Public Meetings and Advocacy

Please send notices of public meetings for posting to info@bfw.org.

Statewide


ATVS
ATVs on Fond du Lac County Trails (posted 11/13/2006)
If you want to continue enjoying our trails without having to compete for space on the trails with ATV riders, you need to attend the December 6th meeting of the Fond du Lac County Parks and Development Committee and voice your concerns. Guy Postuma of the Eden area will present a petition to the Committee on December 6th asking the County to allow year round use of trails for ATV riding. The list of trails will likely include the Wild Goose State Park Trail, the Eisenbahn State Park Trail, the Mascoutin Valley State Park Trail, and the Northwestern Trail. The list might possibly include the Peebles and Prairie Trails. Mr. Postuma believes that ATV riders are being discriminated against because currently they are prohibited on these trails. These trails were not intended or designed for ATV use. Your turnout in large numbers at the December 6th meeting is the only way to assure that you will not have to compete with ATVs on our trails.
December 6th, 6:15 p.m.
Room G of the City/County Shared Government Center
160 South Macy Street, Fond du Lac
This meeting room is located on the first floor of the building. Public parking is located on the north side of the building. It is vitally important that you attend this meeting and let Committee members know how you feel about this petition.

State Committee on ATVs and Trails (posted 10/26/06)
The most important action we can take right now with regards to ATVs on trails is to get involved in the Special Committee on State Trails Policy (http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lc/3%5FCOMMITTEES/Special%20Committees/2006/TRAIL/). In order to influence this Committee, which appears to have been convened as a precursor to aggressively expanding ATV trails and off-trail access, we must commit to attending these meetings and providing public comment. Several people are needed to attend each meeting to balance the rhetoric that ATVs are great for the environment, the economy and communities. Public testimony will be accepted at the next Special Committee on State Trails Policy on November 10 at 10:00am a the Merrill City Hall, 1004 East First Street, Merrill, Wisconsin. If you don’t think you are qualified to provide public comments on these issues think again. You are no less qualified than an ATV rider who thinks he has a right to ride on all public lands and trails because he bought his machine here in Wisconsin. For more information contact Brook Waalen 715-472-2922

State Off Road Vehicle Park (posted 10/26/06)
The Wisconsin State Trails Council will meet at Whitefish Dunes State Park in Door County on Friday (http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/parks/trails/council/). They will discuss and likely ratify a resolution on the development of a State Off Road Vehicle “park.” We should be represented at these meetings to speak on behalf of silent sports and the environment.

General ATV
The Trail Incident and Safety Report Form (http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/parks/trails/pdf/trail_incident_report.pdf), for use by all trail users, provides a standardized way to report information about Wisconsin trails. For example, if you encounter what you think is a safety issue while out for a ride or walk, or if another user causes you to have an unpleasant experience while out on the trail, use the Form to tell WisDNR about it.

Ahnapee Trail (posted 3/1/06)
Promotion and Recreation Committee is considering ATV access to the Ahnapee Trail. The next meeting is March 15, 2006

For futher information on the trail, call 920-388-7199 or for general Information, email the Kewaunee County Promotion and Recreation Department at KewauneeCounty@hotmail.com or call 920-388-0444.

Friends of the Ahnapee: http://www.ahnapeetrail.org/

Amery to Dresser State Recreational Trail Proposal (posted March 2006)
Spooner, WI - The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is proposing to acquire, develop, and manage the former railroad grade between Amery and Dresser in Polk County as a state recreational trail. The purpose of this project is to address recreational needs in the local area as well as regional recreation demand from Wisconsin residents and visitors as outlined in previous statewide trail plans and policies.

The proposed project would extend the Cattail Trail with a new 13.48 mile long segment between the City of Amery and the Town of Osceola about 1 ½ miles southeast of the Village of Dresser. As part of this project, the department would purchase 14 miles of abandoned railroad corridor from Canadian National Railroad, enter into a memorandum of understanding and cooperative state trail easement with Polk County, and approve a master plan developed by Polk County for development, maintenance, and operation of the trail.

Before a decision can be made on plans for the proposed trail development and management, an Environmental Assessment (EA) must be completed. This notification ensures the chance for public input on that analysis. Once the EA process is completed, the department will then complete a final review and decision on the necessary elements of the proposal. The analysis developed in the EA will be considered along with any other pertinent information as part of those final decision making steps on the project.

