Bikes on Monona Drive - The Broken Part

Local biped Travis Youman sent along this comment and a link to his own blog at Stray Cat Bicycles.

Travis recently wrote a blog post about signage (particularly the "bicycles may use full lane" official MUTCD sign), and asked me whether I thought he should bring it up at the next council meeting. I said, "YES!" I did so partly because I think the signage may be a good idea and partly because I think it is worth having the discussion and partly because things have just been too damn boring around here lately.

Travis would like to do some driver (and cyclist) education, especially on Monona Drive south of Cottage Grove Road at least until the construction is completed. He says he has stirred things up at the city of Madison with Arthur Ross and Robbie Webber with regards to signage/markings/bike lanes on Monona Drive north of Cottage Grove Road.

http://www.straycatbicycles.com/blog/?p=517

Madison Bicycle/Pedestrian Committee Meeting - May 24

Local biped Travis Youman sent me this info:

The City of Madison is having a bicycle/pedestrian committee meeting on Tuesday, May 24th as they look for input on bicycle projects that they should be looking at.
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/article_01f18562-8095-11e0-ba9d-001cc4c03286.html

Travis writes:

I put my thoughts into projects that *I'd* like to see them at least take a look at (http://www.straycatbicycles.com/blog/?p=447) but the main one I'd like to focus on is expanding Monona Drive/Atwood to include bike lanes between Cottage Grove Rd and Walter St. I plan on making the case that bicycle lane projects should be looked at independently of resurfacing streets, as that section of Monona Dr doesn't need to be resurfaced any time soon (it's in great shape compared to the res of Monona Dr), which could leave us with the default "lake loop" being 95% on bike lanes/bike paths/side streets and 5% on a very bike-UNfriendly Monona Drive next year once the reconstruction from Winnequah to Cottage Grove Rd is completed.

That's also the main route that most cyclists that I know in Monona take to get either downtown or the East side of the Isthmus, so it's doubly important for Monona residents.

Nolen Centennial Project

A message from Tim Metcalfe:

As you know, we've been actively working towards a plan for the renewal of one of the community's greatest, but most underutilized assets: the John Nolen Drive corridor. Our effort is called the Nolen Centennial Project...The [first public] event will take place on Saturday, March 19 from 10 a.m. To 12 noon. It will be held at the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall. Please feel free to pass this message on to anyone you think might be interested. Everyone is welcome to attend and we're hoping for a great turnout.

Madison Borders Store is Closing

The Borders bookstore on University Avenue in Madison is closing. Sortable list is here:

http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/documents/st_borders0216_20110216.html

Three other Wisconsin stores are closing. Below is Wisconsin list from court document. (As you can see, the state abbreviation is botched as 'WS' and "W!".)

Milwaukee 101 West Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee WS 53203


Greendale 5250 S. 76th Street Greendale Wl 53129

Madison 3750 University Ave Madison Wl 53705

Fox Point 8705 N. Port Washington Fox Point W!



 

Sunny Under Attack!

According to Dave Blaska in the Isthmus, "The Left" has targeted Sunny Schubert's column in the "Monona Herald" for repression.

Who knew? Apparently there is a "campaign" to oust Sunny in Forward Lookout.

The campaign is here: http://www.forwardlookout.com/2011/01/sunny-kept-us-in-the-dark/8757/comment-page-1#comment-3354

A couple of anonymous posters on Forward Lookout led by "Jeff" really don't like Sunny or her columns. The exchange of comments on the post eventually descends into the usual "You're ugly", "You stink" level of most unmoderated anonymous comments.

I did find it interesting, in a ludicrous kind of way, that Blaska conflates anonymous Jeff with the entire Left.

Personally, I usually enjoy at least part of Sunny's columns (that's more than I can say for many writers). If you don't like her column, the remedy is at hand: don't read it.

