Week of August 11th
postedDear Neighbors,
I hope you and your loved ones are staying safe and dry in this inclement weather we’ve been having! Unfortunately, Ride the Drive has been canceled due to today’s weather and there will not be a rescheduled rain date.
This week, I had the privilege of being in almost every neighborhood in the district, meeting with residents, learning about upcoming projects, and spreading the word about what’s happening in city government.
On Tuesday, I joined the Elvehjem Neighborhood Association and the Madison Police Department for the annual National Night Out to strengthen ties between police and members of our community. I also toured the MPD training center on Femrite Drive and met members of the incoming class of officers.
As I’ve mentioned online and at recent events, the Elvehjem Neighborhood is experiencing an alarming rise in car break-ins and property thefts. I have been in close communication with the Madison Police Department over the last month, making sure that I am staying updated on the ongoing investigation. I have also been in contact with the neighborhood association and am available to any residents who have concerns or questions.
If you or someone you know has been impacted, or if you see suspicious activity at night, please contact the Madison Police Department immediately. These thefts are mainly targeting unlocked vehicles and garages, so please make sure that you are locking your cars and closing your garages at night.
East District Captain Ed Marshall shared an update on the MPD blotter earlier this week outlining the steps that the department is taking, including increasing their presence in the evenings and at night. I am confident that the Madison Police will be able to resolve this issue, and I will remain in close communication with them and share future updates.
As a reminder, I will be hosting office hours this week on Wednesday, August 13th, from 3:00-5:00pm at the Ed Locke Public Library in McFarland. This will be a great opportunity to meet with me in-person, share your thoughts and concerns, and get more involved with local government. I will also be having office hours on September 15th from 1:00-3:00pm at the H.O.P.E Center at the Meadowlands apartments (6834 MILWAUKEE STREET, MADISON, WI 53718).
As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m eager to hear from you!
-Sean
Glacial Drumlin Trail Connection
Earlier this week, the city presented two options for a new connection to the Glacial Drumlin Trail in the East Buckeye neighborhood. If you missed the information meeting, you can watch a full recording on the project webpage. If you have comments you want to share with me or city staff, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Option #1 connects at Wagon Trail and Oxbow Bend. This section would be a shorter connection but will require a new railroad crossing. The city expects the Wisconsin Southern Railroad to oppose the addition of the crossing.
Option #2 connects at Vondron Road, south of Thompson Drive. This option would run along the length of the tree line and would go under the highway in the same manner as Option #1.
Unfortunately, there are several factors that are out of the control of the city, including access to easements and the construction of the crossing at Wagon Trail. City staff are working closely with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) and other parties involved and will move forward with the proposal that proves most doable.
Additionally, I want to highlight that Dane County will be making further connections to the Glacier Drumlin Trail on the other side of the highway. I would encourage you to also check out the slides from the Public Information Meeting that was hosted a few weeks ago regarding that project. You can find more information on the project page.
Acewood and Cottage Grove Road Construction Update
I want to share an update on the upcoming construction at the intersection of Acewood and Cottage Grove Road. The city will be improving the intersection by updating both the traffic signals and the medians.
The bases, poles, and lights will be updated, in addition to adding a left-turn signal (protected phase) for traffic. Additionally, the median noses will be extended further into the intersections to provide a refuge space for pedestrians. This work will take roughly 14 days from the start of construction.
This project is part of the Safe Streets Program – which includes the goal of eliminating all serious and fatal car accidents in Madison. Safe Streets funding and project approval is required to go before the Transportation Commission, which I am a member of.
If you have any questions, you can reach out to me at district16@cityofmadison.com and to traffic engineering at safestreets@cityofmadison.com or 608-266-4761.
South Stoughton Road Public Input Survey - Closes August 15th
There is still time to complete the survey for feedback on the proposed intersections for the redesign of South Stoughton Road (US-51). It is vital that the Wisconsin Department of Transportation hears from folks who will be impacted by the redesign.
The decisions that WisDOT make will have dramatic effects on the way that people are able to navigate, live, and shop along this corridor, as well as on the future ways that we can use the land surrounding Stoughton Road. If you were not able to make the meeting, you can watch the recording below. Be sure to fill out the Public Input Survey by August 15th! Our neighborhoods need to be heard in this important planning process.
Alder Sean O'Brien
District 16
Contact Alder O'Brien