, and an active car travel lane >> during rush hour - is 13 feet. The inside lane is 11 feet. >> >> The new design would narrow the street to 44 feet, and the current >> proposal would be 4 lanes, each 11 feet. This will mean that the outside >> lane will no longer be wide enough for bicyclists and parked cars to safely >> share. The options for bicyclists on Willy St would be A) get in the active >> car (inside) lane, or B) ride really close to the parked cars and be passed >> unsafely by car on the street. >> >> The advantage of narrowing the street is that there will be more space for >> trees and other "street amenities," which Willy St sorely lacks. More space >> for walking, sidewalk cafes, bike racks, benches, etc. Presumably, the >> traffic will move more slowly as well. >> >> This is a definitely trade-off: worse for bicyclists, but better for the >> overall look and feel of the street. I am of very mixed feelings about >> this. >> >> Beyond where the curbs are placed, there is the matter of where the lane >> marking are drawn, which is not being decided tonight. I will be pushing for >> making the outside lanes 12 feet instead of 11. This would still be a tight >> squeeze for a parked car-bicyclist to share, but it is an additional foot. >> >> >> >> >> Robbie Webber >> Bike Walk Madison Steering Committee >> www.bikewalkmadison.org >> Join our group on Facebook! >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Bikies mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org >> >> > > > -- > If you would like to sign a petition opposing Williamson St. Coop's > permanent driveway, go to the link > http://www.PetitionOnline.com/coop9876/petition.html<http://www.petitiononline.com/coop9876/petition.html>.Even > if you've signed the paper copy, sign this one especially if you have > a comment to add. Or buy a T-shirt: STOP THE DRIVEWAY. Inquire here. > >
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