Fiscal Note
No Appropriation Required.
Title
Authorizing the City to extend the Southwest Bike Path agreement with the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the South Central Wisconsin Rail Transit Commission for an additional 20 years. (4th, 5th, 8th, 10th, 11th & 13th ADs)
Body
The City of Madison, the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the South Central Wisconsin Rail Transit Commission (SCWRTC) have an existing Interim Rail Use/Rail Banking Agreement which allows for the City’s use and development of approximately 6 miles of banked rail corridor as the Southwest Path. This 20 year agreement expires on April 26, 2020, but the agreement includes a clause which allows the City, with at least one year’s advance notice, to request an extension of the agreement for an additional 20 years.
The Southwest Bike Path is an important transportation and recreation corridor for the City as it sees over 2600 users per day, during the months of April through October. The Southwest Path extends for roughly 6 miles from where it connects with the Military Ridge Trail in Fitchburg to the connection with the Capital City Trail at Brittingham Park (North Shore Dr.). It provides access for the southwest parts of the City to and from the UW Campus area, downtown, as well as connections to other schools, residential and commercial areas.
Recognizing its importance to the transportation network, the City has continued to make significant investments in the Southwest Path. This includes maintenance and resurfacing of the pavement, maintenance and repairs of adjacent walls, railings and bridges, installation of lighting, improved connections and access to cross streets and adjacent bike and pedestrian facilities, as well as improved street crossings of the SW path to promote safer and easier use of the path. As the City continues to grow and densify in the downtown areas, the Southwest Path will become only more important to the transportation network of the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Engineer is authorized to request, on behalf of the City of Madison, a 20-year extension of the Southwest Path agreement.