Weekly Update - Main Street Utility Improvements

Please click on the link below to view the August 5, 2013 Main Street Utility Improvements Weekly Update.

August 5, 2013 Weekly Main Street Utility Improvements

Weekly Update - Main Street Utility Improvements

Please click on the link below to view the July 29, 2013 Main Street Utility Improvements Weekly Update.

July 29, 2013 Weekly Main Street Utility Improvements

Main Street Utility Improvements Weekly Update

Please click on the link below to view the July 22, 2013 Main Street Utility Improvements Weekly Update.

July 22, 2013 Weekly Main Street Utility Improvements

Weekly Main Street Utility Improvements

Please click on the link below to view the July 15, 2013 Main Street Utility Improvements Weekly Update.

July 15, 2013 Weekly Main Street Utility Improvements

Central Business District (CBD) Meeting

Central Business District (CBD) Meeting
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
8:00 a.m.
Waunakee Village Hall
Lower Level
500 West Main Street
Waunakee, WI 53597

Weekly Update - Main Street Utility Improvements

Please click on the link below to view the July 8, 2013 Main Street Utility Improvements Weekly Update.

July 8, 2013 Weekly Main Street Utility Improvements

Weekly Update - Main Street Utility Improvements

Please click on the link below to view the July 1, 2013 Main Street Utility Improvements Weekly Update.

July 1, 2013 Weekly Main Street Utility Improvements

Weekly Update - Main Street Utility Improvements

Please click on the link below to view the June 24, 2013 Main Street Utility Improvements Weekly Update.

June 24, 2013 Weekly Main Street Utility Improvements

Weekly Update - Main Street Utility Improvements

Please click on the link below to view the June 17, 2013 Main Street Utility Improvements Weekly Update.

June 17, 2013 Weekly Main Street Utility Improvements

Weekly Update - Main Street Utility Improvements

Please click on the link below to view the June 10, 2013 Main Street Utility Improvements Weekly Update.

June 10, 2013 Weekly Main Street Utility Improvements

Weekly Update - Main Street Utility Improvements

Please click on the link below to view the June 3, 2013 Main Street Utility Improvements Weekly Update.

June 3, 2013 Weekly Main Street Utility Improvements

Main Street Utility Improvements Weekly Update

Please click on the link below to view the May 27, 2013 Main Street Utility Improvements Weekly Update.

May 27, 2013 Weekly Main Street Utility Improvements

OCR Approval and Moving Forward

On May 9th the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads issued an order which essentially gives the thumbs-up to Option 2.3 as had been found acceptable to the Village Board and businesses in the area. For anyone interested in seeing what an OCR order actually looks like, you can view the May 9th order by clicking here. It's not the most exciting reading of all time, but it certainly accomplishes what we were hoping for. The Village wishes to thank our state legislators, DOT Secretary, DOT Staff, Bill McCoshen, and others who worked hard to move this process along quickly.

The DOT, Village staff and others are now working diligently to move forward with plans for project construction in 2014. The Village's Central Business District task force is meeting on May 29th to finalize plans for the streetscaping work, and the DOT recently held a progress meeting regarding technical aspects of the project.

Now that timing is better understood and that last piece of the design puzzle is approved, I will schedule another meeting on the Sustain Main Campaign. This relates to our work to best market our downtown commercial businesses, protect the residential-sensitive areas, as well as install appropriate signage for motorists and pedestrians during construction. Feel free to contact me by email or at 850-5227 if you'd like to help our efforts to "sustain main" during construction in 2014.

QUICK REMINDER - I will be at the Chamber Depot tomorrow, Tuesday, May 21st, at 8:30 AM for the Tuesday Morning Briefing on Main. Anyone interested in stopping by with questions about the Main St. project are welcome.

Weekly Update - Main Street Utility Improvements

Please click on the link below to view the May 20, 2013 Main Street Utility Improvements Weekly Update.

May 20, 2013 Weekly Main Street Utility Improvements

Weekly Update - Main Street Utility Improvements

Please click on the link below to view the May 13, 2013 Main Street Utility Improvements Weekly Update.