Monona Drive - Phase III - Public Information Meeting TONIGHT

Strand Associates will be conducting a public involvement meeting for Phase III of the Monona Drive Reconstruction to gather resident and business input into the preliminary design that is currently being considered. Phase III extends from Nichols/Pflaum Road to Winnequah Road). The meeting information is as follows:

Monona Drive Phase 3 Reconstruction Public Involvement Meeting

Thursday February 3, 2011

5:00 to 8:30 p.m. (Summary Presentation at 6:15 p.m.)

Open House Format

Monona Community Center

1011 Nichols Road, Monona, WI

 Exhibits from North to South


Winnequah Road to Cold Springs



Cold Springs to Dean

Dean to Nichols/Pflaum

Monona City Council Report - January 3, 2011

The Monona city council met for the first time in 2011 last night sans the mayor who was attending the inaugural doings. As a result, I chaired the Finance meeting based on seniority and alder Wiswell chaired the council meeting as council president.

Here's the full agenda.

Here's the full packet.

Dane County Supervisor Robin Schmidt provided a very informative update on the county budget and a number of policy items. I will do a separate post on her report.


In regular business:

The council approved Resolution 10-12-1744 Amendment to Independent Contractor Agreement with Foth Infrastructure and Environment for Engineering Services for Monona Drive Phase II (Ad Hoc Monona Drive Advisory Committee). The costs will be split 50% Dane County, 25% Madison, 25% Monona. We will also pick up 100% the design costs related to Monona's water & sewer utility work.

We suspended the rules and voted on two non-controversial items:

The council approved Resolution 11-1-1746 Authorizing Right-of-Way Acquisition for Phase II of the Monona Drive Improvements (Ad Hoc Monona Drive Advisory Committee). This approval was needed so that real estate appraisals and acquisitions can commence for phase 2.

The council approved Ordinance 1-11-622 Amending Section 2-3-6 of the Code of Ordinances Concerning Municipal Court (City Clerk). The changes bring the ordiances into line with changes in state law.

We did not suspend the rules on a Resolution 11-1-1747 Approving a Renewal and Amendment to the Employment Agreement with the City Administrator (Mayor Kahl, City Attorney). The council discussed a two-year contract extension and pay raise for the city administrator in closed session. His pay would increase from $87,944 to $91,000 in 2011 and to $94,000 in 2012. Percentage-wise the raises are 3.47% and 3.2%, respectively. For the next meeting, I asked that we receive a copy of a salary survey done in the last year that covered this position and other department heads.

The council also heard a report from the city administrator of his performance reviews of the department heads.

The council approved appointments to the Sustainability Committee. Now that the committee is no longer ad hoc we needed to appoint members to the standing committee. With two exceptions, the current members were appointed to staggered 1-, 2-, and 3-year terms. George Kinsler decided not to stay on the committee because of time demands from business matters. Alder Mike Veserat indicated he could not make Thursday meetings (the committee chose the third Thursday of the month as its regular meeting date). Leslie Busse will take George's spot and alder Jim Busse will fill in for Mike at least through April.

a. Heather Gates (May 1, 2011 – April 30, 2014)

b. Jim Keck (May 1, 2011 – April 30, 2014)

c. Suzanne Wade (May 1, 2011 – April 30, 2014)

d. Nancy Moore (May 1, 2011 – April 30, 2014)

e. Nichole Hester (May 1, 2011 – April 30, 2013

f. Peter McKeever (May 1, 2011 – April 30, 2013)

g. Bert Slinde (May 1, 2011 – April 30, 2013)

h. Bob Miller (May 1, 2011 – April 30, 2012)

i. Pat Howell (May 1, 2011 – April 30, 2012)

j. Leslie Busse (effective immediately – April 30, 2012)

k. Alderman Jim Busse (effective immediately through April 18, 2011).

Remember the Simpson Street Free Press

Monona's own Dave Zweifel had an excellent column today highlighting the great things that they accomplish at the Simpson Street Free Press and their need for community support.

