Walkway underwhelms Janesville School Board
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The Janesville School District and city may work together on a pedestrian bridge over I-90. WCLO's Stan Stricker reports.
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Students walk under the Milwaukee Street overpass at Interstate 90/39 after class at Monroe Elementary School and Marshall Middle School in Janesville on Thursday. City officials are set to apply for a grant to fund designs for a pedestrian walkway over Interstate 90/39 just south of Monroe Elementary School.
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A student walks under the overpass after school. A plan to build an overpass over I-90/39 could make routes to school safer, a city official says.
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JANESVILLE — City officials will apply for a grant to build a pedestrian walkway over Interstate 90/39 behind Monroe Elementary School.
The idea was given a tepid reception by most Janesville School Board members at a special meeting Thursday.
Some school board members questioned the need for a pedestrian overpass, considering the proximity of sidewalks under the Interstate on Milwaukee Street and on Ruger Avenue.
The pedestrian overpass would be built just south of the elementary school and line up with Dover Court on the east side of I-90/39.
The walkway is estimated to cost between $550,000 and $650,000. The city today is applying for a grant to cover design expenses, and federal and state grants are expected to eventually cover the entire cost of the project.
City officials met with school board members Thursday to ask whether the city should apply for the design grant. The state's upcoming expansion of the Interstate, beginning in 2015, makes the project possible, said Carl Weber, city public works director.
"We are informing you of an opportunity—probably a once-in-50-years-type because of the construction—to get something built and funded with other than local funds," he said.
"Our question to you is: 'Do you find benefit in this?' If you don't, there's no reason to go forward."
The city council, the school board and residents would have chances later to debate the merits of the project if the grant is approved, Weber said.
Two school board members, Peter Severson and Kevin Murray, said the city needn't apply. The majority disagreed, saying the community could address the pros and cons of a pedestrian overpass after the city gets the grant. Deborah Schilling and Greg Ardrey were absent.
Weber told the school board the state Department of Transportation approached the city, asking where the city might lack sufficient Interstate crossings.
Staff found a 1968 drawing showing a bridge at the school site and a 40-foot right-of-way platted in a subdivision east of the Interstate across from Monroe. The board would be required to dedicate school property for access to the west end of the overpass.
The project came quickly because the federal government only recently ruled the project could qualify for funds, Weber said. That grant is available every two years, and the deadline to apply is today.
An overpass would complement existing city and school district initiatives to create safe routes to school, Weber said.
Several board members wondered if the benefits outweigh the cost.
Murray said he was uncomfortable with the short notice that gave little chance for public input.
The 1968 drawing was done before Harrison Elementary School was built, and he doubted any children living near the eastern access would even attend Monroe.
"It's not going to cost the school district any money, (but) we all know the money comes from one of our pockets," Murray said.
Severson said the project appeared to be "funding looking for a problem."
He was uncomfortable with a right-of-way allowing the public direct access to elementary school grounds.
Board member David DiStefano questioned whether more children would walk to school and ease traffic congestion at the schools or if it would create another parent drop-off point and more traffic headaches.
Weber said the walkway might give the district more flexibility when drawing school boundaries, but that is something the school would have to investigate.
"The more students you can get walking to school, the fewer cars are dropping off," Weber said.
Board member Kristin Hesselbacher, meanwhile, said those questions could be answered in the future. She noted principals of both Monroe Elementary and nearby Marshall Middle School want the issue explored.
Board member Karl Dommershausen, too, said debate could continue if the grant is approved.
"If we don't support it (the grant application), we've made the decision, not the community," he said.
Board President Bill Sodemann agreed but pointed out that the national debt increased millions of dollars in the short time he talked Thursday. He noted it is about a half-mile walk from the mid-point of Pontiac Avenue to the Milwaukee Street underpass and less than a half-mile walk to the Ruger Avenue underpass.
"So, I'm wondering, is there a need and how big of a need it is in light of our national debt?" he said.
"But I realize if I say no, someone else might take it, anyway."
May 7, 2012 at 4:55 p.m.
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I agree with Sandman that South of Hwy 14 and 39/90 would be the place to build it.
May 6, 2012 at 12:14 p.m.
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Another ABSOLUTELY ABSURD IDEA RISES TO THE TOP - unfortunately, just the type thing that the council will go for!
Wherever the money comes from, a pedestrian overpass at this location is a complete waste of money to put a pedestrian overpass in where there are underpasses within a block or two in either direction, a distance that should not hurt any middle-schoolers to walk.
A LOCATION THAT DESPERATELY CALLS OUT FOR AN OVERPASS, however, is the Hwy 14 and I-39/90 intersection - a "no-persons" land where anyone on foot or bike must navigate six-eight busy traffic lanes cross-intersecting with six ramp entrances/exits, with no safe zone in sight. With the amount of development and the proximity of pedestrian and bike trails, this is one spot that a pedestrian overpass would actually do some good.
May 6, 2012 at 1:36 a.m.