May 13, 2013 Weekly Main Street Utility Improvements

Weekly Update Main Street Utility Improvements

Please click on the link below to view the May 6 Weekly Update for Main Street Utility Improvements.

May 6 Weekly Update/Main Street Utility Improvements

Weekly Update/Main Street Utility Improvements

Please click on the link below to view the April 29 Weekly Update for Main Street Utility Improvements.

April 29 Weekly Update/Main Street Utility Improvements

Weekly Update/Main Street Utility Improvements

Please click on the link below to view the April 22 Weekly Update for Main Street Utility Improvements.

April 22 Weekly Update/Main Street Utility Improvements

Village Board Endorses Option 2.3

This Monday night, April 15th, the Village Board gave approval to Option 2.3 for the Main Street project. The next step is for the Office of the Commissioner of Rail (OCR) to consider approval of this option. We are very hopeful that this will occur, and occur quickly enough so the project moves forward for 2014 construction. The Village does not know the timing for the OCR process, but will report more information via the blog as it becomes available. See prior blog posts for a description o Option 2.3.

Briefing Reminder

Reminder: Tuesday Morning Briefing on Main. Tomorrow, Apr. 16th, 8:30 AM at the Chamber Depot. Village Administrator Todd Schmidt will report on the outcome from Monday's Village Board meeting, and fill folks in on a recent visit with the DOT Secretary.

Weekly Update/Main Street Utility Improvements

Please click on the link below to view the April 15 Weekly Update for Main Street Utility Improvements.

April 15 Weekly Update/Main Street Utility Improvements

Recent Meeting with DOT Secretary and Board Meeting Next Monday

On Tuesday this week Village representatives met with DOT Secretary Mark Gottlieb at Village Hall. Our message to Secretary Gottlieb was twofold. One, we asked the Secretary to assist us in advocating for option 2.3 which was recently presented by DOT staff to the Village (see the earlier blog post). Two, we expressed our opposition to a 4-lane highway through our downtown and encouraged a study to consider other alternatives.

We were hoping to spend some time walking along Main St., however the rain kept us inside. Fortunately, thanks to street view on Google Maps, we were able to take a virtual walk through our downtown.

We believe the meeting went very well and appreciated the time the Secretary was able to spend with us. He listened carefully to our concerns, and was familiar with the complexities of our project. As a result of the meeting we are able to report the following:

• Should the Village Board endorse option 2.3 this coming Monday evening, Secretary Gottlieb indicated "clear sailing" throughout the DOT approval process.
• The final step for approval would rest with the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads (OCR is NOT a part of the DOT). Secretary Gottlieb indicated that he will personally reach out to Commissioner Jeff Plale seeking his department's support of 2.3.
• Secretary Gottlieb indicated that he would do whatever he can to keep the project moving quickly through his department, but he is unable to control the timing of the OCR processes.
• Secretary Gottlieb said that the fall of 2015 would be the next opportunity for a majors project study to be considered for the STH 19 corridor. This would be part of a competitive process in which a study of STH 19 would compete against other potential study projects across the state.
• Secretary Gottlieb could not take the future option of a 4-lane highway off the table. He simply can't, because any majors project study involving federal funds must go through an intensive process in which every single option is given consideration (whether it be a bypass to north, bypass to the south, switch to four lanes, or other changes to the current road system).

Again, we are thankful for the the Secretary's visit.

Next Monday, April 15th, at 6:00 PM the Village Board will hold a regularly scheduled meeting. That meeting agenda includes Board discussion and action on Option 2.3.

Latest Main St. Utility Work Construction Newsletter

Click on this link for the latest newsletter: http://www.vil.waunakee.wi.us/DocumentCenter/View/1297

Main St. Utility Work Construction Newsletter

Below is a link to read the construction newsletter related to the Main St. utility work taking place. This includes contact phone numbers in case you have questions.

http://www.waunakee.com/DocumentCenter/View/1285

Tuesday Morning Briefings on Main

The Village is going to begin holding weekly briefings every Tuesday morning at 8:30 AM at the Chamber Depot beginning next week. Typically Village Administrator Todd Schmidt will be in attendance to provide updates and answer questions regarding all that is going on with the Main Street project. If Todd is unavailable, another staff member will hold the briefing.

