Update on bus detour and construction, Public information meetings, Announcements, Events

Hello neighbors,

Last week I reported that bus service would be detoured off Franklin onto Ridge starting the week of March 25. I got an inquiry as to why that detour is happening so early, when construction isn’t planned to begin on Franklin until 2025. It turns out the contractor is going to start underground utility work before general traffic is routed off Franklin, and it will be safer to move Metro buses off Franklin to make way for the equipment that will be needed for the start of this work. University Avenue construction work is resuming this week, and Harvey and Schmitt Place construction will begin April 1. 

Public Information Meetings & Sessions

• Hermina-Union Streets Reconstruction, Monday, March 11 (VIRTUAL):The City plans to reconstruct Hermina St and Union St (between N Marquette St and Clyde Gallagher Ave). The project includes replacement of underground utilities (sanitary and storm sewer), as well replacement of street infrastructure (roadway base, asphalt pavement, curb & gutter, and sidewalk as needed). The project also includes the installation of a new bike-pedestrian bridge over the Starkweather Creek that will connect from the Starkweather Creek Path to Hermina St (east of Starkweather Creek). Registration prior is required.
• Public Input Meeting #2 - Olbrich Park Nature Play, Monday, March 11: Madison Parks is installing a nature play area in Olbrich Park. Earlier in 2023, Parks crews removed the playground at Olbrich Park near Lakeland Ave. The typical lifespan of post and platform playground equipment is 20-30 years, and this playground was past the standard expected lifespan. Parks staff will present a revised design and accept community feedback. The plan will be posted on the project page at least one week before the meeting. Please register in advance.
• Review Draft the West Area Plan - Attend In-Person Public Meeting!, Tuesday, March 12: A draft West Area Plan is available for review!  Please review and comment on draft maps and actions here by March 20th, or provide feedback at a public meeting. The three public meetings will cover the same draft content (March 4 and 5 virtual meetings) and the March 12, 6:00 p.m. at Vel Phillips Memorial High School, 201 S. Gammon Rd., Wisconsin Neighborhood Center will offer that content in-person with an open house with draft action review and feedback from 6-6:30 p.m. followed by a staff presentation, questions and further feedback sharing. No registration is required for this in-person meeting. If you have any questions, contact Planning Division staff: Linda Horvath, 608-266-1131, lhorvath@cityofmadison.com; Ben Zellers, 608-266-4866, bzellers@cityofmadison.com
• Metro Public Hearing - Fare Updates, Wednesday, March 13 (VIRTUAL): On Wednesday, March 13, Metro Transit and the City of Madison Transportation Commission will hold a public hearing at 6 PM to discuss fare updates related to new fare technology being installed this summer.
• Public Input - Northeast and West Area Parks, Wednesday, March 13: This information meeting will be held during the Board of Park Commissioners meeting, which begins at 6:30pm on Wednesday, March 13. The meeting is held virtually and the exact start time of this agenda item is unknown. We recommend joining the meeting no later than 6:45 pm. 
• Public Input Meeting - Sherwood Forest Park, Thursday, March 14 (VIRTUAL): The City of Madison Parks Division is improving the playground at Sherwood Forest Park and we want your input. This process includes an online playground workshop specific to playground replacements anticipated for 2024 including Garner Park, Manchester Park, Meadowood Park, and Sherwood Forest Park. Please feel free to invite your children to the Zoom meeting to help provide input on the playground!
• Red Cross Blood Drive, Sponsored by the Sunset Village Neighborhood Association, March 14, 12-5pm.

Announcements & News Releases

• Women in Construction Week 2024: Ali Heinritz:  The first time riding a bike is a major life milestone for so many, but for City of Madison Traffic Engineering Division Traffic Engineer Ali Heinritz, little did she know it’d be the first taste of a path toward a career in transportation.
• Women in Construction Week 2024: Maria Delestre: With a bird’s eye view, Engineering Division Construction Manager Maria Delestre stands at the top of a parking garage in the heart of the City, surrounded by the sounds of powerful excavators digging in a massive hole overlooking one of the City’s biggest and active construction projects at the moment. 
• New Internship Program Aims to Diversify Workforce at Madison Fire: The Madison Fire Department announces a new internship program aimed at cultivating up-and-coming talent from communities historically underrepresented in the public safety workforce. Interested candidates can apply between March 13-March 27.
• Women in Construction Week 2024: Nadine Resler: One thing that has always been true: construction is messy. Nails, dirt, material, cleaning up is always a part of the building process for each contractor doing work on any given job.
• Women in Construction 2024: Keira Miller:  If you’ve ever come across the invasive species Buckthorn, you know it’s prickly and not good for the environment. However, you also know it can be handled with the right equipment, and if you remove it, the greenery thrives once it’s gone. 
• Women in Construction 2024: Taylor Lemon:  A noisy white and orange, eight-foot-tall piece of construction equipment moves across a semi-frozen grassy patch on the City of Madison’s west side.
• West High School Key Club Book Drive – please drop off your books for donation, or have them picked up!

