Neighborhood news and notes for September 8

[Edited 9/11/12 1:11 PM to correct capital budget link.]

Hello Neighbors,

Here's what's up in and around District 19.

(Some) Road Construction Winding Up

With a lot of area streets under construction, getting around has been a bit of a challenge. The good news is that many of the projects will be completed soon.

Rosa Road should be wrapped up by the end of the week (Sep. 14).

Regent Street is complete and is open to traffic.

University Avenue has a ways to go yet, but we are still anticipating an on-time completion on October 26. The project is currently in Stage 4 and should be moving to Stage 5 (traffic on outside lanes) around the first of October. The Indian Hills ped/bike path should re-open about that same time. Also in October, the Old Middleton off-ramp will be closed for about three weeks (detour Whitney Way). More details on that as we get closer to the date.

University Crossing Phase 2

Construction of phase 2 is underway. This phase includes two buildings: a multi-tenant commercial building along University Avenue close to Whitney Way and a green-roofed parking structure wrapped by 110 apartments. Both buildings will be completed in mid- to late-summer of 2013. Construction on the phase 1 clinic will be complete in early 2013.

Mayor's Capital Budget Released

The capital budget is "big ticket," durable items like buildings, vehicles and road construction. We don't pay cash for these items; we borrow the money and repay it over ten years. That way the cost is spread out over more of the lifetime of the item, and we don't have huge spikes in taxes when we do something big like a new library.

So far my review of the capital budget finds nothing too remarkable; most of it is a continuation of projects already underway (e.g., Central Library) or long planned (road construction projects). I'll learn more over the next few days as hearings commence on the capital budget.

If you'd like to learn more, you can read the capital budget, or watch the Board of Esitmates' hearings Monday and Tuesday at 4:30 on Madison City Channel.

Project H2O Open Houses

Madison Water Utility is holding public events to present information about Project H2O. This City-wide meter project, which will be coming to our neighborhoods early next year, will automate water meter reading to increase accuracy and provide customers with the timely information they need to better manage their water usage.

Wednesday, September 12, 6-8 p.m.
Water Utility Administrative Office, 119 East Olin Avenue

Thursday, September 27, 6-8 p.m.
Alicia Ashman Public Library, 733 N. High Point Road

Owen Park Tour

Madison Parks is hosting free monthly tours of Madison Conservation Parks.  The tours are led by a Madison Parks staff member and co-sponsored by the Madison Audubon Society.

September 12, 6:30p.m.

Owen Park, 6021 Old Sauk Road

Explore the late summer wild flowers in the prairies and the ponds and their wildlife.

See dates and locations for additional tours on the Madison Parks web site.

-----------------------

I welcome your questions and comments about this or any other city issue. Please contact me at district19@cityofmadison.com or 608-695-5709.

Subscribe to this blog and get e-mail updates on many other city topics by joining my.cityofmadison.com at the link below.