Dave described the paper thus:

I tell you all this to point out just how unique the Simpson Street Free Press program is. It’s one of the few success stories in bridging that stubborn racial learning gap. The 35 to 40 students involved in the program at any one time almost immediately see their grades rise in school and virtually all of them end up going to college. The kids are a cross-section of Madison youth today -- African-Americans, Hispanics, Asian-Americans and whites. The program isn’t about games and filling in time to keep kids busy, but about academics and learning.


The young people apply for “jobs” on the Free Press, which include working on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings researching topics, interviewing sources and putting together stories on what they’ve discovered. The paper’s founder and executive director, Jim Kramer, and a team of mostly Free Press alumni, require the staffers to seek perfection by writing and rewriting, sometimes seven or eight times. Despite the rigorous standards, there’s a waiting list of kids trying to get in the program.

About themselves, the Simpson Street Free Press writes:

Free Press student reporters learn practical skills that help them to do better in school. They learn to research, write, question, and think critically. But much more in accomplished with each new stroke at their keyboard. Our writers are authentic role models and youth leaders. They deliver positive messages of achievement and success to thousands of their peers. You can support this important work by joining Friends of the Simpson Street Free Press, advertising with us, joining the Red Rack Express Club or becoming a sponsor. While our publications are well-known and popular, and our task is large, we are a small organization with a modest budget. Community support is crucial to our success.

Sound like the kind of thing you want to support? Of course it does.

So get on over to http://www.simpsonstreetfreepress.org/friend and sign up to be a 'friend' of the paper. You can quickly make a donation online through PayPal or your credit or debit card.

While you're there you can check out a recent feature story, Wisconsin Landmark Saved From Destruction about the Baraboo Ridge by Annie Shao, age 16.

***

I blogged about this youth-run newspaper located in Monona's South Towne Mall (in the strip mall next to Happy Wok) about a year ago. (As I noted then, Lake Point Drive used to be called Simpson Street and it was also one of the roughest parts of Madison.).

New Bike Path Over the Beltline

Great news for area bikers. According to madison.com, a new bike path will extend across the Beltline and eventually connect with the Military ridge Trail.

"In Dane County, about $2.5 million will help cover costs of a 4-mile Cannonball Path, which will cross the Beltline on Madison's South Side and run on an abandoned Union Pacific rail bed through Fitchburg to the Military Ridge Trail."

This trail provides a much needed additional safe route across the Beltline for bikers.

That Other Referendum Question

While the train haters are busy getting their freak on next Tuesday over a question that nobody could love, there is a real referendum question on the ballot that really will impact your taxes and the quality of life in Dane County: The MATC, err, Madison College referendum.

Madison.com ran a story this week giving the essentials. Madison College has its own bloggish website that it calls its Smart Community Plan. Holy cats! Their last referendum was in 1974.

According to madison.com:

"Madison Area Technical College will be asking voters on Nov. 2 for the green light to borrow up to $133.8 million for new construction. The bonds would take 20 years to pay off. If the referendum passes, taxes on the average home in Madison, valued at $245,424, would increase by $33.10."

Yes, it's a bad time to ask voters to raise their taxes, but it is also a very smart time to borrow money for needed capital projects.

Gadzooks, even the Herald Independent - amidst their endorsement of every Republican and conservative talking point in sight - supports this referendum. And don't blame - or credit - Adam and the gang at the Herald for these endorsements; they come from the publisher.


What do you think?

This came in the mail today:

More RTA?

I posted the following over on the Rag and then I thought, why am I giving away this good stuff?

I wanted to respond to one comment in your post and make a couple other observations: "I point out that Wood the is legal counsel for the State Office of the Commissioner of Railroads – so I would think it would make him a natural cheerleader for this project."


No, my agency is basically a quasi-judicial regulatory body. I have no rooting interest. Our primary focus is rail-highway crossing safety (highway being any type of public street, path, road, etc.). We don't run projects, like high-speed rail (HSR) or commuter rail or highway projects . Other agencies do that, like DOT, RTA, or municipalities. We get involved when those projects require changes to public rail-highway crossings.