This project is not anticipated to result in significant adverse environmental effects. The department has prepared an EA on this project proposal and made a preliminary decision that an environmental impact statement will not be required. This recommendation does not represent approval from other DNR sections which may also require review of the project. Copies of the draft EA can be obtained from Tim Miller, Regional Parks & Recreation Supervisor, WDNR, N4103 Highway 27, Ladysmith, WI 54848, 715/532-4372, or by e-mail at timothy.miller@dnr.state.wi.us. Copies of the EA can also be viewed at the Amery Library (801 Keller Avenue in Amery), Polk County Parks & Recreation Department office (100 Polk Plaza in Balsam Lake), Wisconsin DNR Interstate Park office at St. Croix Falls, or the DNR Service Center in Spooner.

As part of the public review process on the EA, the department also will hold an open house and hearing on Thursday, March 9, 2006 to receive comments on the analysis. The open house and hearing will be held in the gymnasium at Unity High School located at 1908 150th Street, STH 46 North, Balsam Lake, WI 54810. The open house will begin at 6:00 p.m. with the hearing to follow at 7:30 p.m.

Comments on the proposed project and preliminary assessment are welcome and should be received by Mr. Miller no later than 4:30 p.m., Friday, March 24, 2006. Comments may be submitted verbally, electronically, or in hard copy written form. Comments received at the hearing on March 9th will receive the same consideration as those sent directly to Mr. Miller

TRANSMISSION LINES
ATC Proposals (updated 11/13/2006)
Visit www.atcllc.com for a current map of proposed transmission line route options.
Open house on final proposed routes will be in early 2007.
Questions can be directed to
Sarah Justus, 608-877-3624, sjustus@atcllc.com
or
Charlie Gonzales, 608-877-3644, cgonzales@atclls.com

ATC Proposals to Locate Overhead Transmission Lines on State Trail Corridors:
The American Transmission Company is currently looking to locate several large high voltage transmission lines in Wisconsin. One option that they are required to explore by state law is locating the transmission lines along trail corridors. The transmission lines are large and not very nice looking, would likely involve the removal of trees and other vegetation, and may pose safety and/or health risks to trail users. BFW is currently working to gather more information on this important trail issue. Several coalitions are currently forming to oppose the location of the transmission lines along trail corridors and the Governor's State Trails Council has adopted the following position on the issue:

RESOLUTION
Whereas the Governor's State Trails Council has concluded that overhead power lines would be detrimental to trails in the State of Wisconsin for reasons including aesthetics, natural resource protection, user enjoyment and safety;
Whereas the security of power lines necessitates the elimination of high-growing trees, thus detracting from the aesthetic value of the trail corridor, enjoyment of users, and habitat for animals;
Whereas safety issues also include induction from power lines that could result in life threatening injuries to users should they touch a grounded metal object such as a sign or a vehicle; and
Whereas the intent of Act 89 was to limit the consideration of recreational trails as corridors for electric transmission facilities to underground facilities only, and then only if they also did not significantly impact environmentally sensitive areas;
It is therefore RESOLVED that the Governor's State Trails Council opposes the use of trail corridors for overhead power lines.
Passed unanimously this October 10, 2005 by the Governor's Wisconsin State Trails Council.

Badger State Trail Transmission Line Threat:
Visit Save the Badger Trail Coalition at www.savebadgertrail.blogspot.com.

You can also submit your comments on the topic to

Dana White Quam
Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
3911 Fish Hatchery Road
Fitchburg WI 53711
Dana.White-Quam@dnr.state.wi.us

and

American Transmission Company
Sarah Justus
2 Fen Oak Court
Madison, Wi 53718
http://www.atcllc.com/
(note that the website has extensive information about ATC plans and processes)

Military Ridge Trail Transmission Line Threat: Coming soon.

OTHER ISSUES
TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENTS FUNDING/STATE BUDGET (updated 11/22/06)
In September the Governor announced funding for 28 Transportation Enhancements projects for a total of $9.8 million, about 17 of which were bicycle/pedestrian projects. In communities throughout the state, 92 other bicycle/pedestrian projects will go unfunded by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) over the next two years.

