Tomorrow Office Hours Reminder, MPD Reminder and Upcoming Beltline Meeting

A reminder that I will be holding office hours tomorrow (Saturday, 7/20) at the Westside Community Market, a safety reminder from the Madison Police Department and an upcoming public information meeting on Beltline improvements.

If you have a question, concern or topic of interest that you would like to discuss, but the times above don't work for you, you can e-mail me.

We are, again, seeing an increase in burglaries, theft from autos, and theft of autos in the Midtown District.  These are not specific to one area but all throughout the district!

The trends we are seeing:

     Burglaries:

• Items taken from open garages while people are working in the yard (front or back) or inside the house
• Homes being entered while residents are home, many times sleeping, through an unlocked door
• Homes being entered through an unlocked door while residents are away
• Home video cameras show people checking common locations in which extra keys are placed: top of door frames, under rocks, etc
•  Entry into underground parking facilities to target cars or storage units

     Theft from Autos:

• Unlocked vehicles being rifled through and items taken
• Locked vehicles having car windows smashed out to take items of value that are in plain view
• Vehicles in underground parking garages targeted under same circumstances as above

     Theft of Autos:

• Vehicles are stolen when keys are left inside the vehicle
• When entry is made to the home, the burglars take keys and steal the car

If you have push button start, leave your keys in the house and try to start the car.  If it starts, there is a valet key tucked away somewhere in the vehicle.  This needs to be found and removed from the car.

If you keep your car/house keys on key hooks inside the door or in a basket near a door, consider moving them somewhere out of sight.

Options extend along the major highway between I-39/90 and Whitney Way

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is examining a range of alternatives to improve the Madison Beltline's deteriorating pavement and median areas, and to address operational issues during weekday peak traffic periods.

A public involvement meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 24, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Community Room at The Village on Park (2300 South Park St., Madison). Brief, formal presentations are scheduled for 5:15 p.m. and 7 p.m. The objectives for the meeting include:

• Explaining the identified needs for the corridor
• Outlining options to address identified needs
• Gathering public input

Potential improvements

One option includes resurfacing the pavement, making drainage improvements, and replacing deteriorated sections of median barrier wall.

WisDOT is also considering upgrades to the median shoulders so motorists can use them as travel lanes. The shoulder lanes would be open during peak travel hours. The added capacity will improve traffic mobility and safety along the Madison Beltline between I-39/90 and Whitney Way. This section currently handles 120,000 vehicles per day. The practice, known as dynamic part-time shoulder use, is currently in place in at least 17 states.

Part-time shoulder use is recognized as a safe, sustainable and reliable way to alleviate congestion. It allows vehicle traffic on paved shoulders during peak travel times. Changeable message signs would be used to indicate when the shoulder is available for use.

In addition to the mobility improvements, shoulder modifications:

• Minimize impacts to the environment
• Does not require additional real estate acquisition from adjacent residences and businesses
• Could be implemented as early as 2021

The public is encouraged to attend the meeting to learn more about the proposed options and provide input.

If you are unable to attend the meeting, or would like more information, contact Brandon Lamers at (608) 246-3852. Written comments regarding the project can be mailed to Brandon Lamers, WisDOT Southwest Region Office, 2101 Wright Street, Madison, WI 53704 or brandon.lamers@dot.wi.gov. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and who require an interpreter may request one by contacting Brandon Lamers at least three working days prior to the meeting via the Wisconsin Telecommunications Relay System (dial 711).

As always, if there is anything I can do to help, feel free to reach out: district19@cityofmadison.com

-Keith F