I personally like the HSR project. It will tie us into the Chicago Hub Network of Midwest cities connected by HSR. It should not be viewed as a Madison to Milwaukee project - no, Madison is really not the center of the known Universe. I doubt I will take the train to Milwaukee very often, but would certainly take it to Chicago. On the other hand, I'm not sold on commuter rail. Will people ride a train to get from the far east side to the far west side in sufficient numbers to make it worthwhile? Maybe, maybe not. I sort of look at it like a new roadway going through the Isthmus - imagine how much that would cost even if it were feasible. But how many trips per day will this new road carry?


In any event, whether I think these passenger rail projects are a good idea or not really has nothing to do with my job of evaluating the safety impact.

The high-speed rail (HSR) project is an entirely separate project from the commuter trains. However, commuter trains would run on the same tracks as the inter-city HSR trains. So clearly, any future commuter train operation would significantly benefit from the money spent in the HSR project to upgrade the tracks, signals, stations, etc.

The RTA was, in fact, created partly to aid the County's funding application to the Federal Transit Administration for commuter rail funds. The FTA would not consider the application until there was a governing structure and a funding source. The "Falk letter" that has everyone's tights in a knot was basically in aid of that application.


BUT, the RTA is NOT only about trains.

I actually blogged this issue three years ago:

http://mononadoug.blogspot.com/2007/08/rta-update.html

http://mononadoug.blogspot.com/2007/08/more-on-rta-and-commuter-rail.html

Here is the estimated breakdown of expenditures at that time.


§ Bus service for Madison and surrounding communities – 25%

§ Town, Village, City and County road maintenance – 25%

§ Commuter rail – 33%

§ Rail/Bus Enhancements/County-wide Paratransit/Bike Transit – 16%


As it has now developed, the road maintenance part could not be funded by the sales tax under the law that created the RTA.

There's something about trains. A whiff of diesel makes a lot of people get goofy. We call them "foamers" or "FRNs". I never got that; to me it's just another way to move people.

Cari Fuss' Perspective on Monona's Loan and Grant Programs

I asked former CDA Chair Cari Fuss to add her thoughts and she graciously sent the following:


Hi Doug,

Thanks for the follow up on these programs. These programs are critical to the stability of our tax base, now and into the future.

We do not qualify as a community for many of the programs that larger cities like Madison do, simply because of our population, housing stock, and city staffing levels. The City of Madison has an entire department dedicated to forwarding the cause of affordable housing and working on Block Grant programs (and other things like the ill-fated “IZ” program) that are funded with local AND federal dollars. The last time I visited that office in the course of business it was staffed with four or more full time employees. In Monona, we simply don't have the resources to staff City Hall in that way, and as such, volunteers like those who are appointed to the CDA work on these types of issues in a part time capacity under the direction of City Council.

As I researched options for our community in my time on the CDA, it was apparent to me that we needed to pursue options that allowed us to initiate a program where the rules could be written by OUR community, and not mandated by the federal government (as is the case with many of the HUD programs) due to the fact that it would be difficult for us to accomplish many of the program mandates.

Also, my research led me to believe that many federally funded programs will potentially be at risk in the future as funding sources are strained and budget issues arise - and, many of the programs are competitive, meaning that Monona may not qualify now or in the long term.

As such, using the change to state law that allowed the extension of TIF for this purpose accomplishes much for our community that we wouldn't otherwise be able to achieve. We write the rules and we control the funds. AND, we have a solid, predictable funding source that will grow as we experience continued success in our commercial development areas. Not to mention that there is a pay-it-forward mentality here, in that the monies come back to us when ownership changes occur or in 10 years, whichever comes first. So, we get the money back AFTER the investment in the housing stock is made, and we turn around and lend it out again for further improvement and investment.

And the other poster is right.....it's pretty easy in Madison if you dig, which is why we are building a program now that is easy and will continue to grow for Monona. Please contact City Hall to discuss updated forecasts with our City Finance Director, Marc Houttaker - but when I left the CDA, our forecasts predicted a revolving fund that should grow to several hundred thousand dollars (a boon for a community of our size) within the next 5 or 6 years. I won't go into details here, but I am sure City staff can fill you in.

