Janesville bike tunnel torpedoed
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The Janesville City Council at a Thursday study session deep-sixed an approved bike tunnel on East Milwaukee Street, and one council member who had originally favored it said the cost of more than $720,000 had become prohibitive.
George Brunner voted for the tunnel when the cost was lower, and he still believes it is the safest route to go.
“But the idea of a tunnel has really become cost-prohibitive,” he said. “It’s just a matter of having more information, a more realistic idea of the cost, which makes you re-evaluate,” he said.
Instead, the council approved a three-part option to slow traffic by reducing two travel lanes, building an island refuge and installing LED flashing lights at a cost of $99,500.
Former City Manager Steve Sheiffer put $160,000 for the tunnel in the 2006 budget. Of that, $117,000 remains.
By the time the council approved the tunnel in 2008 on 4 to 3 vote, the cost had ballooned to $670,000. The state promised a grant of $235,000. The new cost for the tunnel is $720,000, not including additional utilities work.
The tunnel was to be built at a mid-block trail crossing between Shannon Drive and Wright Road. No pedestrian accidents have occurred, but some residents have reported near misses.
Some residents were angry at the cost of the tunnel and didn’t believe it was needed.
Councilman Tom McDonald was the only council member Thursday who said he would still vote for a tunnel. He said he is OK with the latest option, as well.
The council agreed to:
-- Reduce the four lanes of traffic from Wright Road to Highway 14 to two lanes, two bike lanes and a center-turn lane. That should slow traffic.
-- Build a center island pedestrian refuge so residents only need to worry about traffic coming from one direction at a time. Now, a driver in one lane might stop but not the driver in the adjacent lane.
-- Install flashing LED lights. The new lights have a compliance rate of 80 to 97 percent, compared to 20 percent for the current conventional system.
Councilman Yuri Rashkin asked that the city continue to investigate whether the city can still use the grant money, even though it was given specifically for the tunnel.
Councilman Frank Perrotto wants to see a combination of warning systems used, including one in which LED lights are embedded in the road.
He asked that the city research that system as well as a system that can sense pedestrians and bring the information back to the council when it votes on the issue later in the summer.
“My deepest concern is that a button may not work for kids,” he said.
Perrotto said more warning systems would negate the need to reduce the driving lanes.
“I’m concerned that we might be trying to make too much of this project when it’s rather a more simple fix,” he said.
Reducing the lanes complements a roundabout that will be built farther east at the intersection of Wuthering Hills Drive and East Milwaukee Street, Manager Eric Levitt said.
McDonald and the three other council members present approved reducing the driving lanes and the new LED system.
“Every expert we’ve ever had look at this seems to question the four lanes on Milwaukee Street to begin with,” McDonald said.
The changes could be in place by the end of the year.
“We could begin to enjoy the benefits of this very soon in comparison to a tunnel project,” Carl Weber, public works director, said.
Council members Russ Steeber and Bill Truman were absent.
Jun 26, 2010 at 2:49 p.m.
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Please consider the bottleneck from Wright Road to 14 that will be created by reducing that area to 2 lanes from 4 for a few bikers. Scrapping the tunnel is great news! Consider a push button to activate bright flashing lights, install a camera, signs that tells drivers that if caught on camera not stopping for a biker they will be heavily fined. But please do not make that area a source of aggravation and congestion for drivers!
Jun 26, 2010 at 2:03 p.m.
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JohnWayne Excellent response, I agree with you completely. May I suggest you submit your idea to the council who is completely lacking common sense.
Jun 26, 2010 at 12:37 p.m.
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The beacon really looks irritating.
Why cant people see a flashing yellow?
Im' for the tunnel or island
Jun 26, 2010 at 11:22 a.m.
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I like the traffic light idea. Afterall, the one on Mt. Zion in front of Jefferson School serves its purpose and students can safely cross a busy street. I wonder if this type of system was even considered?
Jun 26, 2010 at 10:43 a.m.
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I believe the public will respond well to the new RRFB beacon that the DPW proposes. Unlike stop lights, they were designed for this purpose, and are being used across the country.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrYjlD14q...
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It is probably correct that the use of an amber beacon for warning only at the fire station lulls people into forgetting to stop for this one. Amber beacons have poor compliance nationwide -- one reason that we now use the mid-street flags (here and on Main St.).
Jun 26, 2010 at 10:37 a.m.
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Someone should tell somebody that if there is no RED light there then almost NO ONE is going to stop or even yield...For drivers to stop you need a RED light, .....DUH!!!
