Madison Area

[peterj920]

A 2nd entrance to Epic is currently being constructed. County PD is being expanded to Country View Rd where there will be a new signal and entrance. I'm guessing a new road is going to be constructed from the interchange into the new west entrance.

[The Ghostbuster]

The future second entrance already appears on Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0111717,-89.5760368,703m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu

[SSOWorld]

A 2nd entrance to Epic is currently being constructed. County PD is being expanded to Country View Rd where there will be a new signal and entrance. I'm guessing a new road is going to be constructed from the interchange into the new west entrance.

I presume you work there.

[peterj920]

A 2nd entrance to Epic is currently being constructed. County PD is being expanded to Country View Rd where there will be a new signal and entrance. I'm guessing a new road is going to be constructed from the interchange into the new west entrance.

I presume you work there.

No, just live nearby and use PD to get to US 18/US 151 on my Driftless Adventures.

[The Ghostbuster]

The CTH PD has had some massive upgrades over the years. Previously, the four-lane roadway narrowed back to two lanes just west of Maple Grove Dr. Since then, there has been a lot of development, thus more of CTH PD has had to be expanded to four lanes. This includes the construction of a single-point intersection at the CTH-PD/CTH-M intersection: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0164118,-89.5325887,497m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu. I wouldn't be surprised if CTH-PD is eventually expanded to four lanes all the way to US 18/151.

[peterj920]

The CTH PD has had some massive upgrades over the years. Previously, the four-lane roadway narrowed back to two lanes just west of Maple Grove Dr. Since then, there has been a lot of development, thus more of CTH PD has had to be expanded to four lanes. This includes the construction of a single-point intersection at the CTH-PD/CTH-M intersection: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0164118,-89.5325887,497m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu. I wouldn't be surprised if CTH-PD is eventually expanded to four lanes all the way to US 18/151.

That intersection is weird. PD westbound gets to free flow under County M but PD east has to stop at a light. I doubt PD is going to be made 4 lanes to US 18/US 151. The County G/Dairyridge Rd interchange is being upgraded and will serve traffic heading to Epic from Mt. Horeb.

[The Ghostbuster]

I'm sure there would have been a free-flow lane constructed in the eastbound direction as well, had it not been for the substation located at the southeast corner of the CTH-PD/CTH-M intersection. The substation probably could have been relocated, and the power lines moved, but neither were.

[The Ghostbuster]

They are presently installing a traffic signal at the intersection of East Washington Ave. and Melvin Ct./Rethke Ave. Installation isn't complete yet, but when it is completed and fully operational, the flashing crossing signals at the intersection will undoubtedly be removed: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.1094381,-89.3357211,3a,75y,224.86h,83.89t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sNH8vSP9yYrTtyjMtfafEVA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu.

[peterj920]

They are presently installing a traffic signal at the intersection of East Washington Ave. and Melvin Ct./Rethke Ave. Installation isn't complete yet, but when it is completed and fully operational, the flashing crossing signals at the intersection will undoubtedly be removed: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.1094381,-89.3357211,3a,75y,224.86h,83.89t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sNH8vSP9yYrTtyjMtfafEVA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu.

Because E. Washington can always use more traffic lights. More people going to the Geisha House?

[The Ghostbuster]

The traffic signal is being installed as part of the BRT project that will open in late 2024. Other non-signalized intersections along the route's corridor are getting signals as well.

[midwesternroadguy]

The traffic signal is being installed as part of the BRT project that will open in late 2024. Other non-signalized intersections along the route's corridor are getting signals as well.

.
How many stoplights are being installed as part of the BRT?  Looks like they'll be at Sheboygan Ave and Whitney Way, Sheboygan and Segoe Road, E. Wash at Melvin/Rethke.  Any others?

[The Ghostbuster]

I'd suggest going to the City of Madison website and clicking on the Bus Rapid Transit page to learn more about where new traffic signals are being erected within the BRT corridor (and the entire project in general).

[mgk920]

Isn't that 'BRT' thing a sort of 'poor man's' rubber tire version of a steel rail tram system that would be commonly found in many European cities?  IIRC, the same thing is being done in the Milwaukee area.

Mike

[The Ghostbuster]

Comparing US cities with European cities is really comparing apples to oranges. The land mass of Europe is similar to the entire land mass of the United States, and their cities are closer together. That's probably why rail seems to work better there as opposed to here. The northeastern portion of the United States is probably the only part of the country where rail transport between cities would work as well as in Europe. I think buses get a very bad rap. Personally, I strongly prefer buses to trains.