In the months since the Governor’s announcement, the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin has been working with citizens to encourage the WisDOT to increase funding for local Transportation Enhancements. The state could choose to spend over $15 million/year on these projects. In recent years, the WisDOT has worked to add some token amounts back to the Transportation Enhancement program through a program called Surface Transportation Program-Discretionary (STP-D), but those efforts were eliminated by the Joint Finance Committee in the state budget process in 2003 and 2005.

Recently, WisDOT released their draft budget, which funds local Transportation Enhancements at only $6.25 million per year and does not reinstitute the STP-D program. At this level of funding, in the next round of applications we will again see less than 25% of projects funded.

Bicycle and pedestrian projects reduce crashes through safety improvements and encourage bicycling and walking at a time when obesity, diabetes, and heart disease have grown to truly epidemic levels. Bicycle and pedestrian projects reduce our reliance on foreign oil, improve air quality, and support economic development by bringing more bicycling tourism dollars to our state while helping to support the $550 million bicycle industry in Wisconsin. The total economic impact of bicycling in Wisconsin, including manufacturing, wholesale distribution, retail, and tourism, is currently estimated at over $1 billion per year.

The total 2005-2007 budget for the WisDOT was $5.8 billion. Transportation Enhancements amounted to less than 0.2% of the transportation budget. If the Transportation Enhancements program was fully funded, it would still amount to less than 1% of the state transportation budget.

Communities and individuals who are concerned about the lack of funding should contact the Governor before the end of December:
Governor Jim Doyle
P.O. Box 7863
Madison, WI 53707
608-266-1212

US HWY 41 in Brown and Winnebago Counties

Madison Area

Platinum Biking City Planning Committee
As stated by the Mayor, the intent of the committee is to come up with recommendations to make Madison a Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community (see http://www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org/ Madison is currently a Gold BFC) and to "make Madison the best city to bike in the United States." The members of the committee are Brian Benford, Mary Rouse, Jay Ferm, Susan Schmitz, Colleen Hayes, Javier Nieto, John Coleman, Kathy Schramm, and Mike Rewey. In addition, representatives from the City Departments of Engineering, Planning, Traffic Engineering, Health, Police, and the Madison Area MPO are to attend each meeting in a supportive capacity. The initial meeting schedule is a little odd due to the holidays, but the committee intends to meet twice a month. The first few meetings are:

Nov 14, Dec 12, Dec 21, and Jan 9.
Meetings are from 4:30-6:30pm.
After that they will set a regular schedule.
Meeting places, dates, and times can be confirmed at http://legistar.cityofmadison.com/mattersearch/home.aspx

The committee will meet at least through March of 2007...and perhaps a few months beyond that. If you have any issues, concerns, barriers, etc that have been burning in your heart about bicycling in Madison...now is the time to speak up. The meetings are open to the public and there will be a period for public comment at each meeting. Speak now or forever hold your peace.

Dane County Supervisor Link: http://www.co.dane.wi.us/coboard/supervisors.asp

Dane County Municipal Clerks: http://www.countyofdane.com/danedept/coclerk/municipalclerks/display.asp

(Cities, Towns and Villages) City of Madison Council: http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/council/index.html

Dane County Departments and Elected Offices: http://www.co.dane.wi.us/departments/

Tranport 2020 Study:
Contact David Trowbridge, 608-267-1148 x207, dtrowbridge@cityofmadison.com

Stoughton Road Corridor Study:
Contact Barbara Feeney, WisDOT SW Region, 608-246-3869, barbara.feeney@dot.state.wi.us

PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLE/MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSION ---------- MEETS: 4th Tuesday of the month; 5:00 p.m., Room 260, MMB STAFF: David Dryer PHONE:(608)266-4761 AGENCY: Traffic Engineering LOCATION: 215 MLKJ Blvd., Room 100 E-MAIL: ddryer@cityofmadison.com AUTHORITY: SUBST ORD 11848A, ID 20988 MEMBERS: 11 VOTING MEMBERS: 9 NON-VOTING MEMBERS: 2 (*)
For agenda and minutes visit: http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/mayor/mycommit.html#Committee%20Name

Transit and Parking Commission Third Tuesday in Apr MEETS: 2nd Tuesday of the month, 5:00 p.m., Room 260, MMB. STAFF: Catherine Debo PHONE:(608)266-4904 AGENCY: Madison Metro LOCATION: 1101 E Washingon Ave E-MAIL: cdebo@cityofmadison.com
For agenda and minutes visit: http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/mayor/mycommit.html#Committee%20Name