Which brings me to the business Facade Grant program. Our community relies heavily on our commercial tax base to make things like fire and ambulance service, trash pickup, water and sewer services, road and utility reconstruction, excellent city parks and public facilities such as our pool and a quality school district possible and affordable for our relatively small community. Fostering development and continuous improvement in our commercial tax base is critical to the future of our community, and Facade Grant programs are often successful in creating additional investment, and thereby tax base, than might otherwise occur.

Again, I won't bore you with the details, but as we studied North Monona Drive at the CDA level, it was very apparent that over time, investment and/or reinvestment has not occurred in this commercial area of our community. Call City Staff to discuss how that has negatively impacted the average homeowner's tax bill in our community. You will be very surprised. This lack of reinvestment has created a notable lack of equality in tax assessment growth when compared to other areas in our commercial tax base. We must continue to be proactive as a community about pursuing, funding, and encouraging opportunities for businesses investing in our community, now and in the long term.

Please remember that for every dollar that we invest in our community's real estate and business growth and improvement, there is a return. And, even if that return only guarantees stability (which is probably the case in an economy such as we are experiencing now and which should be accomplished through the checks and balances associated with our application and underwriting processes), that puts us ahead of many (if not most!) of our peer communities state wide.

These issues are difficult and there are many moving parts to both the problems and the potential solutions. I understand where some of the previous posters' "questioning" comes in - isn't it that way it is with any new program? I would encourage people to ask questions and get involved and find out how you can participate and/or benefit. The Renew Monona housing program will be significant for our community and will provide a model for other communities across the state who struggle with the very same issues that we do.

Thanks for the opportunity to provide some clarity on these programs. As I work in communities throughout Dane County, it is apparent that Monona's progressive and aggressive approach to dealing with our aging housing stock and growth in our commercial sector will benefit ALL of us who pay taxes well into the future.

Sincerely,


Cari Fuss

Tammy Baldwin Wins Award for Service to Local Governments

Thanks to Jim Guilfoil for passing along this good news. Jim urges us to write to Barry Orton at the WaxingAmerica.org website and thank him for his efforts in support of community access telecom legislation.



Tammy Baldwin To Receive Jane Lawton Award From NATOA

I'm really pleased about this: next month Rep. Tammy Baldwin will receive the Jane E Lawton Commemorative Award from the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA). NATOA presents the award annually to an elected official to recognize extraordinary service on behalf of local governments and communities throughout the United States. It was created in memory of the Honorable Jane E. Lawton, who served as Mayor of Chevy Chase, MD; Delegate to the Maryland State House; and President of NATOA.

NATOA selected Baldwin for her continued support for local government in communications, most notably the introduction of the Community Access Preservation Act (H.R. 3745).

- Barry Orton

Dane County RTA Status

In light of the proposed advisory referendum on the Monona city council agenda, I did some poking around to find out what is going on with the RTA.  This task turned out to be a lot harder than I had imagined because there is very little information available, partly because not much has happened.

The Monona City council referred the matter to the Transit Committee with a vote by the council expected on September 20.

The RTA Board does not have any staff or its own website. The meetings are posted on the Dane County website. Let me repeat that: The RTA Board has NO staff. How does one go about starting a new regional transit agency with no staff? Of course, the state budget provided no funding and no one else has stepped up with any funding. Does this strike anyone else as nuts?

In terms of the RTA’s transit plan, the RTA Board has created a committee to put that together, but the committee is still in the information gathering stage and developing the principles/criteria to use in putting it together.

The Madison Area Transportation Planning Board (MPO) has created a staff advisory committee for a 5-year transit plan that the MPO prepares in close cooperation with Metro Transit staff. The scope of that effort was expanded to include development of transit service improvement scenarios for consideration by the RTA in developing the plan the RTA will take to the voters before the referendum is held. The focus of that effort thus far has been on bus service improvements.

