Traffic Updates, Impending Changes to Metro Fare & Public Meeting, Wage Equity for Municipal Employees Plus Meeting & Event Highlights for the Week of July 19, 2021

Greetings friends and neighbors, 

This week’s updates are abbreviated after a very long (last) week. I want to acknowledge the many comments I have received regarding the proposed BRT stations on State Street and the Capitol Square. I look forward to sharing my thoughts in an upcoming blog but still have much research to do to educate myself on the issue. 

Shoutout to the Elvehjem Neighborhood Association (ENA) who has been working with the City Parks Division and the Madison Skatepark Fund regarding the proposal for bringing an All Wheels Spot to Elvehjem Park! To be as transparent as possible, the ENA has created a webpage on their website to provide information for those interested in learning more. As new information and Q&A rolls in, the page will be updated. 

I hope you all have an enjoyable week ahead. I, for one, am extremely excited and hopeful for a #Bucksin6 (or NBA championship period) outcome!

(Quite possibly the best block I have seen in my lifetime)

-Jael 

Traffic Updates of Importance/Relevance to District 16

Felland Road

Starting last week as of 7/14/21, Felland Road will be closed to thru traffic between Lien Road and Burke Road for the construction of a roundabout at the Felland Road and Tranquility Trail intersection, located from 5067 Felland Road to just south of 5128 Felland Road.   The road will be closed for the duration of the construction, which is expected to be completed in mid-October.

Project details and updates can be found on the project webpage: https://www.cityofmadison.com/engineering/projects/felland-road-and-tranquility-trail-roundabout

County AB/Buckeye Road to south of the Beltline interchange

I-39/90 traffic shifted from Buckeye Road south through the Beltline interchange (Exit 142 A-B). Please be alert for lane shifts and reduced speed limits.

? ?I-39/90 northbound lanes shifted to the right after passing through the Beltline interchange.

? Southbound lanes are shifted to the outside through the Beltline interchange.

? Traffic from US 12/18 ramps to I-39/90 northbound shifted onto new concrete pavement from Femrite Drive to the railroad bridge.

If it’s of interest, feel free to check out the updated I-39/90 and Beltline interchange construction operations. This construction project is anticipated to be completed in November 2021. 

Madison Metro Public Meeting

Madison Metro is looking at replacing its current fare collection system in the coming years and will be hosting an introductory public meeting Wednesday, July 21 at 6:00 pm. Register Here to Attend the Meeting. At this meeting, staff will introduce what kind of new technology is out there and explain how collecting fares can be improved upon through smart cards, purchase kiosks and possibly mobile ticketing. The meeting will be recorded and available at https://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/fares/public-meeting-new-fare-technology-and-policies, shortly after the meetings end. 

This will be the first of many meetings as Metro moves through the procurement process. A public hearing is expected to be scheduled in August. Metro staff will also be available to speak to smaller agencies & groups on an ongoing basis to answer questions and gather input. Those can be scheduled by emailing mymetrobus@cityofmadison.com.  

The Committee on Employee Relations will be meeting Thursday July 28th to discuss the issue of wage equity for non(union) represented municipal employees. Myself and 6 other Council members signed on as co-sponsors to the mayor’s proposal to catch non- union represented city employees up to protective service (policy & fire) employees. Currently, protective service employees receive 6% more in wages than non-represented employees. You may have read the following article this past week regarding employees' response and views regarding the above mentioned resolution. https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/citys-nonunion-employees-challenge-mayors-plan-for-wage-parity-with-unions/article_60994521-880d-55bd-b9ea-6904d376f18f.html. Last week my colleague Ald. Keith Furman stated, “ Even while dealing with a huge structural budget deficit, I’m committed to finding ways to achieve wage equity. I have a great deal of respect and appreciation for our City employees,” and I couldn’t agree more with him. 

Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of July 19, 2021

Preview of Metro Transit Redesign of Coverage and Ridership

On Monday July 19th, the Transportation Commission and the Transportation Policy and Planning Board will be discussing a preview of proposed Metro Transit Redesign maps at their joint meeting on Monday. View the Meeting agenda,  Meeting details and/or  Register to Provide Public Comment

Housing Snapshot Report

The Housing Strategy Committee will be discussing the Housing Snapshot Report at its meeting on Thursday July 22nd. View the Meeting agenda, Meeting details and/or Register to Provide Public Comment.

For additional information about additional meetings scheduled for this week, please consult the City Meeting Schedule online here.

Events, activities, seminars, etc.

• Movies in the Park have begun! Bring your chair or blanket July 20 for Aladdin at Allied Park, 2370 Revival Ridge.  Find details about the event here. Visit Madison Parks for more movies in other Madison neighborhoods.

•  It Takes a Village. This Community Resource Fair focuses on bringing the community together in a fun environment to learn about services available on the south side of Madison. Stop by Penn Park between 12-5pm on Tuesday, July 20th to meet new librarians from Goodman South Madison, enjoy a cookout, get free books from the Madison Reading Project and engage with other public servants. Madison Reading Project will be onsite from 2-5pm (free books while supplies last). Learn more here. 

• Upcoming, public-facing COVID-19 mobile vaccine clinics, as organized by Public Health Madison & Dane County:

o   Saturday 7/17: Dane County Fair, 10-3 pm

o   Sunday 7/18: Rookie’s Food and Spirits, Mazomanie, 12-3 pm

o   Monday 7/19: Mercado Marimar, 11-1 pm

o   Tuesday 7/20: Penn Park, 12-5 pm

o   Tuesday 7/20: Luke House, 11-1 pm

o   Wednesday 7/21: WisCares Vet Clinic, 12-3 pm

o   Thurs 7/22: The Beacon, 9-11:30 am

o   Thurs 7/22: Luke House, 5-7 pm

Vaccination appointments and walk-ins are also available at multiple public health clinic locations. Please see the Public Health website for details. You can find details and see a map of all upcoming public clinics on the Public Health website. Public Health Madison & Dane County’s COVID-19 Data Snapshot is released every Thursday. You can read their weekly blog post for a summary of the week’s data. For a weekly summary of talking points around COVID-19 in Dane County, please check out Public Health’s hot topics document in their Google Drive.

•  The second event in Madison Public Library’s “Live Well@Your Library” in-person wellness series will be a multicultural, multigenerational and multisensory experience outdoors at Meadowood Park (located near Meadowridge Library) on July 25.  Children's activities will also be included so busy parents or caregivers can enjoy the event. Drop in or stay for the whole event!  Learn more here.

• Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development will host their 3rd Annual Reentry Conference on September 16, 2021. Reentry refers to the transition of residents from prisons or jails back into the community. Hear from leaders in the field such as Catoya Roberts, John Eason, and Carl Wesley, plus engage with numerous panel discussions on the vital topics in reentry services. As always, we bring together those working in the criminal justice system and those impacted by the system for real talk that leads to action. Come to the conference to learn, engage, network and build action plans.  Register Here for the Conference

Announcements, press releases, press conferences, etc.

• The City has launched a new webpage for the American Rescue Plan Act (www.cityofmadison.com/arpa) to provide information about the planned allocation of federal funds to support an equitable recovery and continue to provide government services. The City will host two information sessions to share information about the annual budget process and address funding allocations outlined in the plan. The information sessions will take place on July 22nd (4:30-6:30pm) and July 27th (4:00-5:00pm). The sessions will be recorded and posted to the webpage.

  • To join the July 22nd meeting CLICK HERE.

  • To join the July 27th meeting CLICK HERE?.

  • Submit your questions about the City budget and ARPA funding here.

• Madison recognized as one of the best American cities at using data and evidence to improve residents’ lives.  Read more here.

The Street Division would like to remind residents that if you need large item collection, you must schedule the curbside pickup in advance by using the new large item work order system.  You can access the work order system at www.cityofmadison.com/LargeItemWorkOrder. Read more here.