Construction, traffic, street width, planning, underground utilities, trees, etc.
Jenifer St. Reconstruction meeting #2
Wednesday, January 21, 2015 @ 6:00 pm
Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center
953 Jenifer Street
There will be a second meeting to gain neighbor comment on the Jenifer Street reconstruction project to take place, April-November, or so. City Engineering is planning the street and utility replacement project for Jenifer from Spaight to S. Few Street; S. Paterson from Williamson to Spaight; S. Brearly from Williamson to Jenifer; and S. Few from Williamson to Spaight. The proposed project will include assessments to the adjacent properties.
Below is an email that was sent on Jan. 17th to City Engineering and Alder Rummel. In the email MNA asks some specific questions that MNA would like addressed at the meeting.
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Hello All,
Thank you for scheduling another public meeting following comments from the Jan. 5 presentation regarding the city of Madison’s proposal to reconstruct portions of Jenifer, Paterson, Brearly, and Few Streets. We’re looking forward to another neighborhood discussion on the 21st. The Marquette Neighborhood Association (MNA) met on January 15, 2015 and discussed the city of Madison’s proposal. The MNA Board would like more information on several topics including:
1. Construction Methods.
– Please provide a comparison of traditional construction methods/machinery vs. using special methods/machinery for roads in a historic neighborhood. Please compare cost and other issues to consider when weighing this decision.
– It is our understanding the RFP will include language addressing concerns for damage to historic buildings. MNA would like the opportunity to review the RFP language before it is finalized and published.
- Traffic Flow.
– Transit Cooperative Research Program, Report 65 Evaluation of Bus Bulbs, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 2001.http://nacto.org/docs/usdg/tcrprpt65_fitzpatrick.pdf questions bus bulbs use at farside bus stops and for two-laned streets. Please provide information on why those changes were deemed appropriate for Jenifer Street.
– There have been comments about “testing” the proposed bus stop locations before designing a street around their locations. Is that something the city of Madison would consider? - Construction Schedule.
– It is our understanding that the RFP will include language addressing work during the Orton Park Festival and Farmer’s Market. MNA would like to review the RFP language before it’s finalized and published. - Street Width.
– At the January 5, 2015 public meeting, limited information was provided on the reasons for reducing the width of the street. Please provide the reasoning behind the initial proposal. For example, was amount of pavement and heat sink or tree health a reason? What is the average width for this type of street? How does Jenifer Street compare? - Planning.
– How does the street reconstruction proposal meet the goals of the Madison Sustainability Plan?
– How can the reconstruction best create space? For example, could we consider mural paintings, innovative stormwater techniques, space for bike racks, etc. - Undergrounding Utilities.
– We would like more information on the specific costs for undergrounding utilities. Are there areas or street intersections were the cost is lower? Are the costs the same for all the blocks?
– Is there a way to underground portions to protect existing trees or provide limited options for canopy trees? - Canopy Trees.
– Can some of the trees to be replaced be canopy trees? Here’s some info from the Urban Forestry Council report: Trees improve air quality, reduce storm water runoff, increase property values, reduce noise, reduce home cooling costs. 100 large trees over 40 years net $231,000.
Sincerely,
Lynn Lee
MNA President
(since this email was sent additional questions about alternatives to undergrounding such as “tree wire” or alternative wire placement have been raised with Alder Rummel and MG&E. For “tree wire” see:
http://www.ect.coop/emerging-technologies/r-d/tree-wire-technology-passes-test/54039 )