[mgk920]

Comparing US cities with European cities is really comparing apples to oranges. The land mass of Europe is similar to the entire land mass of the United States, and their cities are closer together. That's probably why rail seems to work better there as opposed to here. The northeastern portion of the United States is probably the only part of the country where rail transport between cities would work as well as in Europe. I think buses get a very bad rap. Personally, I strongly prefer buses to trains.

I was typing about local tram/transit systems, not intercity systems.

Mike

[triplemultiplex]

Isn't that 'BRT' thing a sort of 'poor man's' rubber tire version of a steel rail tram system that would be commonly found in many European cities?  IIRC, the same thing is being done in the Milwaukee area.

I liken BRT to street-running light rail.  Same methodology with the stops using elevated platforms and displays telling you when the next vehicle arrives.  Same type of spacing between stops.  Same use of signal prioritization.

[The Ghostbuster]

State St.'s two bus rapid transit stations begin construction on Monday: https://www.wmtv15news.com/2024/02/16/state-street-bus-rapid-transit-stations-begin-construction/.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

State St.'s two bus rapid transit stations begin construction on Monday: https://www.wmtv15news.com/2024/02/16/state-street-bus-rapid-transit-stations-begin-construction/.

"State Street" and "rapid transit" sounds like an oxymoron, especially when it's Badger game day.

[peterj920]

There's going to be a new Perry St overpass across The Beltline that was announced today. The new bridge will be built just to the west of the US 14/US 151 Interchange.

[The Ghostbuster]

The madison.com story (https://madison.com/news/local/government-politics/madison-beltline-overpass-grant/article_72d00040-e150-11ee-b071-2f49a7537639.html) is paywalled, so it can't be accessed. While I welcome new grade-separations across the Beltline, there doesn't seem to be enough space to build an overpass at Perry St. The frontage roads are too close to the mainline lanes, and the eastbound off-ramp to US 14 East/US 151 North. How would they manage to construct an overpass without lowering the road (Beltline), or taking out the church and motels surrounding Perry St.?

[SEWIGuy]

I guess that's what the planning grant is studying.

[triplemultiplex]

As long as they leave enough room under it so the beltline ramps to Park and Fish Hatch can be braided in the future.  Those two interchanges are too close together to just rely on aux lanes.

[peterj920]

As long as they leave enough room under it so the beltline ramps to Park and Fish Hatch can be braided in the future.  Those two interchanges are too close together to just rely on aux lanes.

The Fish Hatchery/Todd Dr/Seminole Hwy/Verona Rd is the worst sequence on The Beltline. Traveling westbound that's where all the backups are.

[TheCatalyst31]

As long as they leave enough room under it so the beltline ramps to Park and Fish Hatch can be braided in the future.  Those two interchanges are too close together to just rely on aux lanes.

The Fish Hatchery/Todd Dr/Seminole Hwy/Verona Rd is the worst sequence on The Beltline. Traveling westbound that's where all the backups are.

That's less because of the exits being close together and more because that's a choke point so it gets the most traffic.

[JREwing78]

There's going to be a new Perry St overpass across The Beltline that was announced today. The new bridge will be built just to the west of the US 14/US 151 Interchange.

From the DOT press release: "The funding is aimed at reconnecting communities that were cut off by transportation infrastructure decades ago, leaving entire neighborhoods without direct access to opportunity, like schools, jobs, medical offices and places of worship."

Yeah, this is NOT a "cut off" community. This is a light commercial/industrial district that is separated from a mixed commercial/residential area by a highway. It's a stupid location to try to cram in another vehicle overpass, and it won't do a damn thing for the folks who live there. What it *might* do is make the area south of the Beltline more viable for redevelopment - and I suspect that's ultimately the City's goal, press releases be damned.

It's easily a $10-15 million project for a vehicle bridge to connect the two sides, only one of which has an appreciable residential population - nobody lives in the City of Madison section south of the Beltline. Both areas already have ample ways to get in and out by car. Not to mention, they'll need to grab a bunch of property on both sides of the Beltline to put this bridge in there.

Take out the slum motels on each side of the highway the most expensive way possible! Do eeet!!!

If we're merely talking about a pedestrian and bike overpass, that makes a lot more sense. There is a dearth of options to safely cross the Beltline as a pedestrian or cyclist, and this would provide a viable way into the City from the Capital City bike trail or neighborhood farther south in Fitchburg. It can be done without nearly the amount of disruption or property acquisition as a vehicle overpass.