Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution petitions the Commissioner of Railroads for crossing improvements related to Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). No City appropriation is required. Any future costs associated with improvements would be funded within Transportation's existing capital budget for BRT.
Title
Petition to the Commissioner of Railroads for BRT improvements (5th, 6th, 8th, and 12th ADs)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Madison proposes to alter and improve the at-grade crossings of University Avenue, Randall Avenue, and East Washington Avenue, public streets, with the tracks of the Wisconsin Southern Railroad, and;
WHEREAS, section 346.45 Wisconsin statutes requires certain specified vehicles, such as fuel trucks, school buses, and municipal buses, to stop at rail-highway crossings unless posted with an exempt sign, and;
WHEREAS, the crossings of East Washington Avenue are used school buses, municipal buses, fuel trucks, and other vehicles required to stop at all non-exempt rail-highway crossings, and;
WHEREAS, Section 195.285 Wisconsin Statutes authorizes the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads to determine whether it would be in the public interest to exempt vehicles specified in section 346.45 Wisconsin Statutes from stopping at such grade crossing, and;
WHEREAS, the exemption of the East Washington Avenue crossings would be in the public interest, particularly in light of the planned east-west bus rapid transit line and its associated improvements, and;
WHEREAS, the alteration of the crossing is necessary to promote public safety and convenience by accommodating changes that will benefit the East-West bus rapid transit line, and;
WHEREAS, Sections 195.28 and 195.29 Wisconsin Statutes authorize the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads to determine whether the alteration of the crossing is necessary to promote public safety and convenience, to determine the necessary warning devices for the new crossing, and to apportion all costs for the crossing, i...
Click here for full text