Yes, 6:30 is correct! You'd think after six years attending the meetings, I'd remember the time, but I think I wiped it out and just wrote 6:00 PM.
Robbie Webber Transportation Policy Analyst State Smart Transportation Initiative www.ssti.us 608-263-9984 (o) 608-225-0002 (c) [email protected] On Mon, Mar 4, 2013 at 1:08 PM, India Viola <[email protected]> wrote: > > Robbie, > > Thanks for all the good info regarding tomorrow eve's meeting. > I just wanted to correct the time- it's listed as beginning at 6:30p. > http://www.cityofmadison.com/council/ > > And I've put a request in to the Bike Fed to keep us posted tomorrow about > a cancellation/reschedule due to impending snowfall. > > -India > > > On Mon, Mar 4, 2013 at 1:04 PM, Robbie Webber <[email protected]>wrote: > >> Short version: Tuesday, March 5, 6:00 PM, Madison Common Council will >> vote on changes to North Sherman Ave. We need you there. If you can't make >> it, or if Snowpocalypse makes travel impossible/dangerous, please send an >> email to [email protected] >> >> These changes involve increased safety for ALL road users, and will >> reduce speed, make crossing the street by foot safer and easier, and will >> provide bicycle accommodations for the first time. >> >> >> Longer version: Forwarded below by signature line is an email from Amanda >> at the Bike Fed, but I want to add some points about this as well. I was >> asked by someone for three reasons why this was a good idea. My response is >> below. >> >> I appreciate you asking my opinion. >> >> 1. Today, we would never build a street such as Sherman - an arterial >> with no bike lanes and with very poor accommodations for pedestrians (no >> refuge islands, for instance.) The Madison Traffic Engineering Dept - not >> the most radical bunch - considers it a "substandard street" because of the >> lack of accommodations for bicyclists and pedestrians. >> >> 2. The traffic engineers feel that the changes will actually make the >> road safer for DRIVERS as well as walkers and bicyclists. The center turn >> lane will reduce the conflict points for people turning left from seven >> possible conflict points to two points. Left turns are especially >> problematic on Sherman, accounting for a disproportionate percent of the >> crashes. >> >> 3. The changes will likely slow traffic, though not as much as most >> people think. Slower traffic will be safer for all users. Right now, the >> 85th percentile - that is the speed at which 85 percent of people drive >> that speed or slower - is far too high, more than 5 mph over the speed >> limit. >> >> 4. There have not been many studies of 4-lane to 3-lane conversions and >> their effect on economic activity, but the ones that have been done have >> shown either no change or a POSITIVE effect on businesses. >> >> 5. Traffic Engineering feels that the new configuration can handle the >> same volume of traffic. Four lanes undivided is fairly inefficient, because >> a left-turning car will jam up one whole lane, and people will stack up >> behind that car. The center turn lane removes the left-turning cars, and >> the rest of the traffic can continue to move smoothly. >> >> 6. There are two schools on Sherman, and it is really unconscionable to >> have an arterial road in front of a school without proper pedestrian >> accommodations. >> >> Now, those are the reasons why this is a good configuration or change is >> needed from what is there now. I'd also like to address some concerns that >> have been raised as well. In some cases, there is no proof for what I am >> about to say, though there have been plenty of studies indicating that I am >> right in my assumptions. >> >> *Concerns voiced: * >> >> *Businesses will lose out because people will go another route.* >> There may be some people that chose to drive on Packers instead of >> Sherman. However, those people are likely through-traffic - going to Aberg, >> Northport, or other routes out of town. Few of these people stop at >> businesses now, and losing them to Packers is not going to affect the >> businesses. However, the remaining traffic will be able to more easily turn >> into the businesses when not stuck on a dysfunctional road. Drivers will be >> going more slowly, so better able to SEE the businesses. In addition, the >> area will benefit from more pedestrian and bicycle traffic - and you know >> we do spend money. >> >> *There should be a different bike route.* >> Granted, bike lanes on Sherman are not ideal for the "interested, but >> concerned." But right now, it's the only route we have. All attempts to get >> a route through on either the east or west side of Sherman have failed >> because of one or more property owners not wanting to grant easements. >> Besides, bicyclists need to go the same places that drivers do, and so we >> need safe accommodations on Sherman even if there are other routes. That's >> where the businesses are. >> >> *There aren't any bicyclists, so why are we building lanes for them.