While I am thrilled that there will be so many projects going forward in Dane County/the Madison Metro area, I have to express my disappointment that TE funds are going to add bike lanes to a local road. Why?
In many state, nearly all the Transportation Enhancement money goes to add shoulder to roads, and they are called "bike projects." In Wisconsin, up until now, shoulders and bike lanes were routinely added to roads because the additional cost was almost nothing compared to the road itself. Shoulders were considered part of the roadway, and have many benefits aside from making bicycling easier: snow storage, extends the life of the roadway, additional space to "forgive" driver error, etc. Bike lanes were considered part of a standard arterial roadway, and it was expected that municipalities would add them as needed. If we set a precedent that bike lanes are NOT a standard part of the roadway, but an "enhancement" that needs special funding, we could see the already tiny amount of TE money eaten up with requests for this additional amount of pavement. Hopefully, Complete Streets will assure that municipalities don't hold off on bike lanes waiting for TE funding. On a happier note, I am very excited that the Lower Yahara River project is funded. This will provide a direct route to McFarland and the eastern side of Lake Waubesa. McFarland residents will be able to bike on trail all the way from the village to downtown or campus, instead of needing to cross the Beltline on Hwy 51 and then ride the bike lanes on Broadway to get to the Lake Monona Path. This trail will also cut the distance significantly. In the other direction, I'm looking forward to exploring the area east of Lake Waubesa more. I propose a pie ride to McFarland when teh new trail opens! Robbie Webber Bike Walk Madison Steering Committee www.bikewalkmadison.org Join our group on Facebook! On Wed, Oct 27, 2010 at 5:42 PM, Eric Sundquist <[email protected]>wrote: > Well, it's really four projects, as the two of them are the southern > sections of the Cannonball Trail. But still quite a coup. > > The big dollars are: > *$2.5 million for Cannonball Trail, including bridge over the Beltline. I > believe, from having seen maps that I don't now have with me, that the > Cannoball projects will get from the Southwest Trail to somewhere near > Badger Road, and that the city has plans for paving the remaining section > going into town. > *$3 million for the Lower Yahara Path between Capital City Trail and > McFarland. > > The smaller projects will add bike lanes on western Old Sauk Road and link > paths between Madison and Sun Prairie. > > > http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=20559 > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > >
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