Jun 26, 2010 at 10:34 a.m.
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Not to worry! Once Obama and the greenies get their wish of no more oil, There will be no more gasoline powered auto's, trucks, trains, bus's, tractors, motorcycles, on the roads. No more boats, barges, cruise ships, or jet skis on the water. No more planes, helicopters etc. in the air. There may be a few electric vehicles on the roads, but there would definitely be lots of foot and bike traffic to contend with.
Jun 26, 2010 at 9:43 a.m.
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Enabling stupidity is stupid in of itself.
Jun 26, 2010 at 7:53 a.m.
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Riverrat... are you kidding me? 45$ to ride a bike per year! Come on now.. just plain silly.
Jun 26, 2010 at 7:50 a.m.
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Another thing to add to the LIST of things for the CITY COUNCIL to do is to have SIDEWALKS - at the very least on one side of the street - on East Rotamer from WALMART to the Briar Crest area. There are NO sidewalks! It is crazy to live in a city of over 60,000 people and have to walk in the street with traffic usually speeding past you at 40 - 50 mph! Yes they have a bike lane to walk in, but very often you will actually see cars driving on it. Do we need a wake up call where someone is injured or killed before they put a siewalk in. There is a sidewalk on the walmart side of East Rotamer - Let's finish it so residents don't have to walk in the street. I did call the city about it and was told that we can walk in the street in the bike lane and that is safe. Not!
Jun 26, 2010 at 7:36 a.m.
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Why don't they start registration of bikes, say $45 year--all money from registration to be used for bike trails-tunnels-lights! No money--trails!
Jun 26, 2010 at 5:35 a.m.
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Spend spend spend.....who's gonna pay for it?
All spending should be frozen until jobs come to support the spending. This is foolish spending.
Jun 25, 2010 at 11:32 p.m.
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That's just great! I just bought a brand new bike and now I don't get a tunnel. Well, we don't need it now because the city closed half the bike trail anyway so they can do construction! Open up the bike trail NOW!
Jun 25, 2010 at 11:20 p.m.
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The reason no one stops at the flashing yellow light is that a few hundred yards up at the fire station there is a flashing yellow light that means nothing. Change the bike path light to a red bulb and you can save $95000 and stop the insanity of the one lane concept.
Jun 25, 2010 at 11:07 p.m.
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Please consider the bottleneck from Wright Road to 14 that will be created by reducing that area to 2 lanes from four for a few bikers. Scrapping the tunnel is great news! Consider bright flashing lights, install a camera, signs that tells drivers that if caught on camera not stopping for a biker they will be heavily fined. But please do not make that area a source of aggravation and congestion for drivers!
Jun 25, 2010 at 10:11 p.m.
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I use the trail often. There is a definite need for SOMETHING there other than what's already in place. I have activated the lights many, many times and it never fails, there are ALWAYS the jerks that will not stop. They obviously don't know what the lights are for or what they mean. Maybe flashing red would help.
Jun 25, 2010 at 6:26 p.m.
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I only ask this because I remember when my dad was alive, he worked for Mann Bros, and helped to secure funding for the project through the state and federal gov., so the city didn't have to foot the entire bill. I don't recall all the specifics, but I do know that one of the requirements was for it to be 4 lanes.... Anyone have more detailed info on this?
Jun 25, 2010 at 6:20 p.m.
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Just a question here, didn't the DOT help fund that part of Milwaukee St so that it would be 4 lanes, and improve the traffic flow when they put it in several years back? Was that part of the deal to get federal funding? Should look into that BEFORE you make any decisions could be more costly to the city if we mess with it if we change things the DOT had funded,approved and asked for saftey reasons. Might need to repay if it no longer is in compliance????
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Personally I have not had a problem waiting to cross there. All it takes is patients and the willingness to STOP and look before stepping into traffic, to make sure it is safe to cross, just like I do on Busy Milton Ave and other streets. Common sense and patients is all that is needed, not thousands of dollars being spent.
Jun 25, 2010 at 5:55 p.m.
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Why not just put up a traffic light? If a pedestrian wants to cross the road, they push a button and wait for the walk light.
Jun 25, 2010 at 5:38 p.m.
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It's hard to measure safety, but I think this is a good plan. I didn't know that the traffic volume was low enough for two lanes, and that makes a big difference. It's one reason people speed through there, for instance. Add in the other improvements and I think this will be as safe as a grade crossing can be.
Jun 25, 2010 at 5:19 p.m.
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This makes me sad, because the tunnel is the obvious first choice, but the cost is too large. I didn't know that safety had a price.
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