Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution seeks to combine several existing capital programs into a new program called Safe Streets Madison. The capital programs consolidated to create the new program are:
• Neighborhood Traffic Management & Pedestrian Improvements, Engineering - Major Streets
• Safe Routes to School, Engineering - Bicycle and Pedestrian
• Ped/Bike Enhancement, Engineering - Bicycle and Pedestrian
• Vision Zero, Traffic Engineering
The new Safe Streets Madison program would be located within Traffic Engineering’s capital budget. The changes represent a transfer and would not change overall budget amounts. The 2022 Capital Budget is currently being developed. If not reflected in the 2022 Executive Capital budget, the above changes would need to be made through an amendment prior to budget adoption or a separate resolution after adoption.
Title
Adopting the Joint Transportation Commission and Transportation Policy and Planning Board Traffic Calming Subcommittee Final Report and all of the included Priority Recommendations, implementing the new Safe Streets Madison program, and terminating the existing Neighborhood Traffic Management Program
Body
WHEREAS, the Joint Transportation Commission and Transportation Policy and Planning Board Traffic Calming Subcommittee was created by the Transportation Commission and the Transportation Policy and Planning Board, with the Joint Resolution approved by the Transportation Policy and Planning Board on February 3, 2020 and approved by the Transportation Commission on February 12, 2020; and,
WHEREAS, Subcommittee members included Brigit Brown (Subcommittee Vice Chair), Ald. Grant Foster, Harald Kliems, and Tom Wilson (Subcommittee Chair); Subcommittee alternate members included Bill Bremer and Ann Kovich; and former Subcommittee members included Badrinath Lankella; and the Subcommittee was staffed by Renee Callaway, City Pedestrian Bicycle Administrator, Patrick McGuigan, Recording Secretary, Thomas Mohr, Traffic Engineer, and Yang Tao, City Traffic Engineer; and,
WHEREAS, the Subcommittee first convened on July 16, 2020 (since Subcommittee meetings were delayed by the pandemic) and met over a series of twenty-nine (29) meetings to review significant background information, outline a work plan, and develop Priority Recommendations regarding opportunities to improve traffic safety and pedestrian and bicycle connectivity and safety; and,
WHEREAS, the Subcommittee was tasked with developing and issuing a Final Report that identifies opportunities to improve outcomes and processes related to: traffic calming, safety enhancements, and pedestrian and bicycle system enhancements in the City of Madison (including, but not limited to, the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program and the Pedestrian Bicycle Enhancements Program), with a goal of equitable distribution of resources that improves safety and encourages increased walking and biking across the city; and,
WHEREAS, Section V of the Subcommittee’s Final Report contains Priority Recommendations in the following focus areas:
• Creation of the New Program - Safe Streets Madison
• Safe Streets Madison Program Priorities
• Balancing Priorities in the Safe Streets Madison Program
• Prioritizing and Evaluating Requests in the Safe Streets Madison Program
• Determining Solutions and Interventions in the Safe Streets Madison Program
• Potential Barriers to Safe Streets Madison
• Implementation of the Safe Streets Madison Program; and
WHEREAS, as noted in the Priority Recommendations shown in Section V of the Final Report, several existing programs and projects are being consolidated into the new Safe Streets Madison program; and beginning with the 2022 City budget, the budget accounts and/or funding for these existing programs and projects would also be consolidated into available funding for the new Safe Streets Madison program; and,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that pursuant to M.G.O. Section 2.27 the Common Council adopts the Final Report of the Joint Transportation Commission and Transportation Policy and Planning Board Traffic Calming Subcommittee, including the Priority Recommendations shown in Section V of the Final Report; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City shall implement the new Safe Streets Madison program as described in the Final Report under the direction of the City Traffic Engineer with cooperation from all appropriate City departments and divisions; and,
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that in order to create the new Safe Streets Madison program as outlined in the Priority Recommendations shown in Section V of the Final Report, the City shall terminate the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program, which was created by resolution as approved by the Common Council on August 19, 1997, and that any traffic safety functions associated with that program shall be transferred into the Safe Streets Madison program.