Blog

We’re spending way too much building roads

by admin in Archives, Balanced Transportation, News, Transportation, WisDOT budget

Is Wisconsin building roads for traffic that won’t ever be there? We’re driving less. So why does Wisconsin keep spending more and more on roads — and not just to maintain the infrastructure we have but actually to build new, wider highways? This is the question being put to policymakers by Bruce Speight, director of the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group, and Steve Hiniker, executive director of the environmental advocacy group 1000 Friends of Wisconsin.

Read more about "We’re spending way too much building roads" →
projections

Bad Traffic Projections at Wisconsin DOT Could Cost Taxpayers Over One Billion Dollars

by admin in Archives, Fighting Wasteful Spending, I-94, News, Press Releases, Transportation, WisDOT budget

Study Shows Over-estimating Future Traffic Leads to Unnecessary Projects. Madison – A new analysis by 1000 Friends of Wisconsin finds that Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WISDOT) traffic projections used to justify highway expansions are nowhere near materializing. Simply updating traffic forecasts to re-evaluate projects could save Wisconsin taxpayers over a billion dollars according to the statewide land use organization.

Read more about "Bad Traffic Projections at Wisconsin DOT Could Cost Taxpayers Over One Billion Dollars" →

Downsides of Decking Over John Nolen Drive

by admin in Archives, Green Downtown, John Nolen Drive, Maps, News

We have been taking a closer look at the proposal from the Madison Design Professionals Workgroup to put commuter traffic on US Highway 151 underground through part of Downtown Madison, cap the tunnel with a new 6.5 acre park, and improve the surface street grid for local pedestrian, bicycle, mass transit, and local vehicle traffic. Last week, we examined some of the myriad benefits a project like this would likely have. Today, we will take a look at some of the potential downsides and side effects the project may produce.

Read more about "Downsides of Decking Over John Nolen Drive" →

Benefits of Decking Over John Nolen Drive

by admin in Archives, Green Downtown, John Nolen Drive, Maps, News

As promised, 1000 Friends is sharing some more in-depth analysis of the proposal to bury John Nolen Drive and Blair Street in a tunnel, build a park on the surface, and reconnect the surface street grid. Today, we tackle some of the primary benefits of this project from the transportation, environmental, and civic points of view.

Read more about "Benefits of Decking Over John Nolen Drive" →

Cover It Up: Decking over Madison’s John Nolen Drive would benefit the city but faces complex challenges

by admin in Archives, Green Downtown, John Nolen Drive, News

Madison’s downtown has seen a boom in residential and mixed-use development, and the city’s 2012 Downtown Plan aims to guide and balance density, vibrant and walkable streets and public spaces, and historic preservation. A number of persistent challenges remain, however, particularly the downtown’s thin connection to Lake Monona, transportation hotspots, and a need for more public parks.

Read more about "Cover It Up: Decking over Madison’s John Nolen Drive would benefit the city but faces complex challenges" →