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If you want to make it safer for kids that are walking to school, REINSTATE the crossing guards around our schools! Add a drop off area for Franklin and Madison thru the south side of Franklin's field. Repaint crosswalks, and install permanent signage to alert drivers to SLOW down. This project is a monumental waste of money, but no surprise that it's the best thing the City can come up with.....we cant even take care of the infrastructure that we have, and you want to add another concrete structure to maintain?
May 6, 2012 at midnight
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another example of "blasting " the Democrats & then going ahead & spending more money!! sheeeeeeeeeeeeshh --won't these examples ever quit????
May 5, 2012 at 9:50 p.m.
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Yes Janesvillian, this money will be spent whether we use it or not. I would like to think that the city we pass this on to will use it for something useful.
May 5, 2012 at 9:38 p.m.
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The school board underwhelms ME!
May 5, 2012 at 8:11 p.m.
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FYI.... Federal money is still tax money that we pay for, last I checked an insane amount of my paycheck goes to it. Not cool if it is going to unneeded stupid stuff like this...Especially when our federal govt is in such a deficit its crazy. Its obvious the feds have no money management skills, they just give handouts regardless if its a necessity or not.
May 5, 2012 at 2:27 p.m.
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Your missing the point this is federal money that the city asked if the school wants to use...nobody said they had to if passed on it will go to another community....its a use it or loose it deal
May 5, 2012 at 2:14 p.m.
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And next Kennedy School will want a walk over to Randolph Drive, per the city.
May 5, 2012 at 1:12 p.m.
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Instead of making a path over the interstate, why not focus on making the current underpass safer during expansion contruction?
May 5, 2012 at 1:06 p.m.
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This city reminds me of those welfare abusers you always read about, Always broke, always in debt, cant manage money for the life of them, and when money comes they have to blow it without a care in the world or any prioritization. Aint Nothing like having a run down house in the ghetto with a brand new Cadillac parked in the front yard....we all have our priorities. Good Job Janesville, you make yourself look so good.
May 5, 2012 at 12:58 p.m.
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Why does the school board need to be involved unless there are future tax liabilities for the school district? Just because the west end of the proposed overpass is on school district property?
The school district is right in telling the city to go kiss off.
May 5, 2012 at 12:44 p.m.
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bbballchick. Don't worry about the debt. You won't be paying anything extra in taxes for any of this. The GOP have promised that. Instead, your children and grandchildren will pay someday because congress lacks the courage to pay the bills in full with our own money. They'd rather borrow from third party sources. One party signed a pledge 25 years ago to never raise taxes under any circumstances and the national debt has skyrocketed since. Ask Paul Ryan. He's mainly responsible.
May 5, 2012 at 12:14 p.m.
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janesvillean- Couldn't of said it any better!
May 5, 2012 at 11:19 a.m.
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FORGET IT.... the money all comes out of taxpayer pockets one way or another...and yes, it will cost the city money...upkeep, snow removal, etc....Think it through all the way.
May 5, 2012 at 10:30 a.m.
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WHERE ARE THE JOBS!!!!!!!
Quit bringing up more projects for us taxpayers to throw our money at. Focus on jobs and lots of them.
May 5, 2012 at 10:07 a.m.
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Some interesting views here regarding spending what has already been allocated, as well as getting this grant will not affect our National Debt or our Taxes....Total BS..
This is the same thinking that you people use to bitch about no jobs, then make another issue out of a company bringing back ~80 jobs as well as adding another ~30 new jobs as making no impact on the overall problem (ya I know you whine about them being low paying too. Tell that to the employess that just got called back)...your math just stinks...how do you think we got into this mess in the first place ??? It came about by irresponsibly adding a little here and a little there and using the same stupid thinking....
And I am not picking on either political party here..just a fact..
Also a question...after we get this "Free" money and put this walkway up...who pays for the upkeep, snow removal, and repairs ????
I suspect Janesville does, and that is YOUR tax money....
May 5, 2012 at 9:03 a.m.
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If you think turning down this money will have ANY impact on the national debt then you are delusional or misinformed. This money has already been "spent" by the federal government, it is allocated and WILL be used somewhere. The ONLY question that the city and school board should have been answering is, "DO WE NEED THIS?". I believe we do not and it sounds like the vast majority of them agree. If we do get the grant, I am guessing that the community feedback will also agree and this money will be turned down and granted elsewhere, hopefully where it is needed. But the national debt is not relevant to this issue.
May 5, 2012 at 8:54 a.m.
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bbballchick: You hit the nail on the head. And howardzinnfan, maybe you’re the one that should wake up. Your mentality of buy it/build it even if we don’t need it or can’t afford it is what has this country in the debt crisis. And to bring up that dead dog thing about the rail cars, I thought that was put to bed a long time ago and proven the cost was greater than the benefit.
May 5, 2012 at 7:46 a.m.
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Yes national debt concerns. It’s that kind of thinking that has created the tax and spend government that we have and can no longer afford. If Janesville really doesn’t need this (and it doesn’t) and the money will be spent somewhere anyway where something really is needed – What’s wrong with that? Don’t we all spend our own money where it’s really needed?