It is also very possible that the rail plan, assuming it is part of the mix, will change given the implementation of intercity rail in the corridor.

Perhaps we should conduct other advisory referendums on matters over which the city has no control and which address hypothetical plans that don't exist. (Before anyone brings it up, yes, I supported the Iraq war refenedum back in in 2004 (?), but the supporters for that referendum had some 700 signatures). Would any of the three Monona alder sponsors support referenda on other hypothetical questions?

Or perhaps there are political motivations at work, such as in using these referenda to energize the Republican base and drive up voter turnout in November, which may be good political stratgey, but it's not a reason to hold a referendum. The RTA Board will hold a referendum in good time

Slow, no-wake order continues on Lake Monona

Update: Lake Monona dropped 0.01' to 846.90' as July 27.

See the madison.com story.


"Lake levels on Monday morning were higher than the targeted maximum levels on all four lakes.


Lake Mendota was at 851.34 feet above sea level, with a targeted maximum of 850.10 feet; Lake Monona was at 846.91 feet, targeted at 845.20 feet; Lake Waubesa was at 846.42 feet, targeted at 845 feet; and Lake Kegonsa was at 843.68 feet, targeted at 843.50 feet."

The order only applies to Lake Monona. This morning's lake level on Lake Monona hasn't been posted yet.

Slow No Wake Order on Lake Monona

According to a post by Scott Beedy on Channel3000's community web pages a slow, no wake order has been issued for Lake Monona..
http://mononagrove.channel3000.com/content/slow-no-wake-order-imposed-lake-monona

Dane County press release: http://www.countyofdane.com/press/details.aspx?id=2228

This order is only for Lake Monona and not any other lakes in the Yahara Chain. It went into effect at sunrise, Saturday July 24th.

Lake Monona was at el. 846.9' this morning (July 25), up 0.63' since July 22.

***

The Yahara Lakes Legacy Partnership is looking for input on the lakes. Go to Yahara Lakes Legacy Partnership. The meeting has been held, but it is NOT too late. Read the materials that are posted and complete the survey monkey.

Starkweather Creek Bike Trail

I discovered the Starkweather Creek Bike Trail today. It runs along - yes - Starkweather Creek. It goes over East Wash and USH 30 on the fancy bike bridges. Here are some pix. More are posted here at Photobucket.

Airing out the wings

High water flowing fast

View from the East Wash bridge

Robin Roberts Field
Who uses it??
The MATC Madison College Wolfpack

Starkweather Creek neighbors at work

Madison city bike map.

Thom Evans

Monona resident, former Madison teacher, parent, husband, and all around good guy Thom Evans took a very nasty spill off his bike recently. He went for a ride around Lake Monona and ended up with broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a blood clot in his brain. He's recovering in the UW hospital.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/thomevans

Keep his daughters Mara, Elena, and Jenna and wife Kim Miller in your thoughts and in your heart.

Strand Associates Picked for Phase Three Engineering Services

The Ad Hoc Monona Drive Committee met this morning to interview three candidates for Phase Three Monona Drive engineering services. The Committee unanimously selected Strand Associates over Foth and Graef.

Phase Three extends from the Pflaum/Nichols intersection north to Winnequah Road and is the middle section of the Monona Drive corridor. Phase Three is the final phase and is planned for construction in 2013. Phase One, extending from Broadway to Pflaum/Nichols, will be completed later this fall and Phase Two (Winnequah to Cottage Grove Road) is scheduled for 2011 2012.

The recommendation must be formally approved by the respective governing bodies of city of Madison, Monona, and Dane County, but each of those entities are represented on the Committee.

MDC Agenda July 10

MDC Packet July 10

Cottage Grove Road Closed

According to my information, Cottage Grove Road will be closed to all traffic for most of this week at the railroad tracks located immediately west of Stoughton Road. The railroad plans to completely rebuild the crossing, which requires closure of the roadway. This work typically takes at least five days, but my understanding is the railroad plans to try and complete the project by Wednesday (July 14). (Don't know if the project started this morning or not.)