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I would offer a couple of my own comments. I strongly disagree with the claim by the anonymous commenter. The Mayor and city council have been trying to address speeding on Winnequah Road for years - going back well before he moved to Winnequah Road. I use that section of Winnequah at least twice a day and can tell you that speeding persists. The mayor has not acted alone. The council has supported stepped up speed enforcement. Also, the Public Safety is reviewing a proposed procedure for evaluating requests for traffic calming devices.
And yes, speeding is not limited to south Winnequah Road, but you cannot address speeding 'city wide'. You have to address speeding where it occurs more often and where it creates bigger safety hazards.
Anonymous Comment:
“I just heard the Mayor has put money in his capital budget for several speed bumps along Winnequah Rd.
Since he moved to Winnequah Rd. the Police dept. has become his private speed enforcement patrol between Maywood Park and Frostwoods Rd. At a recent City Council meeting I heard him state "Monona should ask for another DOT Safety Grant for speed enfocement." That the Police Department should spend additonal time enforcing the speed on Maywood Rd.
I do not believe DOT or the citizens of Monona should be paying for continous speed enforcement in front of his house.
I see the speed bumps as another example of him pushing the cost of his private agenda on the tax payers of the Monona and the State.
I think the city has a speeding problem city wide.”
Doug:
Long before I lived on Winnequah, citizens (including alderman) have been complaining about the speeding problem we have there. In fact, the road design on the south end with bump-outs, etc., was done specifically to address the long-standing speeding issue on this road.
Unfortunately the road design has not alleviated our speeding problem and with Monona Drive reconstruction we will have even more traffic diverted to our residential streets. With that background, the council (not just the Mayor) decided last year to add money to the budget for heightened speed enforcement on ALL Monona streets. Perhaps people notice it more on Winnequah because they drive it more but I know the police department has significantly increased speed enforcement time on other Monona streets.
The group of parents and other citizens now requesting pedestrian crossing signs and speed cushions or speed bumps is actually requesting the signs be placed at the intersection near Frost Woods Park and that the trial speed bumps be placed in the vicinity of 5900 to 6100 Winnequah (I live blocks away at 5700 Winnequah). Any resident can request the city address speeding in their neighborhood and the Public Safety Committee which you chair is coming up with a process to address such requests.
Finally, I have certainly become more aware of speeding issues on our residential streets since moving from my quiet cul-de-sac tucked away over by Menard's last fall but I am frankly answering the requests and addressing the concerns we elected officials are all hearing from countless parents and school district officials when I advocate for safer streets for pedestrians and bicyclists. We are not building sidewalks anytime soon so we need to do something to provide safe passage on all streets for all citizens but in particular our children. If that requires enhanced speed enforcement, pedestrian cross walk signs and speed bumps then I will not be ashamed to advocate for the same.
Thanks.
Robb
MD postscript:
Moreover, I strongly considered not posting this comment. Why make it a matter of the mayor's influence? Does the poster really think there is not a speeding problem on Winnequah? Or maybe this person has an axe to grind, maybe if we knew their identity the complaint could be put in context. They chose not to sign their comment. I have struggled with this issue of allowing anonymous posts. On the other hand, if they signed the comment, it could deterioate into a personality conflict. And in the past when I stopped taking anonymous comments, the comments dried up altogether. I do occasionally decline to publish anonymous comments, but still lean toward letting people have their say - even when what they say is dumb.
The section of Winnebago Squaw Raod along Squaw Bay receives much more attention that other sections of 'Winnequah' Road. Why is that?
ReplyDeleteI travel the raod each day and find that the traffic along the road is consistent, usually about 30-3l mph. That pattern does not differ from upper to lower Winnebago Squaw Road.
Squaw Bay seems more influential that other parts of the road.
Power and wealth are concentrated there...QED.
I am all for less speeding on Winnequah as long as all of Winnequah is looked at. I walk often on that street, and the north end is just as bad. The Stop Sign on Monona Drive has helped, but folks still speed on that section, and the straightaway between Dean and the curve at Winnequah Trail is also deadly. So, if you are going to look at traffic calming devices- do the whole entire street.
ReplyDeleteI doubt we would tackle all of Winnequah Road in one project; too much to chew on at once.
ReplyDeleteLower Winnequah has a lot more traffic than the north end. It carries about 4600 vehicles per day. The rest of Winnequah is between 1200-1800 starting north of Maywood Park. Much of the traffic turns off at Owen/Midmoor and Maywood.
Two other collector streets, Dean and Nichols carry as much or more traffic than Winnequah, but they have sidewalks. There are no sidewalks on Winnequah.
http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/counts/docs/dane/monona2006.pdf
I have to say, as a motorist, cyclist and occasional pedestrian along this stretch, I FULLY support the Mayor's actions even though I live nowhere near this section. This shouldn't be a short-cut for people to avoid MD and the beltline, and anything that can reduce traffic flow and slow people down along this route, I'm all for it.
ReplyDelete