Madison's City Council is finally moving on to Phase One of the State Street redesign after a long delay. This first phase looks promising'hopefully a sign of things to come.
With a test area in front of the Civic Center, Madison residents and those closest to the project can analyze and assess the quality and progress of the project. The test area provides Madison with the unique opportunity to evaluate the project's possibilities on a ent-to-buy"" basis. Its estimated cost of $50,000 is a drop in the bucket compared to the overall project cost, and allows for further clarification and focus. With the results of the test area ""experiment,"" construction plans can be finalized for the rest of State Street.
Rejuvenation efforts can only be a good thing for State Street and downtown Madison as a whole. For a street which encompasses such a lively convergence of culture and people, the current tired disrepair is a disappointing juxtaposition. The long-term benefits for the businesses and those who frequent State Street will far outweigh the cost in the short run.
Some of the lesser-known, but nonetheless exciting, aspects of the renovation include redesigning Concrete Park, North Frances Street, adding a 4-foot-wide granite art strip along the sidewalk and replacing the wood kiosks with more vandal-proof versions. And with the sound and air pollution of city buses removed from the block nearest the Capitol, the focus returns to State Street's unique atmosphere. Additional aesthetic enhancements such as modern bus shelters and the inclusion of local art into the overall design scheme makes State Street much more inviting to those who may not have considered visiting downtown before.
For State Street to remain viable in the long run, such changes are necessary to prevent a deterioration of this fragile lifeline between the university and the Capitol.