Events

• City Clerk's Office begins mailing absentee ballots to voters with requests on file, Tuesday, March 12: Track the status of your absentee at My Vote. Here's how to make sure your absentee ballot will count:
• Transportation Options with Metro at Meadowridge Library, Tuesday, March 12: Metro employees will talk about different options for getting around the city, including buses, RoundTrip, BCycles, bikes, and more. They will spend time talking about paratransit, a shared ride service for that uses a variety of companies and vehicles to respond to individual ride requests. Paratransit is an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) service for individuals with disabilities who cannot use Metro’s accessible fixed-route bus service. 
• Habitat Homeowner Readiness Part 1, Tuesday, March 12: Join us for this two-part series to learn all about homebuyer education and set your future up for success. The Habitat Homeownership Readiness Class will be covering setting goals, budgeting, debt, credit, types of mortgages, and Habitat homeowner qualifications. This Habitat for Humanity of Dane County event is in collaboration with UW Extension.
• Spring Home Maintenance, Tuesday, March 12: Once the snow has melted and Spring has sprung – it’s not just Spring-cleaning time…it’s Spring home maintenance time! At this Project Home class we will discuss the things you need to check on, each year, in order to keep your home safe and healthy. If you stay on top of these maintenance items, it will help you avoid problems and costly repairs down the road. Sponsored by MG&E.
• Neighborhood Meeting: Feedback on Additional Fireworks Displays at Warner Park Stadium, Tuesday, March 12: The Madison Mallards have received approval from the Board of Park Commissioners to have six fireworks displays for the 2024 Mallards season at Warner Park Stadium. In addition to those six fireworks displays, they have also requested approval for an additional two displays. We are hosting a neighborhood meeting to gather community feedback about the request. Your feedback will be shared with the Board of Park Commissioners. 
• Last day to register to vote online or via mail, Wednesday, March 13
• Meditation At Monona Terrace, Thursday, March 14: Mindfulness Meditation will be led by Sarah Moore M.D., a mind-body practitioner, therapist, and physician. Sarah has been practicing meditation for more than 20+ years and teaching meditation to groups and individuals for the past 15 years. Her personal practice has brought her much peace, joy and stability, and she is excited to share her knowledge and enthusiasm with others.
• Transportation Options with Metro at Alicia Ashman Library, Thursday, March 14: Metro employees will talk about different options for getting around the city, including buses, RoundTrip, BCycles, bikes, and more. They will spend time talking about paratransit, a shared ride service for that uses a variety of companies and vehicles to respond to individual ride requests. Paratransit is an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) service for individuals with disabilities who cannot use Metro’s accessible fixed-route bus service. 
• Shamrock Shuffle, March 16 – Be Aware of Road Closures. The Shamrock Shuffle begins at 8:15am on Saturday, March 16; road closures will affect our district, and the Lakeshore Path will be in use for this event.
• Transportation Options with Metro at Pinney Library, Friday, March 16: Metro employees will talk about different options for getting around the city, including buses, RoundTrip, BCycles, bikes, and more. They will spend time talking about paratransit, a shared ride service for that uses a variety of companies and vehicles to respond to individual ride requests. Paratransit is an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) service for individuals with disabilities who cannot use Metro’s accessible fixed-route bus service. 
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Starkweather Creek Area, Saturday, March 16: Outings in the Starkweather Creek area vary each month - be sure to check the starting location. Adventures typically at 10:00am on the 3rd Saturday of the month, year-round, and frequently start at the Goodman Community Center, unless noted otherwise. Outings include nature walks, canoe/kayak adventures, bicycling tours, and more, and are sponsored by the Madison Friends of Urban Nature , Madison Parks, Goodman Community Center , Madison Audubon Society , and Friends of Starkweather Creek . No registration is required. Pets are not allowed.
• Terrace Town, Saturday, March 16: Terrace Town brings architecture, design and city planning curriculum to Dane County elementary classrooms. Students work with volunteer architects, planners, and design professionals and learn how cities are planned, what makes a quality city, and how citizens can participate in the improvement of their community. Then they design and construct a scale model city and then install them in Monona Terrace’s Exhibition Hall for public viewing.
• Battle of the Badges, Saturday, March 16: It's time for another epic showdown on the ice between the MadCity Police hockey team and Madison Fire hockey time. This event benefits Safe Communities Madison-Dane County, a nonprofit coalition of over 350 organizations working together to save lives, prevent injury and make our community safer. 
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Warner Park, Sunday, March 17: Walks at Warner Park held on the 3rd Sunday of every month are co-sponsored by Madison Bird City FUN partners Wild Warner  and Madison Audubon . Meet at the colorful Warner Park shelter by the lagoon. Parking is available nearby. No registration is required. No pets are allowed.
• Calling all Northside and Eastside Madison residents! Equal Opportunities Commission Hosts Housing Meeting to Address Community Concerns: The Equal Opportunities Commission of Madison is set to host a crucial housing meeting on March 14th at the Lakeview Madison Public Library (2845 N Sherman Ave Madison, WI 53704.). 

Be well,

Regina Vidaver