It has always been the intention to pave and plow the Fitchburg segment of the trail for winter use. (No salt will be used, so there may be a thin layer of ice or snow on the trail.)
At the beginning of this, the first winter season for the trail, DNR staff were going to do this work, but after some equipment breakdowns, DNR contracted with a private company to plow the trail in conjunction with its commercial plowing contracts. (This is the same individual that volunteers to plow the Cap City Trail.) Normally the trail should be plowed by the end of plowing operations around the county. If it has not been cleared 3-4 days after it stops snowing, that's a problem that should be reported.
At cross streets where road plows throw up banks of snow across the trail, the contractor is expected to punch the trail through so it's passable. Also, the City of Fitchburg has been asked to help keep trail-road intersections open during its plowing operations and during post-plowing cleanup, when city crews clean up sidewalks at intersections, fire hydrants, bus stops, and storm water drains.
This summer, the DNR will determine whether it's most effective and cost-effective to maintain the trail during the winter by contracting with private contractors or the City of Fitchburg, or do the work in house.
Those of you who follow state politics know that the DNR is under tremendous pressure, with many, many unfilled positions. I hope keeping trails usable is the kind of "customer service" that Gov. Walker has in mind. In any event, you can report problems with, and I hope, express your gratitude for winter maintenance of the Badger State Trail to:
Dana White-Quam, [email protected], 608 444 5127 Steve Johnston, [email protected], 608 523 2335They are sure to appreciate knowing that someone is using the plowed trail. Be kind to these people. They're working for us!
(If I have any of this wrong, Dana, please let me know and I'll write a correction.)
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://Arnold.US Become a supporter: like http://facebook.com/ArnoldforAlder.
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