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.