* >> You and I know that bicyclists and pedestrians are often invisible to >> people that are not looking for them. Bicyclists are already using Sherman, >> but the majority of them are riding on the sidewalk, endangering >> pedestrians and putting themselves at risk at each driveway. There is a >> fairly large elderly population, and they have consistently complained to >> the alder - Satya Rhodes-Conway, who works across the hall from me - about >> bicyclist on the sidewalks. There are also the "strong and fearless" - >> about 1% of bicyclists - that are taking the lane because they have no >> other choice. >> >> *There just isn't space to add these features and still handle the >> traffic, buses, etc. * >> As I mentioned above, Traffic Engineering is not in the habit of >> suggesting wild, traffic-clogging designs. They wouldn't go anywhere near >> this if they thought that this wouldn't handle the traffic. They have been >> advocating for this design for 20 years - long before anyone asked for bike >> lanes. 20 years ago, it was about making it safer for drivers. Today it's >> about making it safer for everyone. >> >> *No one wants this except those crazy bicyclists.* >> People have been begging the alder for this change since she was elected >> six years ago. The elderly population, parents of kids in school, >> bicyclists, pedestrians, and all sorts of other residents have been asking >> for this. When Sherman was repaved a couple years ago and the lanes >> remained the same, people were furious with the city and with Satya for not >> stripping bike lanes at that time. >> >> Finally, I'd like to make the argument that the current configuration of >> Sherman is hurting the neighborhood in ways most people don't realize. >> >> I have three friends - two with children - that specifically did not >> consider the neighborhoods off Sherman when they purchased a home because >> of the lack of safe bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. The North >> Transfer Point is right off Sherman, meaning there is excellent transit >> service, except for one thing - it's really hard to cross the street. >> Everyone who has to board on Sherman has to cross the street at least once >> a day. People are terrified of this. Many people simply don't take the bus >> because they don't find crossing Sherman safe or convenient. This hurts >> property values, job choices, and businesses in the area. All those people >> that think their business will decline don't realize all the people that >> don't come because they feel they can't get there. >> >> A safer, slower North Sherman is going to benefit everyone and make the >> neighborhood much more pleasant and marketable. >> >> >> >> Robbie Webber >> Transportation Policy Analyst >> State Smart Transportation Initiative >> www.ssti.us >> 608-263-9984 (o) >> 608-225-0002 (c) >> [email protected] >> >> >> >> >> *Reminder - Action Alert!* >> >> *Stand up for a safer North Sherman Avenue tomorrow night* >> >> *We need YOUR HELP to make bike lanes and other improvements on North >> Sherman a reality.* The Madison Common Council will vote TOMORROW NIGHT, >> March 5th, on whether or not to make these changes. There has been vocal >> opposition so attending the meeting and voicing support is incredibly >> important. Speaking at the meeting is very easy. Simply complete the >> brief registration form available when you arrive. Include that you are >> speaking in support of Agenda Item #27. When the time comes, you'll be >> called to come up and speak to the council for up to five minutes. If you >> can't attend tomorrow night's meeting, please email >> [email protected] to lend your support. >> >> >> Madison Common Council >> >> Tuesday, March 5th >> >> 6:30 pm >> >> >> City County Building, Room 201 (210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd) >> >> >> See more about the safety improvements below. >> >> We’re happy to announce that the City has a plan to slow down car traffic >> and make bicycling and walking safer on North Sherman Ave. These >> recommendations are the result of a long-term, community-driven effort to >> improve conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians in the neighborhood. >> >> First, North Sherman Avenue will become a 3-lane street from Trailsway to >> Fordem Avenue, consisting of a lane of traffic in each direction and a >> two-way left turn lane in the center. This change will make room for bikes >> lanes in addition to pedestrian refuge islands at five locations along the >> project corridor. These changes will greatly improve conditions for the >> countless pedestrians and bicyclists who live and travel in this area. >> Currently, bicyclists and pedestrians have to share the sidewalk as there >> is no safe place to travel by bike. >> >> You can find the Engineering report here: >> >> >> http://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=2307038&GUID=8CF94D09-4349-4B9E-AA4F-158FBD5E7577 >> >> A big thank you to the City of Madison Traffic Engineering and >> Engineering divisions and to Alder Satya Rhodes-Conway for making this >> major safety improvement a possibility. >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Bikies mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org >> >> > > > -- > WeAreAllMechanics.com > [email protected] > > Stay connected- Follow WAAM on > Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/We.Are.All.Mechanics> >
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