Dear Commissioners:
I regret I will not be able to join you Monday evening, as I have a
conflicting neighborhood meeting. I would like to make a few more
points before you deliberate this issue. I speak on behalf of my
constituents in Fitchburg and many others who use the Southwest Path to
get from points south and west of Madison into the urban center, and
those who will do so after the path is adequately lighted.
As I mentioned at the public hearing on Nov. 28, I support the lighting
plan for two principle reasons: safety for users of Madison's busiest
bicycle and pedestrian path, especially during the shorter days of the
year, and equal protection of bicyclists and pedestrians, compared to
facilities for motor vehicle users. These continue to be very important
reasons to support the excellent lighting plan developed by City Traffic
Engineering after exhaustive and exhausting public input.
I would add one more consideration now: the precedent for treatment of
other urban pedestrian and bicycle paths. Heretofore, the City of
Madison has worked hard to properly light bicycle and pedestrian paths
for safe use between dusk and dawn, using current and potential trips,
ambient lighting, and other considerations as appropriate to prioritize
investment. Under these policies, lighting the Southwest Path has been
long planned, but delayed by the concerns of neighbors. If this project
is further delayed, needed and warranted lighting of other urban
bike-ped corridors could also be affected, both in Madison and adjoining
communities, for similar inappropriate reasons.
Users on the Southwest Path deserve the same safe facilities as
motorists and other bike-ped path users in urban Dane County, and
adequate lighting should be provided there and on other busy paths. The
staff-proposed lighting plan provides all feasible protections against
potential problems cited by opponents of path lighting. Please
recommend approval of the lighting plan to the Madison Common Council.
Thank you!
--
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.
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