Janesville City Council gives OK to two-way
Photo 
Russ Steeber
Photo
Proposed two-way section of West Milwaukee Street
JANESVILLE — A section of Milwaukee Street downtown will be converted from one-way to two-way traffic, but only after the street is reconstructed and only if a future council agrees.
The Janesville City Council on Monday voted unanimously to make traffic two-way from Main Street to just east of Five Points. Cost would be about $122,000.
But the conversion would not take place until after reconstruction of the Milwaukee Street Bridge and resurfacing of West Milwaukee Street, both of which are three to five years down the road.
“It’s a good time frame,” said longtime downtown advocate Jackie Wood.
Wood also said the Downtown Business Alliance did not want to burden the city with the cost of the project at this time, either.
Councilman Russ Steeber said he realizes business owners would like to see the conversion as soon as possible.
“Sometimes, I feel like we talk more than we act,” he said. “Sometimes, talk is cheap.”
Steeber said a future council could decide not to fund the conversion.
“(The vote) is telling the business owners that our intent is there,” he said. “We’re in this game together. Your investment in the properties is an investment in the future.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” he said. “A future council could very easily reverse this decision when it came time for funding.”
Councilman Yuri Rashkin said he doesn’t doubt the conversion would benefit the downtown.
“It’s surprisingly sad to find us here tonight, looking at being able to do the right thing and not necessarily having the money to do that with,” he said. “Even though we are not looking to put it in the budget, we believe this is the right thing to do.”
Councilman Tom McDonald said both Court and Milwaukee Streets should be converted to two-way streets, which is a Downtown Development Alliance goal.
“But it’s not going to happen right now,” he said. “Unfortunately, it’s not the time to do it. We don’t have the money to do it.”
McDonald worried, too, that a future council could “pull the rug out” from business owners and said he struggled with voting now.
But Steeber said a delay in action sends the wrong message.
“This sends the right signal to the business community that we’re here, we want to be a partner in those businesses and the downtown development,” he said.
Jun 30, 2011 at 9:10 a.m.
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The city says they have a budget deficit and talked awhile back of cutting essential services like recycle, trash pickup etc. What the heck difference does it make if the street is one way or two way? If there is a place downtown I need to go I just go there no matter what darn direction the traffic is going. They claimed there was not enough money to fix existing streets that are in bad shape. Yes, lets spend more money and go farther in the hole and lay off more people with some unnecessary crazy idea. Why is it that the more educated someone is their common sense goes right out the window? The reason the city and state got into such a financial mess is do to poor budgeting aka spending big bucks on crazy unecessary things like pools, ice arenas etc. I think all of the government officials from the city to the Feds needs to go back to school for economics to learn money management skills.. Leave the darn streets the way they are and quit wasting taxpayers dollars on nonsense!!!
Jun 29, 2011 at 2:36 p.m.
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They basically voted to allow a future city council to decide. How is that a yes? At least they realized we shouldn't be spending money we don't have. If they could do that all the time, we'd all be a lot better off.
Jun 29, 2011 at 2:13 p.m.
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Dumb.
I had relatives here the other day, took them down town and they said how easy it seems to get around in Janesville because of the one-way streets.
Jun 29, 2011 at 1:59 p.m.
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Autoworker2 - It sounds like you haven't been downtown in a while. Just in my personal experience, I know of at least 3 furniture/interior design stores, 2 antique shops, a book store, 2 clothing stores, and several salons/spas. You can also find jewelry, stained glass, running gear, 2 gyms, and several terrific restaurants. There is an art gallery, the library, and 2 entertainment venues that offer plays, musicals, concerts & comedy nights all year long. And let’s not forget events like the concerts in Courthouse Park and the Farmer’s Market all summer and Rock Around the Block in August. These are just the things that I can think of off the top of my head but I’m sure there’s more that I’m forgetting. I spend a lot of time downtown and it gets really old hearing people say that there’s nothing downtown. Yes, there is still work to be done and yes, there are still too many empty buildings but there are a lot of wonderful things already downtown and if converting Milwaukee to 2-way will help in any way, then I am all for it.
