If I remember correctly, the discussion of closing Blount, Brearly, and Livingston didn't make any accommodation for non-motorized vehicles or pedestrians to use the crossings after the closing. In other words, the grid would have been shut down there.
I would absolutely support closing the motor vehicle crossings of the path and garden between Dunning and Waubesa, but not eliminating pedestrian/non-motor vehicle crossings there, and if we compare this to the Blount/Brearly/Livingston project, there is a hazard of confusion on this matter. Thank you, Mindy Preston > I think its a great idea and as a resident of the district this is in > would > fully support it. > The map you created does a great job of showing how inferior the east side > path is to the west side. Much of the reason is of course historical > street and railroad configurations but that should not get in the way of > progress and making paths safer for all and getting through traffic on > major streets rather than neighborhood ones. > > A while ago the city and the railroad were having discussions about > closing > Blount, Brearly and Livingston to through traffic. I thought that would > be > a great idea and it would make that section of the path easier but the > city > did not approve and had some issues with how it would affect the soon to > be > Central park. I never take the path from John Nolen to the Yahara instead > I opt for Jennifer st as there are only a couple stops and the narrow ped > bridge to deal with to get back onto the path along Eastwood. It would be > interesting to get a bike count of traffic on the path, Jennifer and > Spaight (perhaps Willy and Rutledge to see what bikers prefer to take to > the intersection of Willy and John Nolen. > http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/railroad-company-at-odds-with-city-over-proposal-to-close/article_1e005fa4-43ad-11e1-a18c-0019bb2963f4.html > http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/grassroots/grass-roots-will-rail-crossing-dispute-send-central-park-plan/article_51dbebd2-6576-11e1-ade7-001871e3ce6c.html > > -Michael > > > > > On Fri, Jun 8, 2012 at 10:17 AM, Grant Foster <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I'm not sure about the pushback from local residents. I used to live at >> Jackson/St. Paul and I would have supported closing it. Having to drive >> an >> extra three blocks to access Bashford/Dunning or St. Paul/Waubesa is >> pretty >> minimal for eliminating the through traffic on St. Paul. >> >> Now I live in Eastmorland and our access to Atwood/Cottage Grove Rd is >> totally sufficient with Dempsey and Dennett/Walter as the bookends. It's >> actually a longer stretch with no through access to the south. I live >> close >> to Dempsey and I'd much rather have increased traffic there than through >> the middle of the neighborhood. >> >> >> The frequent road crossings really are problematic from my perspective. >> I >> commute through every day, so obviously that shapes my perception. They >> are >> quite uncomfortable and really interrupt the journey. In the winter each >> of >> these crossings becomes even tougher when the snow is plowed in front of >> them. >> >> Now that my oldest is riding on his own, they actually feel very >> threatening as well. At the end of the day, I just think there is so >> little >> value for motor vehicles to cross through and so much value for >> bikers/bladers/peds/gardners/kids. It'd be interesting to compare >> bike/ped >> volume on this path vs. mv traffic on these road segments. >> >> I pulled a map together to highlight the difference between the CC and >> SW >> path road crossings. This isn't news to anyone on this listserv, but >> it's >> powerful to see it graphically. I chose two sections of equivalent >> length >> from downtown out. >> >> https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=214427577550430265882.0004c1f6e282e4f5b3fe2&msa=0&ll=43.0576,-89.372749&spn=0.102976,0.154324 >> >> I've contacted Marsha to get her thoughts. >> >> Grant >> >> On Fri, Jun 8, 2012 at 8:51 AM, Michael Chronister < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> This is an interesting idea but I imagine a lot of push back from the >>> people who live right off of St Paul and as you mention the users of St >>> Bernards church. What seems weird to me is that St paul does not >>> connect >>> to Atwood or Dunning. If it did then you could close all three of the >>> streets you mention and there would be no problem with access to St. >>> Paul >>> and the residences off them. I do see quite a few bikers taking St. >>> Paul >>> instead of the path to get from Waubesa to Jackson. I have tried it >>> and it >>> is easier as you have no streets to cross and you get the right of way >>> the >>> entire length of St. Paul. >>> >>> I would suggest a quick email to Alder Marsha Rummel ( >>> [email protected]) about this idea and also start to get >>> other >>> interested parties to pledge support for this idea. I know the city is >>> going to do some work on the Dunning-Atwood intersection for bikes so >>> perhaps this idea would fit into that design process. >>> Check the bottom of this page, no info but it does mention a bike >>> signal >>> at this intersection. >>> http://www.cityofmadison.com/bikeMadison/planning/proposed/ >>> Also the entire length of Atwood from Rusk to Fair Oaks is set to be >>> redone in 2016 so there is another opportunity to make path >>> improvements. >>> >>> >>> -Michael >>> >>> On Thu, Jun 7, 2012 at 12:40 PM, Grant Foster <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> So I was thinking about the Capital City Trail on my morning commute >>>> and >>>> wondered why we haven't closed some of the through streets in this >>>> section: >>>> Jackson, Ohio and Corry. It seems to me that they add very little >>>> value for >>>> MV traffic flow and are a significant obstacle to bike and ped traffic >>>> along the path. >>>> >>>> Then a friend posted this blog entry >>>> http://www.giveplantsachance.com/2010/05/atwood-community-garden-madison-wi.html >>>> and >>>> I thought how much value closing some or all of these connections >>>> would >>>> bring to this already great spot. Restriciting through traffic to foot >>>> and >>>> bike would increase the comfort and safety of the path itself and >>>> would >>>> enhance the space and its use as a community garden. The reclaimed >>>> space >>>> could be converted to addt'l garden plots or micro parks within the >>>> gardens >>>> (a spot for a picnic or the like). >>>> >>>> It's hard to imagine a lot of push back from local businesses along >>>> that >>>> stretch (Absolutely Art, Zoma, Rev. Cycles, the Ohio). The only major >>>> consideration might be for St. Bernard traffic. Even closing two of >>>> the >>>> three would be a huge step forward. I would think the neighborhood >>>> would >>>> also be generally supportive since it would reduce cut through traffic >>>> along St. Paul and make the whole stretch very safe and kid friendly. >>>> >>>> >>>> How does something like this get considered? What's the best approach >>>> to >>>> talk about it with the city? >>>> >>>> Grant >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> 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 >> >> > _______________________________________________ > 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