We will make the effort to hold these weekly at least until the Main Street project is finished (anticipated end of 2014 - yet to be confirmed). Yes, that likely means nearly 100 briefings, but it is an effort we are willing to make to keep everyone informed and involved.

While Main Street will be the main topic of discussion, we will be willing to address any questions or concerns regarding Village issues, services, business and development. Anyone is welcome to attend, and it's BYOC (Bring Your Own Coffee).

New Recommended Plan

The Village's Central Business District (CBD) Task Force met this morning to discuss the latest information we have from the DOT on the design options for Main Street between South and Baker. A recommendation from the CBD is going to the Village Board for consideration at their regular meeting at 6:00 PM on Monday, April 15th at Village Hall.

Listed below are the two options offered by the DOT:

• Option 2.3 - Mill and overlay including bump-out pedestrian crossing without narrowing curb width at tracks. Click here to view design: http://wi-waunakee.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/1290
• Option 3.0 - Mill and overlay with no pedestrian crossing improvements (as is). Click here to view design: http://wi-waunakee.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/1291

The CBD endorses Option 2.3 because it addresses pedestrian safety and maintains adequate on-street parking, while still gaining the improved pavement surface and streetscape improvements. Further, the DOT has indicated that this plan could be constructed in 2014 should the remaining steps in the process go smoothly. The CBD believes it to be crucial that the full Main St. project be completed in a single construction season, rather than being broken into multiple years of construction/disruption.

This plan will require a small portion of right of way to be purchased by the Village. This plan also requires quick action by the DOT rail bureau and the Office of the Commissioner of Rail. With the DOT Secretary's Office supporting and advocating for this solution, we are hopeful that these approvals will move along expeditiously.

Finally, the CBD feels strongly that the Village must continue to push the discussion on studying regional STH 19 bypass alternatives.

The Village Board meeting on the 15th is open to the public. At that meeting the CBD recommendation will be presented to the Board by CBD Chairperson Geoff Vine. Should the Village Board be in agreement, Option 2.3 will move to the DOT with full Village support.

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CBD Meeting Wednesday / Board Action April 15th

A meeting of the Central Business District Task Force will be held at 8 AM on Wednesday, April 3rd at Village Hall. The purpose of this meeting is to take a look at the latest information we have from the DOT, and consider recommendations to the Village Board. I plan to post the results of this meeting on the blog by mid-day Wednesday.

With a slightly modified design (first provided to Village Staff at the end of last week), the DOT has offered a solution much like what the Village Board and business community had already given a thumbs-up to. There are a few i's to dot and t's to cross to make sure that this plan can successfully make it's way through the DOT approval process, but we have reason to believe that there is more support for this plan than any other we've seen thus far. We have made inroads with the DOT Secretary's office in order to gain top-level advocacy, which we are very thankful for.

Again, the CBD Task Force is meeting at 8 AM on Wednesday, April 3rd. The public is welcome to attend. A recommendation from the CBD will head to the Village Board for their meeting on Monday, April 15th, at 6:00 PM. That meeting is also open to the public.

Watch this blog for more information on the latest developments. I anticipate another posting mid-day tomorrow.

Latest Update & Meeting Confusion

This past week and a half have been busy with staff making contact with potential strategists/lobbyists who we might be able to hire to assist us in negotiating acceptable Main Street solutions with the DOT. We continue to communicate with DOT staff, and are also keeping in close contact with state legislators.

We were hoping to have enough information in hand for a Village Board meeting next Monday, April 1st. At this point we just don't have enough details in order for that meeting to happen. This topic will likely be considered at the April 15th Board meeting (check back on the blog for more information on what will be discussed that evening).

I do need to apologize to the Waunakee Tribune staff for some confusion. Several days ago we informed the Tribune of the April 1st meeting plans. When we made the decision a couple days later to NOT hold the meeting, we were able to change the legal notice. However, at that point a story was already written by Tribune staff. The story mentioned that an April 1st meeting was to be held. I would like to make it clear that Tribune staff is not at fault for the confusion.

