Bike tunnel included in stimulus request
Janesville's bike tunnel could become a reality without using local taxes to fund the project.
At a study session Monday, the Janesville City Council agreed to request federal stimulus dollars for the project, among others, as long as the project is fully funded by federal dollars. Jay Winzenz, Director of Administrative Services, says the state funding in place for the project is actually federal funding coming through the state. He says if the city receives federal funding for the project, it would not be able to use the state funding it previously received. He says the city would prefer to use federal dollars for the project, and redirect previously borrowed local funds to another project.
The city council would still have to award the bid for the project, and could still veto it.
Also at the study session, the city council named priorities for 2010 federal appropriations. Energy efficiency, neighborhood stabilization, and wastewater plant upgrades are the top three priorities for that funding.
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Mar 22, 2009 at 9:03 a.m.
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in_my_opinion: I think you're the one not listening. Many, many people have supported the proposed tunnel (read the past articles and posts on this subject), although some of us thought that now might not be the right time because of the economy. Had someone been killed there while trying to cross the street, I doubt that there would be nearly any opposition. Maybe you would rather wait until that happens?
Mar 17, 2009 at 9:08 a.m.
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Maybe a lesson on "needs vs wants". Why are they so bent on getting this bike tunnel? On a positive, it could be used to house some homeless people that are losing their jobs and houses... Federal money is being requested - it is still our money, and citizens have said no, over and over to this project.
Mar 17, 2009 at 8:56 a.m.
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People will finally be relieved of the burden of having to look both ways before crossing the street.
*sarcasm*
Mar 17, 2009 at 8:39 a.m.
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in_my_opinion makes very good points. Nothing's free; it will have to be maintained.
Mar 17, 2009 at 7:06 a.m.
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OMG! Do any of these people pay attention to what people are saying? We don't want to have to pay for this. Just because they are using federal money now to fund it doesn't mean tax dollars won't pay for it. That money isn't free. It needs to be paid back. That will happen with our tax dollars. Not to mention the cost of maintaining the tunnel or future repair costs.
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