May 5, 2012 at 12:19 a.m.
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City officials...are you really kidding?
I'm soooo glad I moved out of state!
May 4, 2012 at 11:16 p.m.
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National debt concerns? NATIONAL DEBT CONCERNS? REALLY? If we don't take advantage of this money another place will. Like how Illinois is taking advantage of the federal railway money Walker turned downed last year. You remember, a European company was ready to set up shop in Milwaukee specifically to build railway cars for the railway to be built between Milwuakee and Madison? Really, a forgein company importing jobs into our country. Just the opposite of what Republican policies have gotten us. Money that will be spent regardless and our school board president is picking national debt crisis over the community he is supposed to represent. Wake up Janesville and start electing local leaders who support our needs.
May 4, 2012 at 10:36 p.m.
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Not needed.
May 4, 2012 at 8:53 p.m.
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Seems to me that building this trail and overpass would create a few jobs in the area.
May 4, 2012 at 8:13 p.m.
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"funded with other than local funds"?????
That $600K is still our tax money. The excuse that "it will just be spent somewhere else" is not valid.
The challenge for all of us is to quit throwing ALL tax money around for frivolous reasons...and this one is just that.
May 4, 2012 at 8:07 p.m.
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So enrollment is down and the existing sidewalks aren't good enough...another reason the sidewalk plan should be banned.
May 4, 2012 at 6:32 p.m.
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I don't get it... Do the kids already walk UNDER the overpass? And now they want an overpass over the overpass for the kids to walk on? So now the kids have to walk uphill both ways?
May 4, 2012 at 6:29 p.m.
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Bash me perhaps for what I said before in referring to the special needs and the access' that they can be entitled too,but now when the city is looking at an opportunity to make a savings out of transportation of school and special needs and the focus becomes against the topic.
How can some people just not care let alone not even have a clue?
Was it not the special interests and transportation that was the concern in putting in side walks everywhere,yet now the concern is something else,which obviously it were to begin with.Could it be the opportunity for the city leaders to pocket that money,isn't as prevalent now,as it were then.
May 4, 2012 at 5:32 p.m.
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Refusing this grant will not reduce your federal taxes. Refusing this grant will not reduce the national debt. The money has already been allocated for pedestrian transportation projects somewhere in the US.
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Refusing it will just mean the money gets spent someplace else. I'm sure there is a community that would rather use the money. Janesville, on the other hand, would prefer to be taxed and not receive any of the benefits back. Just because it's, you know, ornery that way.
May 4, 2012 at 5:13 p.m.
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Unbelievable...with all the real needs they are wanting to to this crap ??
And as stated below, where the devil do you think grants come from ???? OUR TAX MONEY..
What a joke...
May 4, 2012 at 4:46 p.m.
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wislady, The last I heard was that Walker took foreclosure settlement money that was destined to pay for the state's handling and disbursement of the rest of the settlement funds - to help balance the state's running budget shortfalls.
Feel free to point the way.
May 4, 2012 at 4:39 p.m.
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"Now that we got that out of the way, why doesn't city do with this grant what Walker did with the foreclosure settlement. Take money that is earmarked for other purposes and use it instead to help balance the school budget."
Someone is very misinformed...again.
May 4, 2012 at 4:34 p.m.
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Who really cares about the national debt? I'm sure you heard the "country is in debt because we have a spending problem" over and over again from Paul Ryan enough times to believe it. Never mind that borrowing is the cause of debt, so we'll just sign a "no tax - borrow only" pledge to pay our bills and then use the debt as a fig leaf to rationalize draconian cuts to domestic priorities, which is what Republicans wanted to do all along.
Now that we got that out of the way, why doesn't city do with this grant what Walker did with the foreclosure settlement. Take money that is earmarked for other purposes and use it instead to help balance the school budget.
May 4, 2012 at 4:32 p.m.
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nemesis: Perhaps you misunderstand. What Commissioner Dommershausen and I stated is that the only way to get community feedback is to at least approve the application. If we had voted no, then the process would have ended there and there would have been no chance for any public hearings. If the grant is approved, then it comes back to both the city and the school district for community feedback and hearings before any final decision is made. While I have great concerns about this project, I still think that we need to give everyone a chance to voice their opinion.
Sincerely,
Bill Sodemann
May 4, 2012 at 4:26 p.m.
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Is it a NEED or is it not at NEED? That is the question. I would say it is not. For a school board to be considering the national debt when making this decision is beyond weird.
May 4, 2012 at 4:20 p.m.
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Walking an extra half mile would do alot of kids good.
May 4, 2012 at 4:16 p.m.
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This statement says it all "we've made the decision, not the community,". Take away the credit cards of the school board and sack Dommershausen.
May 4, 2012 at 4:13 p.m.
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Most of the elementary kids from that area go to Harrison. It would be nice for the middle school kids, but there probably are not enough of them to justify the cost.
May 4, 2012 at 4:07 p.m.
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It is time to clean house at city hall, top to bottom.
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