Fiscal Note
No City appropriation required.
Title
Responding to WisDOT recommendation on North Stoughton Road Project regarding Schmedeman Ave (District 12).
Body
WHEREAS; the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has been conducting a study of the North Stoughton Road corridor and has released a draft of its preferred alternative for public comment; and
WHEREAS; WisDOT has been a good partner by involving City of Madison staff and incorporating many features within the preferred alternative that were requested by the City; and
WHEREAS; WisDOT’s draft preferred alternative removes westbound left turn movements from East Washington Avenue (US 151) onto Schmedeman Avenue, as well as east- and westbound left turns from Schmedeman Avenue onto East Washington Avenue, due to projected traffic delay (level of service E and F) at this intersection by 2050; and
WHEREAS; this intersection currently allows for turning movements in all directions, and eliminating the westbound left turn movement would result in significant detours for motorists, requiring an additional mile of travel, a U-turn at Reindahl Avenue, or potentially encouraging illegal use of the eastbound opening; and
WHEREAS; pedestrian crossings-frequently used by students traveling to and from Hawthorne Elementary-currently exist on both the east and west sides of Schmedeman Avenue, where the City recently installed Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) to enhance safety; and
WHEREAS; City staff believe that alternative solutions to the westbound left at Schmedeman are either impractical or pose greater hazards to the traveling public; and
WHEREAS; eliminating the westbound left turn onto Schmedeman Avenue would substantially reduce the accessibility and potential economic value of properties that rely on this movement, hindering future economic development and conflicting with the City’s comprehensive and area plans; and
WHEREAS; several left turn movements on East Washington Avenue currently operate at similar levels of service (E and F) today without removal; and
WHEREAS; prioritizing vehicle level of service over safety, connectivity, and economic development goals contradicts the City’s long-term planning objectives; and
WHEREAS; the City of Madison has successfully mitigated operational concerns at similar intersections, such as Livingston Street/East Washington Avenue and Hilldale Way/University Avenue by installing partial signals;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Madison opposes the elimination of the westbound left turn from East Washington Avenue onto Schmedeman Avenue, as it places an undue burden on property owners, hinders future economic development, and creates unintended safety hazards for both drivers and pedestrians; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Madison requests that WisDOT retain the westbound left turn from East Washington Avenue onto Schmedeman Avenue within the preferred alternative, retain the existing marked crosswalk and RRFB, with the understanding that future traffic conditions may require partial signalization of the intersection.