Answers to Traffic Questions from Dale Heights Neighborhood Meeting

The September 15 public information meeting on the proposed redevelopment of the Dale Heights Presbyterian Church was well-attended. There were a number of questions about possible traffic impacts that Planner Chris Wells was unable to answer during the meeting. Chris discussed the questions with Madison's Traffic Engineering Department and was able to provide the following responses. "TE" is "Traffic Engineering" and "TIA" is "Traffic Impact Analysis."

• Overall, the 120 apartment units will have a relatively low impact on the traffic network, especially compared to the Kwik Trip. We reviewed the crash history on Norman Way and at the Norman/University intersection and found that it had a good crash history. We found that no crashes have occurred on Norman Way and 1 non-rearend crash has occurred at the Norman/University intersection in the past 10 years. In general, the traffic impacts from residential developments are one of the least impactful due to residents coming/going throughout the day and the lack of a heavy peak. Traffic Engineering can monitor the Norman/University intersection to see if any improvements (such as a signal) are warranted. 
• University Avenue west of Allen Boulevard is mostly outside the City and in Middleton, University Avenue is also a County Highway. We would have to work with both agencies and law enforcement on enforcing the speed limit. 
• TE does not have any plans to make changes to the one-way portion of Norman Way. It has a very good safety record. 
• TE is not requiring a TIA at this point for the development, if the Alder is interested, we can require it. 

To clarify another question from the meeting, I noted that in an early design assistance meeting with the developer, Engineering mentioned that the reconstruction of Norman Way from University Avenue to Lake Mendota Drive was on the Transportation Improvement Plan in a few years and that it might make sense to include the two-way portion of Norman Way on the other side of University Avenue. This is just a possibility as the Dale Heights project moves further.