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Important Neighborhood News
Public Meeting on East-Side Water Quality Scheduled
By Joe Campana, RNA Council
April 16, 2008
Unless you have just moved into the neighborhood, you are aware that the City of Madison has had a serious
and controversial water quality problem for the last couple of years. What you may not know
is that the majority of the problem lies within our neighborhood. The most problematic well (#29) is located in the
Ridgewood Neighborhood on N. Thompson Drive.
A solution to the contaminated drinking water in our neighborhood is to filter the water. This is
a potential solution, yet it leaves many questions unanswered about the quality of the water coming into our homes.
Our neighborhood has been very active and involved over the last several years, especially on issues relating
to development and to traffic. However, this very important issue of water quality and our childrens' health has not received
our attention and involvement as it should.
The City is holding a neighborhood meeting next Wednesday Evening, April 23rd from 6:30 to 8:00 PM at the Eastside Streets
Facility. The facility is at 4602 Sycamore Avenue across the street from the dog park.
It is my understanding that the City only sent a notice out to a limited number of neighbors, even though this issue affects
everyone within several neighborhoods in our region. I don't know what the reason is for such a limited mailing when in fact
we have such a widespread and serious issue. For this reason, I ask you to take a moment and contact your neighbors to make
them aware of of the issue and the importance of attending this meeting.
It is obvious from the public safety meetings held on the Westside last year, that neighbors attending meetings and speaking
up will cause the City to take action. You may recall that only after many people attended those meetings and spoke out, that
the mayor and the common council supported the hiring of over 20 new police officers to help control our growing crime problem.
Your attendance at this meeting on our drinking water can make a difference.
Roundabout on East Side is planned
By Quinn Craugh, Wisconsin State Journal
In an attempt to fix a notoriously dangerous intersection, Madison officials plan to build what
will be one of the city 's busiest roundabouts yet.
Construction on the intersection at Lien, Thompson and Zeier roads near East Towne Mall is set to begin next year. Madison
traffic engineer David Dryer estimated the cost to be near $2.3 million and said it should prove to be more efficient than
traffic lights.
He said the roundabout would be 110 feet in diameter and provide an "inner circle " in the middle of the intersection that
is meant to slow traffic. He said there are about 10 roundabouts in the city.
According to the state Department of Transportation, roundabouts reduce fatal crashes by 90 percent and injuries due to
crashes by 76 percent.
Ald. Joe Clausius, 17th District, said the roundabout is going to be one of the largest in the city, as measured by traffic
volume. Dryer said 25,000 to 30,000 vehicles drive on the intersecting roads of Thompson, Zeier and Lien daily. The number
is roughly 60,000 on busy East Washington Avenue. He also said the new roundabout would be equal in size and traffic volume
to the one at Thompson Road and Commercial Avenue.
Clausius encouraged the plan because of the tremendous amount of expected growth in the area. He also said the three intersecting
roads proved to be extremely hazardous and said the roundabout would "relocate the entire intersection." According to city
traffic statistics, 27 crashes occurred at the site from 2004 to 2006. The statistics for 2007 weren 't available.
Still, Clausius said he received some negative feedback at first about the project. Not only will the construction coincide
with the next phase on East Washington, but it will also close down some lanes.
Dryer said he hears mixed reactions to other roundabouts in the city because of the "headache" they can initially cause.
"I think, overall, there is a love/hate relationship with roundabouts," Dryer said.
(Note: The preceding article first appeared in the March 4th, 2008 Wisconsin State Journal.
The project, originally slated for this year, has been pushed back to 2009.)
Message from the Webmaster:
A volunteer organization such as ours depends on the contributions of all of its members. Many of you have
made valuable contributions over the years. However, there comes a time when an organization can no longer
effectively function on the efforts of these same people. Sadly, the RNA has reached this stage. This says nothing
to diminish the efforts of those of us who have worked tirelessly to improve our neighborhood, but instead says that we need
a new shot of energy to keep us going.
To that end if you have any desire to help this organization continue to have the profound effect on shaping policy
on Madison's Far East side please email Joe Campana to that effect.
As our webmaster, when new news comes out I promise to do my best to keep you informed. In addition, if anyone provides any information relevant
to this organization I will include it on this website.
This website was created and is maintained by our webmaster Jeremy Kautza. Several people, on the Ridgewood Neighborhood Council, most notably, Joe Campana, have contributed content appearing on
this site.
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