Looks like the Wisconsin DOT is finally going to move ahead with plans to change Stoughton Rd. (Can't say whether it will be an "improvement".) As noted in the article, they've been talking about it since 2003. I know I sat through quite a few presentations and offered my opinion a number of times.
Now they are officially holding public hearings. It is encouraging to see that the article, and presumably the DOT press release features concerns about pedestrians and bicyclists. This road is a huge barrier to people crossing by any means, but it's almost impossible, and very scary, if you try it without a car. http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/improvements-to-stoughton-road-up-for-discussion/article_0f379e54-e224-11e1-a885-0019bb2963f4.html Although the article mentions this also being US Hwy 51, really there is no reason it has to operate as a freeway, or even at 45 MPH, as it does in most locations. The Interstate is less than 1.5 miles away, and any intercity through traffic can use that corridor quite easily. When I heard past presentations, one safety concern always seemed to be that the speed limit changed, and there were lots of rear-end crashes. My suggestion was always, and still is, to make it an urban boulevard with a 35 MPH speed limit. Instead of speeding up the slow parts, slow down the fast parts. That would make it less frightening for people trying to cross and would make it less of an ugly barrier for the neighborhoods on both sides. It would probably also result in better, less car-oriented land use along the corridor as well. By the way, lest anyone think that wanting less car-oriented land use is simply being a car-hater, there is a very good, completely taxpayer-oriented, economically mercenary reason for wanting less car-oriented land use: Parking lots don't generate much property tax. If there were more or larger buildings, and less parking and roads in that corridor, the entire area would generate more property taxes. Robbie Webber Transportation Policy Analyst State Smart Transportation Initiative www.ssti.us 608-263-9984 (o) [email protected]
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