Madison Area

[GeekJedi]

A couple of clarifications regarding the discussion of the I 39/90/94 study alternatives.: First, it is the East Towne (not East Town) area. Secondly, it's East Washington Avenue (not street or boulevard), no one in Madison says just Washington. E. Washington Ave. and W. Washington Ave. are almost considered to be separate streets divided by the Capitol Square.

Regarding the alternatives, I like the suggestion of the northbound bypass for US 12 to WB I-90 at the ramp terminal stoplights at exit 92 at Lake Delton a la S. Park St. at the Beltline. However, this may be short-lived. Once the Sauk City bypass is ever constructed, I imagine the additional traffic will warrant a free flow system interchange at I-90.

I also like the alignment of the northbound offramp at STH 19 aligning with County Trunk CV.

I don't care for removing the trumpet at STH 13 at the Dells.

Is the redo of the I-39 split at Cascade Mountain really warranted?  Seems like a lot of effort for little benefit.

Actually, not a lot of people say "E. Washington" either. They say "East Wash".

[The Ghostbuster]

They have been installing temporary signals on wires along East Washington Ave. in Madison. I believe it is part of the construction of the proposed bus rapid transit line.

[on_wisconsin]

They have been installing temporary signals on wires along East Washington Ave. in Madison. I believe it is part of the construction of the proposed bus rapid transit line.

Noticed several along Mineral Point Rd as well. Nice to see shovels finally turning on BRT after being stuck in Madtown "analysis paralysis" for the last 5+ years. 

EDIT. Map of the under construction BRT lines:

City of Madison

[The Ghostbuster]

The local bus system, Madison Metro is undergoing a route overhaul beginning on Sunday, June 11: https://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/routes-schedules/transit-network-redesign. Most of the new routes will be lettered routes (as were all routes prior to 1998). The four transfer points that were constructed in 1998 will be eliminated as well. I have mixed feelings about the redesign. I like the current numbered routes, and after the redesign, a few of the routes I could take will be less direct than before. Nevertheless, the city obviously felt that 25 years under the current system was enough, and it was time for an update, so I (and everyone else) will have to make do.

[Plutonic Panda]

They have been installing temporary signals on wires along East Washington Ave. in Madison. I believe it is part of the construction of the proposed bus rapid transit line.

Noticed several along Mineral Point Rd as well. Nice to see shovels finally turning on BRT after being stuck in Madtown "analysis paralysis" for the last 5+ years. 

EDIT. Map of the under construction BRT lines:

City of Madison

What is the point of the green and blue lines? Will that be more frequent service or will they extend those lines in the future?

[The Ghostbuster]

Perhaps the Frequently Asked Questions page will provide you with more information: https://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/routes-schedules/bus-rapid-transit/frequently-asked-questions.

[Plutonic Panda]

Perhaps the Frequently Asked Questions page will provide you with more information: https://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/routes-schedules/bus-rapid-transit/frequently-asked-questions.

Maybe I'm blind but I didn't see the answer there though it did mention this is merely phase 1 so I'm guessing that means they will use the other colored lines as expansions apart from the red line. Makes sense.

[on_wisconsin]

Perhaps the Frequently Asked Questions page will provide you with more information: https://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/routes-schedules/bus-rapid-transit/frequently-asked-questions.

Maybe I'm blind but I didn't see the answer there though it did mention this is merely phase 1 so I'm guessing that means they will use the other colored lines as expansions apart from the red line. Makes sense.

More or less. The dashed lines are local service (non-BRT) continuations of the green and blue lines that are tentatively planned to be upgraded in phase 2, depending on demand/ funding.

The green line will essentially replace Metro's current route 4, while the blue line replaces route 70. Red Line (core) service will basically replace the high ridership portions of current route 2 along with parts of 15 & 67 on the west side and route 6 east of the square.

[triplemultiplex]

The local bus system, Madison Metro is undergoing a route overhaul beginning on Sunday, June 11: https://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/routes-schedules/transit-network-redesign.

Looking at the routes that are relevant to me; I can still get where I'd need to go but I find it curious that the city hall area of Fitchburg will now be detached from the Fish Hatchery corridor which seems odd to me.  Maybe as the Lacy Rd area west of US 14 starts filling in it will make better sense.



In other arenas, construction of the new interchange at US 12/18 and CTH AB east of the dump is well underway.  Genuinely shocked this is being done before US 12 at CTH K.  Both are needed, don't get me wrong, but clearly the priority should be to eliminate that signal at K.

[Scott5114]

WI 26 discussion moved to Fictional Highways.

[SEWIGuy]

WI 26 discussion moved to Fictional Highways.

Why would you do that? Outside of a couple posts talking about a bypass, most of the discussion was about actual highways. Move it to the "Wisconsin"  topic? Sure. Fictional?  Silly decision.

[The Ghostbuster]

Unless there is an actual proposal for STH 26 to bypass Rosendale (and I don't think there is), I agree with Administrator Scott5114's decision to move STH 26 discussion to Fictional Highways.

