Tom thanks for your reply. From what I understand, Mr Wood was willing to consider a different location last year but when the meetings were rescheduled, there was not a large enough venue for the new date. It's important to hear from the people most affected and a more representative group of stakeholders -pedestrians, bicyclists, local business owners, potential developers, Isthmus dwellers on both sides of E Wash are likely to show up if we bring the public hearing closer to the proposed area. I respectfully request reconsideration of a downtown or near east location.
Thank you Marsha Rummel ________________________________ From: STRAWSER, Charles [[email protected]] Sent: Friday, July 15, 2011 2:13 PM To: Running, Tom - OCR Cc: Bikies; Rummel, Marsha; Phillips, Rob Subject: RE: RR public hearings 9/27-28 RE closing Blount, Livingston, and Brearly Streets Thanks for your response, Tom. Of course, people who walk or bicycle for transportation and live and/or work on the Isthmus probably don’t think the meeting location is very efficient for them, and I include myself among them. But I do appreciate you bringing it up for consideration. Thanks, Chuck Strawser ________________________________ From: Running, Tom - OCR [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, July 15, 2011 12:21 PM To: STRAWSER, Charles Subject: RE: RR public hearings 9/27-28 RE closing Blount, Livingston, and Brearly Streets I discussed your request with our legal counsel, Doug Wood, who is coordinating the administrative law hearing in September. He has discussed the potential locations of the hearing with legal counsel for the City of Madison, and the other options would not work out. As a matter of policy, the OCR tries to hold our hearings in the city that is being affected by the hearing. The location at our office at 610 N. Whitey Way is the most efficient, considering the factors of convenience, practicality of the hearing itself, and transportation alternatives – parking and bus lines. Tom Running Office of the Commissioner of Railroads From: STRAWSER, Charles [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, July 15, 2011 9:25 AM To: Running, Tom - OCR Cc: Rummel, Marsha; [email protected]; Bikies Subject: RR public hearings 9/27-28 RE closing Blount, Livingston, and Brearly Streets Hi Tom, I found your name here: http://ocr.wi.gov/#<http://ocr.wi.gov/> and heard through a mutual friend that you are a patron of some of the same WilMar and SASY neighborhood businesses that I frequent. I was hoping you might know how the neighborhood might request a venue change for the public hearings in September on the RR’s proposal to close Blount, Livingston, and Brearly Streets. I’ve copied the email I sent to my alder, Marsha, and Rob, the city engineer (both cc’d). I’m sure there are lots of places closer to the streets that are proposed to be closed where we could have a public meeting. MG&E or Common Wealth Development’s Madison Enterprise Center seem likely. Even something downtown (like the Madison Municipal Building, the City County Building, or the Central Library) or as far east as the Goodman Community Center is only relatively short walk down the bike path from the affected streets, and would greatly increase the public participation, particularly among some of the most important stakeholders – those very people who the RR is trying to protect. Thanks very much for your consideration, Chuck Strawser Pedestrian & Bicycle Transportation Planner Commuter Solutions Transportation Services UW-Madison Room 124 WARF 610 Walnut St Madison WI 53726 608-263-2969 www.wisc.edu/trans<http://www.wisc.edu/trans> _____________________________________________ From: STRAWSER, Charles Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2011 2:33 PM To: Rummel, Marsha; '[email protected]' Cc: '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]' Subject: RR public hearings 9/27-28 RE closing Blount, Livingston, and Brearly Streets Hi Marsha and Rob, I was glad to see your comments here: http://www.isthmus.com/isthmus/article.php?article=34086 I realize it’s a long shot, but perhaps the two of you and/or Mayor Soglin could ask the Railroad Commission to hold this meeting somewhere near the streets the RR is proposing to close. Closing the streets obviously affects everyone whether they drive, walk, or bike. But holding the meeting on the other side of town (610 N Whitney Way) disproportionately affects those people who cross the tracks on foot or by bicycle since they may not even be able to attend the meeting and have their voice heard. I’m sure that there is space available somewhere nearby. MG&E, CommonWealth Development’s Madison Enterprise Center at Baldwin and East Washington seem likely. I bet Curt Brink would be happy to host the meeting at the Brink Lounge or High Noon Saloon, since closing Blount and Livingston effectively cuts access to his buildings off for half the population of the isthmus. Anyone have his email address? Chuck Strawser Pedestrian & Bicycle Transportation Planner Commuter Solutions Transportation Services UW-Madison Room 124 WARF 610 Walnut St Madison WI 53726 608-263-2969 www.wisc.edu/trans<http://www.wisc.edu/trans>
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