Jun 29, 2011 at 7:11 a.m.
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When the two way street happens I won't have to cross traffic to go to a pawn shop or a bar or to see a lawyer. That's all there is to do downtown anyway. The shopping district is all North out on Milton Ave. anyway. What else can a person do downtown?
Jun 29, 2011 at 6:47 a.m.
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At least they're not putting in round-abouts! Has anyone been on HWY 12 heading from Ho-Chunk into the Dells lately? What a colossal waste of money!
Jun 29, 2011 at 12:24 a.m.
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Cities across the country did one-way conversions in the 1950s and 1960s that they now regret. Janesville isn't alone in feeling that two-way traffic is more conducive to the type of traffic needed downtown.
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Nobody even seems to notice that this is 2/3 the cost of the LEAST expensive alternative in the last proposal. For that, public works director Weber deserves kudos for being creative. And then it's going to be folded into two much more expensive projects.
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Everyone knows we need economic development in Janesville. It's important to realize that we need to help BOTH large businesses in private commercial parks on the outskirts of town AND small businesses who abut public streets. We can't let the downtown rot.
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Beloit has invested in its downtown continuously for the last 20 years, and it shows. Beloit actually won an award last month -- a 2011 Great American Main Street designation from the National Trust. Beloit was a finalist for All-American City. Sadly, I can't see Janesville ever having close to half the vision that Beloit has, especially because we don't have a Hendricks or a College to help plant seeds. Janesville, it seems, is content to muddle along in mediocrity, forever. I hope we don't become the Flint of Wisconsin, but with such anti-citizens as are on display here, we'd deserve it.
Jun 28, 2011 at 11:58 p.m.
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This is going to help businesses downtown, I don't see how. Milwaukee St. is a relatively quick way to get through the downtown area, if you make it two way I for one will stop going that way completely and I am not alone. How does it help business if people refuse to even travel through the downtown because of the extra time it takes due to two way traffic.
Jun 28, 2011 at 11:05 p.m.
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How can the city council justify spending the money on a project that isn't necesary? Pearl street from W Court to Rockport is in terrible shape, fix that first! Stop spending recklessly
Jun 28, 2011 at 10:26 p.m.
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How does this waste taxpayer money? If anything, this project will be a more efficient and direct use of taxpayer money.
Considering the fact that there are about 35 buildings on W. Milwaukee St that will be directly impacted by this change, I see it as a good deal for them. If they, as the neighborhood this change will affect, want this change; let them have it.
As for the notion they should pay for it themselves, they will. Look at the numbers. If there are 35 buildings, each paying at least $2000/yr in taxes, after 5 years they will have payed $350,000 in property taxes. This is twice the amount of the project.
The simple fact of the matter, which many fail to realize, is this is one way government works. People can address their local governments and ask for assistance in solving the things they see as a problem. For the businesses on W Milwaukee, they see the one way traffic as a problem. After a lengthy review of possible solutions, the city council agreed to move forward with one of the plans. It won't be until a later date when the funding is available. Nevertheless, the project will get done.
Jun 28, 2011 at 9:13 p.m.
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They said yes but didn't fund it? Isn't that still no?
I'm glad this won't happen anytime soon. It is beyond stupid.
Jun 28, 2011 at 8:53 p.m.
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I agree....stupid waste of taxpayer's money to convert to two-way...wow...use that money for better use...like repairing Lexington St. between E. Milwaukee St. and Mt. Zion.. very rough and full of pot holes. I'm sure there are other streets that desperately need repairs. I say don't change something that doesn't NEED changing, and fix the streets that DO need fixing.
Jun 28, 2011 at 8:42 p.m.
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Maybe the downtown businesses who are in favor of the street conversions should be the ones to fund the project instead of the tax payers.
Jun 28, 2011 at 5:59 p.m.
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Stupid idea. Not needed. Waste of money.
Jun 28, 2011 at 5:20 p.m.
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The city council just don't get it as usual, this is another one of their pet projects that does nothing but wastes tax payers money. Converting the streets back to 2 way will do nothing to build up the downtown businesses.
Jun 28, 2011 at 5:01 p.m.
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Why?
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