[thspfc]

Discussion about whether a bypass is needed is not fictional and should not have been moved. Discussion about hypothetical plans for said bypass would be fictional. But aside from one or two posts, the main point of contention was whether a bypass or new ramps were needed.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Why would a WIS 26 discussion be in a Madison thread? It doesn't go through or anywhere near Madison.

[The Ghostbuster]

My thoughts exactly. Discussion about STH 26 should be in Wisconsin Notes, real projects along STH 26 that is.

[SEWIGuy]

My thoughts exactly. Discussion about STH 26 should be in Wisconsin Notes, real projects along STH 26 that is.

Right. That's where it should have been moved. Not to Fictional Highways.

Even the mapped bypass was more answering a question about how viable it would be.

[on_wisconsin]

The local bus system, Madison Metro is undergoing a route overhaul beginning on Sunday, June 11: https://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/routes-schedules/transit-network-redesign.

Looking at the routes that are relevant to me; I can still get where I'd need to go but I find it curious that the city hall area of Fitchburg will now be detached from the Fish Hatchery corridor which seems odd to me.  Maybe as the Lacy Rd area west of US 14 starts filling in it will make better sense.

Looking at the new route and being numbered vs lettered, guessing a few biotech firms along the busline are helping fund it. Similar to the EpicLand routes to Verona or the UW circulators.
https://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/routes-schedules/transit-network-redesign/route-65

In other arenas, construction of the new interchange at US 12/18 and CTH AB east of the dump is well underway.  Genuinely shocked this is being done before US 12 at CTH K.  Both are needed, don't get me wrong, but clearly the priority should be to eliminate that signal at K.

^This... It's somewhat hard to imagine US 12/ CTH AB intersection is a larger accident blackspot than CTH K, especially with the topography there. But then the latter doesn't have a casino and a large country club next to it so you know...

[SEWIGuy]

The local bus system, Madison Metro is undergoing a route overhaul beginning on Sunday, June 11: https://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/routes-schedules/transit-network-redesign.

Looking at the routes that are relevant to me; I can still get where I'd need to go but I find it curious that the city hall area of Fitchburg will now be detached from the Fish Hatchery corridor which seems odd to me.  Maybe as the Lacy Rd area west of US 14 starts filling in it will make better sense.

Looking at the new route and being numbered vs lettered, guessing a few biotech firms along the busline are helping fund it. Similar to the EpicLand routes to Verona or the UW circulators.
https://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/routes-schedules/transit-network-redesign/route-65

That route along Fish Hatchery ends just north of the biotech firms.  I think it is more collecting the people who live in the hundreds of apartments around that shopping center just north of McKee Farms. 

[on_wisconsin]

The local bus system, Madison Metro is undergoing a route overhaul beginning on Sunday, June 11: https://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/routes-schedules/transit-network-redesign.

Looking at the routes that are relevant to me; I can still get where I'd need to go but I find it curious that the city hall area of Fitchburg will now be detached from the Fish Hatchery corridor which seems odd to me.  Maybe as the Lacy Rd area west of US 14 starts filling in it will make better sense.

Looking at the new route and being numbered vs lettered, guessing a few biotech firms along the busline are helping fund it. Similar to the EpicLand routes to Verona or the UW circulators.
https://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/routes-schedules/transit-network-redesign/route-65

That route along Fish Hatchery ends just north of the biotech firms.  I think it is more collecting the people who live in the hundreds of apartments around that shopping center just north of McKee Farms. 

Was thinking more along the lines of Promega which has large campus on Cheryl Pkwy. Exact Sciences also has a large facility just off Rimrock.

[SEWIGuy]

My apologies. I was looking at the wrong link. I think your thoughts are accurate.

BTW, having grown up in the 70s and 80s in the area of Fish Hatchery and Irish Lane, the growth around there still boggles my mind.  I was just around there last weekend and parts of it are becoming completely unrecognizable to me.

[dvferyance]

They have been installing temporary signals on wires along East Washington Ave. in Madison. I believe it is part of the construction of the proposed bus rapid transit line.

Really Washington Ave was redone not that long ago and I never thought the road was in any kind of disrepair.

[The Ghostbuster]

The portion between Blair St. and Thierer Rd./Portage Rd. was reconstructed between 2004 and 2010 (with a construction break in 2008. The portion from Thierer Rd./Portage Rd. to East Springs Dr. was reconstructed in 2012 (only the pavement was replaced, and bike lanes were added). This PDF from April 6th includes more information: https://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/documents/brt/ConstructionEastSide_20230406.pdf.

[peterj920]

The reconstruction project didn't include the US 51/Stoughton Rd Intersection and the Blair St Intersection which is being reconstructed right now.

There are temporary signals being installed on Mineral Point Rd, Whitney Way, University Ave, and now E. Washington St.

[SSOWorld]

When "BRT" utilizes existing streets -  even if it has dedicated lanes, it's still not Bus Rapid Transit.

[Rothman]

When "BRT" utilizes existing streets -  even if it has dedicated lanes, it's still not Bus Rapid Transit.

What about signal priority?