The city opposes the WSOR petition to close Blount, Livingston and Brearly. WSOR wants to close those streets to all users. Public testimony at the hearing earlier this spring from residents and business owners in the area did not support closing the grid of streets.
Eliminating streets concentrates traffic on neighboring streets. I guarantee you nearby residents will complain about this... Street closures can be done but it is a process that requires all city agencies to sign off on, MPD, MFD, Planning, Streets, CE, TE etc… Generally the City has not liked to eliminate streets because of the importance of the street grid. I share that general framework. I am interested in working with everyone on improving the Capital City path through District 6. I have requested that TE install stop signs at streets that are on streets without signalized lights at Willy/E Wash. I would like to get money in future Capital budgets to install raised pavement treatments/tabletop along the entire path. I'd like to address safety concerns at Baldwin and E Wilson. I have discussed with TE the idea of installing a bike only diagonal crossing at Dunning and Atwood and this is in the works. I'm interested in ideas, it is budget request time... Marsha ________________________________ From: [email protected] [[email protected]] On Behalf Of Michael Chronister [[email protected]] Sent: Friday, June 08, 2012 3:08 PM To: [email protected] Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Bikies] Cap City - Dunning to Waubesa Yes I have been informed that the Railroad project would cut off all traffic not just motorized. I would only support full closure if ped and bike access was allowed or if only one street was closed but never two in a row as that would make the time to circumvent them too long for most peds. -Michael On Fri, Jun 8, 2012 at 3:04 PM, <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: 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]<mailto:[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]<mailto:[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]<mailto:[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]<mailto:[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]<mailto:[email protected]> >>>> http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org >>>> >>>> >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Bikies mailing list >> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> >> http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org >> >> > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org >
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