Here's a related article: http://www.planetizen.com/node/57861 On Aug 9, 2012 4:07 PM, "Robbie Webber" <[email protected]> wrote:
> 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] > > > _______________________________________________ > 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
