As Larry says, "I suspect that the need > for an island will become more evident to more folks and will be added as a > necessary safety project. " The problem for Fitchburg taxpayers, as was > pointed out at the meeting, is that if the safety island is added next year, > it will be 100% financed with local funds. Had it been kept as part of the > project, it would have only been 20% locally funded. Maybe if anyone on the > list lives in Fitchburg, (s)he could urge their alders to reconsider the vote > and vote again to fund the much-needed safety island.
tim On Wed, Aug 29, 2012 at 8:49 AM, Larry D. Nelson <[email protected]> wrote: > Thank you Alder Arnold for all your work on this. I suspect that the need > for an island will become more evident to more folks and will be added as a > necessary safety project. I also believe that the Cannonball Crossing of > Seminole will be deemed much safer by bikers and than the current crossing > of the Capital City Trail. > > I certainly agree that the completion of this section of the Cannonball is > going to be a pleasant surprise for bike riders, pedestrians, commuters from > Verona (or to Verona) and visitors to our communities. > > Again, thanks for your work and your vision. > > > Larry D. Nelson, P.E. > > 1506 Cameron Drive > Madison, WI 53711 > 608 630 6532 (C) > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Steve Arnold > Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2012 1:02 AM > To: Amanda White; [email protected]; [email protected] > Cc: [email protected] > Subject: [Bikies] Cannonball Path design finalized by Fitchburg Common > Council > > I am sorry to report that Tuesday night, 8/28, the Fitchburg Council voted > against the staff-recommended Cannonball Path design 4-3-0, so there will be > no safety island to permit Cannonball Path users to cross Seminole Highway > one lane at a time. After the safety island design was defeated, an > alternative to provide path-user-actuated rectangular rapidly flashing > beacons (RRFDs) at both the Cannonball and Capital City Trail crossings of > Seminole was approved. While I'm grateful for the RRFDs, I am disappointed > that we won't get the speed calming effects of the safety island on motor > vehicles on Seminole Highway. > > There will be no lighting on the path in the Fitchburg section, but the > Council retained the underground conduit for future lighting as a optional > bid item in case bids are favorable and it fits into the project budget. > > My thanks go to the mayor (who could not vote--no tie) and Alds. Becky > Baumbach and Patrick Stern for arguing for the safety island, and Tim Wong, > Richard Collins, and a member of the Dunns Marsh Allied Neighborhood Council > (whose name I did not get) for coming to City Hall to testify. I am > particularly grateful to our Transportation Projects Engineer, Ahna Bizjak, > for her professional advice, grace under questioning, and staying out late > to advise us. > > While there will be no safety island, we must not lose sight of the fact > that in 2013 this awsome, new, year-around, direct, flat, paved commuter > path will be built from the Military Ridge Trail at McKee and Verona Roads > over its own Beltline overpass to the north frontage road near Culvers, with > a boardwalk connection to the Belmar neighborhood, the Whenona Drive > overpass over the Beltline, and points north (e.g., Cherokee Middle School). > Many thanks to the City of Madison for the overpass and the already complete > reaches by Leopold School. > I can't wait! > > On 8/27/2012 4:50 PM, Steve Arnold wrote: >> At meetings beginning at 6:30 the Fitchburg Finance Committee, and at >> 7:30 the Fitchburg Common Council, will consider a resolution to >> approve the staff design of Fitchburg's portion of the Cannonball Path. >> >> Staff has proposed, and the Transportation and Transit Commission has >> recommended, widening of Seminole Highway where the Path crosses, and >> a ten-foot wide safety island, so Path uses may cross Seminole Hwy one >> lane at a time. This will be particularly important when Verona Road >> construction starts next year, as considerable traffic will use >> Seminole Hwy to avoid the construction. >> >> Fitchburg's Board of Public Works has amended the design to remove the >> safety island, citing cost and "safety" concerns. (One member said >> safety islands make him feel less safe, I presume while driving.) >> >> I will argue for the safety island, as recommended by staff. The >> widening to accomodate the island will have a traffic calming effect, >> which staff hopes to use to argue for a lower speed limit (e.g., 30 >> MPH instead of the current 40 MPH) from the Madison limits through the >> intersections of the Cannonball Path, Dawley Drive, and the Cap City >> Trail. The lower speed limit will improve safety not only for >> Cannonball users, but also for Cap City Trail users and cyclists on >> Seminole Hwy. >> >> The Dunns Marsh neighborhood Association supports the safety island. >> >> The funding for the staff-proposed safety island has already been >> approved by the Common Council in the capital improvement program. >> Saving the money for the safety island is not a good tradeoff for the >> safety of trail users. Citizens speaking at Council members can have >> a powerful effect on the Council members. If you have an opinion on >> this matter, please consider registering to speak in support. You can >> also let your Alders know your opinion directly by e-mail. Our >> addresses are at > http://www.city.fitchburg.wi.us/government/commonCouncil/. >> >> Background: The Path will follow the old Union Pacific right-of-way >> from the Military Ridge Trail at McKee Road northwest to the "bicycle >> interchange with the Capital City Trail, Southwest Path, and Badger >> State Trail, along the Arboretum and Arbor Hills neighborhood, past >> Leopold School, and finally cross the Beltline on its own overpass >> between Kayser Ford and Culvers. It will be an awsome commuter route >> from soutwest Dane County to the Fish Hatchery Road and Park Street >> Corridors. The Beltline overpass and Fitchburg portions of the trail >> will be built next year. Snow will be removed for winter commuting. >> There is a map at >> > http://www.city.fitchburg.wi.us/departments/cityHall/publicWorks/CannonballP > ath.php. >> >> (Lighting: For those of you interested in whether the Path will be >> lighted, c.f. Madison's Southwest Commuter Path, the Madison portion >> of the Cannonball will be lighted. The Fitchburg portion will *not* >> be lighted initially, but underground work for future lighting of the >> Fitchburg portion has been recommended as a bid option, in case >> favorable bids allow it to fit into the project budget.) > -- > Steve Arnold, Fitchburg Alder, District 4, Seat 7 > 2530 Targhee Street, Fitchburg, Wisconsin 53711-5491 Telephone +1 608 278 > 7700 . Facsimile +1 608 278 7701 [email protected] . > http://Arnold.US Become a supporter: like > http://facebook.com/ArnoldforAlder. > _______________________________________________ > 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 -- "If we continue to consume the world until there's no more to consume, then there's going to come a day, sure as hell, when our children or their children or their children's children are going to look back on us--on you and me--and say to themselves, 'My God, what kind of monsters were these people?'" --Daniel Quinn _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org