2013 Main Street Utility Improvements

In preparation for the future WDOT street improvements of Main Street, Waunakee Utilities, in cooperation with the Village of Waunakee, will begin utility construction improvements along Main Street in the next few weeks. The project will provide upgrades to the existing sanitary sewer and water main utilities along Main Street. The Utility Commission recently awarded the project to Allen Steele Company, Inc., from Lake Delton, Wisconsin. Allen Steele will be working with several local subcontractors during the project.

The project limits will extend from O’Malley Street to Division Street and will include repairing the existing sanitary sewer system, re-lining the existing sanitary sewer main and service laterals, repairing the existing water main, installing some new water main, and replacing some of the existing water service laterals.

Main Street will remain open to vehicle traffic during the construction; however there may be some lane restrictions to accommodate the construction activities. The project may cause temporary service disruptions to existing sewer and water users, but the disruptions are anticipated to be minimal. Those affected will be notified in advance of planned service outages; however services disruptions may still occur in the event of an emergency.

The construction is tentatively scheduled to begin the week of April 1st and it is anticipated to be completed by the middle of July, weather permitting. 

The public is invited to attend an informational open house to provide additional information and answer questions regarding these scheduled improvements. The Open House will be on Wednesday, April 3rd from 4pm until 5pm at Waunakee Utilities, 322 Moravian Valley Road, in the Waunakee Industrial Park.

Project updates will be available on the Waunakee Utility or the Village of Waunakee web sites or you can contact Jim Madden, Village Construction Manager at (608) 850-8500 or via email at jmadden@vil.waunakee.wi.us.

Background on North Mendota Parkway Project

Work on the North Mendota Parkway project dates back more than 10 years. If you'd like to do a little light reading (note the sarcasm!), here are links to information on Dane County's website.

• This is the first effort that created a report all the communities and Dane County approved in 2003:  http://www.countyofdane.com/execcommittees/northmendota/index.htm
• This is the latest report that was completed in 2010 and includes mapping of the parkway. http://www.countyofdane.com/plandev/planning/North_Mendota.aspx

The Village is unaware of further formal work to advance this project beyond what you find on these sites.

Village Board Presented Info on Current Options

On Monday, March 18th, the Village Board received a presentation from Village Engineer Kevin Even with updated information based on what the Village has been told by the DOT as to Main St. options. What remains complicated is that the options provided by the DOT remain in question because other approval authorities at the State level have not signed off on them. No action was taken by the Village Board, nor was action expected at this meeting.

Click on this link to view the slides that Kevin presented: http://www.waunakee.com/DocumentCenter/View/1278. You can also view the materials that were presented as part of the Village Board's meeting packet by clicking here. Once to the meeting window, the documents available are displayed in the right hand window frame under "Supporting Materials."

Click Here to read the Waunakee Tribune article which summarizes the discussion from the meeting.

At this point a number of other steps are being taken, including:

• DOT continues to review alternative feasibility. The Village has not yet received word on when we should have an updated response from the DOT.
• The Village Administrator is meeting with potential strategists / lobbyists to assist with the Village's effort to reach top level decision makers in advocating our desired outcomes. A proposal(s) may come before the Village Board shortly to formally engage a strategist / lobbyist. A schedule for this action is not yet set.
• The Village Administrator and Village President are seeking a meeting with the Chamber Director and Chamber President to better coordinate overall communication efforts regarding this project. Meeting date is yet to be determined, but connections have been made.
• State Senator Jon Erpenbach and County Supervisor Tim Kiefer are helping to facilitate a meeting of multiple agencies at multiple governmental levels in order to clarify and explore issues related to the 4-lane Main Street requirements vs. other broader alternatives (i.e., bypass, North Mendota Parkway, etc.). No meeting is set at this point, but work is underway to do so.
• As a reminder, the decision to construct the signals at Main/Holiday and roundabout at Main/Century has not changed. Those plans are being engineered and are moving forward. Timing is the big question - will that work be done in 2014 or 2015??? The answer is dependent on what option is carried out for the rest of the Main Street project (portions heading east of the roundabout).