The Capital City Trail crossing will be much safer in the future since bikers there will also have the ability to push a button to cause lights to flash to point out to drivers the need to stop. That is one of the reasons I recommended, and voted for, the compromise of RRFBs. http://www.spotdevices.com/system-rrfb.html
With the island, nothing would be done for the Cap City crossing. I wanted to give a way, at both crossings, to help bikers actively tell drivers they need to stop. I've seen, over and over again, what a problem it is for bikers waiting in the intersection at Cap City for someone to stop, and cars just keep driving right past. So the compromise was largely for Cap City, but, again, my focus is to give bikers an active way to interact with cars rather than just the passive activity of having an island to stand on and wait either for a hole in traffic, or for someone who has a clue and stops for them. Another factor was my knowledge that, in preparation for the Verona Road project, traffic lights are going to be installed just north of the Cannonball crossing at Sentinel Pass at about the same time as the Cannonball is being done, so that will create gaps in traffic from the north on Seminole. Perhaps in the future there will be a major road project that will widen the roadway past both crossings, and create islands for both, along with a proper left turn lane onto Dawley Drive, so that bit of scary bit of roadway confusion would be eliminated as well. And, if I get my way, in addition to the faster on-street bike lane, there will also be an off-street recreational boardwalk type connector between Cannonball and Cap City at the edge of Dunn's Marsh. That would effectively create a nice loop around the marsh, which would be an asset in and of itself, especially for walkers and nature lovers. That, combined with the Apache Drive connection to Cannonball that is in the plan, would give the opportunity for the more casual bikers, especially families, to avoid Seminole Highway altogether, from the beltline overpass all the way to the Capital City Trail. So, no, it's not mindless slashing and hacking... it's care and consideration for the people on bicycles and their safety that is my concern. Slowing traffic generally is secondary for me, although I agree that is needed as well, and we will continue to explore further options in that area. Dorothy Krause Fitchburg Common Council: - Personnel Committee - Landmarks Commission Dane County Board of Supervisors: - Health and Human Needs Committee - Specialized Transportation Commission - Long Term Support Committee - Land Conservation Committee - Airport Commission - Dane County Development Corporation Board of Directors 608-271-7532 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Larry D. Nelson Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2012 8:49 AM To: 'Steve Arnold' Cc: 'Amanda White'; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: Re: [Bikies] Cannonball Path design finalized by FitchburgCommon Council 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 _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org