US 18/151 Highway Access Study
For more information contact: Barbara Feeney, WisDOT, 608-246-3869, barbara.feeney@dot.state.wi.us or Darren Fortney, SEH, 800-732-4362, dfortney@sehinc.com

Milwaukee/Southeastern Wisconsin

Milwaukee Bicycle Task Force
The full task force meets bi-monthly in room 709 of the Frank P. Zeidler Municipal Building at 709 N. Broadway Ave. and the public is welcome to attend. Members of the cycling community and the BPTF meet more informally and as subcommittees more regularly. For the location of the next subcommittee or informal meeting, call 414-271-9685 or email jessica@bfw.org.
For more info visit: http://www.milwaukee.gov/display/router.asp?docid=3727

Mt Pleasant Bicycle Plan Public Meeting
November 6, 2006; 6-8pm Village Hall 6126 Durand Ave
The Mount Pleasant Park Commission has been working diligently over the past months to produce a On-Street and Off-Street Master Bike Plan for the Village. The Park Commission has retained the services of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin to produce this document. The Village has obtained grants for the pathway construction in excess of of $½ Million and has future plans to extend the pathway south to CTH KR. Our residents have responded in a survey that was included in the Village's Fall Newsletter. Now we are requesting input from residents of surrounding municipalities. The Park Commission has scheduled a Public Open House on November 6th from 6 to 8 pm at the Village Hall at 6126 Durand Avenue to invite the public to provide feedback about the plan. We encourage all who are interested to attend. Please contact Brennan Kane at 554-8750 extension 245 for details.

I-94 Corridor Reconstruction Planning Milwaukee to State Line (updated 11/22/06)
www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/d2/i94/index.htm
DOTSEFreeways94NSC@dot.state.wi.us; 262-548-8721
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will hold public information meetings in Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha counties to present concepts and ideas on possible improvements to the I-94 North-South Corridor, extending from the Mitchell Interchange area in Milwaukee to the Illinois state line. Public Information meeting dates and locations:

Kenosha area November 28, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Mahone Middle School
6900 60th Street Kenosha
(Free shuttle buses will run between Ruether Central High School, 913 57th Street and Mahone Middle School. The shuttle bus will pickup and drop off at the West entrance at 4:45, 5:15, 5:45, 6:15, 6:45, 7:15 and 7:45 pm. Parking is available at the school parking lot)

Racine area November 30, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
CATI Center
2320 Renaissance Boulevard Sturtevant
(Free shuttle buses will run between San Juan Diego Middle School, 1101 Douglas Avenue and the CATI Center. Pick up and drop off times are 4:45, 5:30, 6:15, 7:00 and 7:45 pm. Parking is available at the parking lot on Douglas and Hamilton. The shuttle will pick up attendees from the parking lot)

Oak Creek / Franklin December 5, 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
West Middle School
8401 S. 13th Street Oak Creek

Milwaukee December 7, 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Best Western Airport Hotel
5105 S. Howell Avenue Milwaukee

Design concepts for I-94 will be on display, along with information on the I-94 interchange projects in Kenosha and Racine counties. The meetings will follow an open-house format with a short presentation given hourly, or as needed, throughout the evening. Traffic information, other exhibits and maps of concepts will be on display. Planners, engineers and real estate specialists from the study team will be available to answer questions, explain displays and discuss specific project issues. Participants will be encouraged to provide comments and ideas directly on corridor maps and displays. Information for the entire corridor including Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha will be available at all four locations. The meeting locations are wheelchair accessible. Persons with hearing impairments may request an interpreter for the meeting and can contact the WisDOT Telephone Devise for the Deaf (TDD) at (608) 246-5381. For more information please contact: Bob Gutierrez, Project Manager (262) 548-8721 E-mail: dotsefreeways94ns@dot.state.wi.us <mailto:dotsefreeways94ns@dot.state.wi.us> VISIT: www.sefreeways.org <http://www.sefreeways.org>

Racine Bicycle Task Force
For information contact Jack Hirt at jack@bfw.org or 414-271-9685


National


Visit the America Bikes website or the League of American Bicyclists to learn more about issues at the national level.