Together We Will Continue Moving our District Forward!

To District 20 Residents,

This is my first post as the new District 20 Alder. It is an honor to serve as your representative on the Madison Common Council. District 20 was described as a “diamond in the rough”. Together we will continue moving our district forward and to have Madison BE a city that works for all people. I look forward to working with you (with neighborhood residents & Association Leaders) to define the priorities for District 20.

ISSUES I HEARD DURING THE CAMPAIGN

Public Safety  
- Feeling safe in their homes and neighborhoods.

• Community Policing and the body worn camera pilot.
• A Public Health approach to gun violence.
• The CARES program, mental health professionals responding to non-violent behavioral emergency calls that do not require law enforcement.

Housing

- The projected population growth of our city. As the city grows:

• Affordable housing options/programs that expand opportunities, promote home ownership, building generational wealth.
• A balanced approach to housing/urban density and include resident voices in the process.
• Holding investors responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of current housing stock.

City Services

• Support/maintain quality city services at affordable cost. An updated bus system that is also equitable and accessible to all.
• Rising property taxes.

Public Education

• Work with MMSD to address the growing needs of black & brown students. Recruitment of culturally competent teachers/staff.

Speeding/Traffic Fatalities 
 

District 20 UPDATES

PROPOSED NEW PUBLIC HOUSING REDEVELOPMENT - UPDATE
CDA, is undertaking a public housing redevelopment project on Theresa Terrace in District 20. CDA intends to demolish two vacant and uninhabitable duplexes in mid-2023 and replace them with six new attached townhome units (three each on two parcels).

CDA received conditional City approvals to rezone and demolish the existing structures in February and are now seeking final site plan approvals for the new construction. The adjusted plans includes several small changes, which will require a formal “minor alteration” application and review/approval (see attached form, along with some renderings of the new units). Former Alder Phair was briefed on CDA’s plans and involved in neighborhood outreach, and both he and District residents have generally supported the redevelopment.

West Area Open House, Wednesday, May 10, 2023: During the West Area Plan kickoff meetings residents shared questions and comments about a variety of topics and projects other City departments and divisions are working on. As a result, Planning Division staff coordinated a multi-agency open house to bring together residents and staff from various City divisions. The open house is scheduled for Wednesday, May 10, 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Lussier Community Education Center, 55 S. Gammon Road. Please join us - Metro service is available on route 67 and parking is also available. The open house will cover a variety of projects and initiatives.
 

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Wednesday, June 7 at 6:30 p.m.
MPO Policy Board Virtual Meeting hosted via Zoom
All Mayors, Village Presidents, and Town Chairs in the MPO Planning Area and Dane County Executive
FROM: Alexandra Andros, Transportation Planning Manager/Director
 
Written comments or concerns regarding the amendment to the 2023-2027 TIP for the increase in federal funding to the East-West BRT Line project must be submitted in writing by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 7. Please email comments to MPO staff at mpo@cityofmadison.com or mail them to the Greater Madison MPO office at 100 State Street, #400, Madison, WI 53703.

The amendment would add $7.6 million in federal Small Starts program funding to the City of Madison’s East-West BRT Line project, increasing program funding from $103 million to $110.6 million. Madison’s local share for the Small Starts program would increase from $11.387 million to $39.368 million, although $24.115 million of that increase is due to including the BRT bus maintenance facility, which was previously listed as its own project, in the overall project listing. Total cost would increase from $114.387 million to $149.968 million.

In addition, the City is receiving additional Section 5307/5337/5339 federal funding for the purchase of 60’ articulated buses. Total federal funding for those programs would increase $2.798 million from what is identified in the 2023-2027 TIP. The local share contribution would increase $698,000 from what is identified in the 2023-2027 TIP.

Lastly, the amendment would re-list $24.115 million in local design funding for the BRT bus maintenance facility since funding for that facility will be addressed through the Small Starts program, and add $1 million in local funding for the Restoring Community Connectivity program.

The City of Madison will seek federal funding for that program through the Reconnecting Communities grant.

The City of Madison is building a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system as part of an effort to provide better access to jobs, reduce travel times, and improve transit equity throughout the region.

The east-west BRT line will extend from Junction Rd. to East Towne through the downtown and campus area. Construction of dedicated bus lanes, passenger stations, and implementation of larger all-electric articulated buses will last into next year.


Transit Network Redesign Updates Metro’s redesign set to go into effect on Sunday, June 11
Trip Planning

• We have schedule information now at mymetrobus.com/redesign.
• https://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/routes-schedules/transit-network-redesign
• Currently, you can plan your trip using the Transit App. (You would need to set a travel date on or after June 11)

Neighborhood Meeting re: Hope and A Future - May 25, 2023 06:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
You are invited to a Zoom meeting. Register in advance for this meeting:

https://cityofmadison.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctd-mopjkpHNXjLwEM3R3tv4S0Gw88H6ij

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Volunteer Opportunity 
Seeking people to join Community Policing Advisory Boards to build trust, legitimacy: The Madison Police Department is recruiting individuals now through May 26, 2023 to serve on Community Policing Advisory Boards (CPABs) in each of Madison’s six police districts (cityofmadison.com/police/districts).

RENTAL ASSISTANCE ENDING MAY 31, 2023
REMINDER: Dane CORE 2.0 Rental Assistance Program Applications to Close May 31: Dane County and the City of Madison want to remind residents that the Dane COronavirus REntal program (CORE 2.0), funded by the Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program through the U.S.