Thanks for your response, Marsha. I'm interested in getting together with other folks who are willing to discuss this in more detail. I think there are probably a number of different options that could improve things for path users while minimizing the negative impact on motor vehicle traffic.
I've put together a very rough outline of thoughts I've had and set up a doodle http://www.doodle.com/w5fyhs38mbk2z543#table to find a time that works for folks that are interested. We can decide on a location based on the participants, but probably something downtown/isthmus in Madison. Let me know if you have any questions and looking forward to scheming:) Grant On Sun, Jun 10, 2012 at 11:43 PM, Rummel, Marsha < [email protected]> wrote: > 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]> 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]> >> 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 > >
Capital City Bike Path Improvement Plan 2012.docx
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