Fiscal Note
No appropriation is required.
Title
SUBSTITUTE-Recommending that the public railroad crossings at Blount Street, Brearly Street and Livingston Street remain open to motor vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians.
Body
WHEREAS the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad Company (WSOR) has filed a petition with the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Railroads to close three public railroad track crossings owned by the Union Pacific Railroad and operated by the WSOR at Blount Street, Brearly Street and Livingston Street in the City of Madison; and
WHEREAS the 2006 City of Madison Comprehensive Plan includes specific recommendations to maintain and enhance transportation connectivity and provide multiple convenient routes to most community and neighborhood destinations for motor vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians; and
WHEREAS the 2004 East Rail Corridor Plan provides land use and preliminary design recommendations for long-term development and redevelopment within a planning area bounded generally by Blair Street, East Washington Avenue, the Yahara River and the southern mid-block line of East Wilson Street; and
WHEREAS the 2008 East Washington Avenue Capital Gateway Corridor Plan expands upon the East Rail Corridor Plan to provide revised and more-detailed land use and urban design recommendations to guide future development and redevelopment on the blocks along the north and south frontages of East Washington Avenue between Blair Street and First Street; and
WHEREAS the City of Madison has initiated multiple activities to implement the recommendations of its adopted plans for this portion of the east isthmus, including creation of Tax Incremental Finance District 36, adoption of an ordinance establishing detailed design requirements and guidelines for Urban Design District 8, acceptance of the Final Report of the Central Park Design and Implementation Task Force as a supplement to the Comprehensive Plan, and hiring consultants to prepare a detailed economic development plan and strategy to promote redevelopment of the area; and
WHEREAS as a result of these and other implementation activities this former industrial corridor is expected to experience significant employment, commercial and residential investment and redevelopment over the coming years; and
WHEREAS successful revitalization of the Capitol Gateway and East Rail Corridors depends to an important degree on creating and maintaining convenient, engaging connections between the multiple types of activities existing and planned within these areas, and between them and the adjacent Williamson Street-Marquette and Tenney-Lapham neighborhoods, specifically including maintaining the existing north-south street connections across the isthmus.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Madison recommends that the public railroad track crossings at Blount Street, Brearly Street, and Livingston Street remain open to motor vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians to provide safe, convenient access and circulation and support existing and planned developments in the East Washington Avenue Capitol Gateway Corridor, the East Rail Corridor and the adjacent neighborhoods.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Madison supports the establishment of a new pedestrian, bicycle and limited vehicular access railroad grade crossing to planned Central Park at Few Street, as recommended by the Central Park Design and Implementation Task Force.