Are you tired of sitting in Beltline traffic? Can't take one more day spent circling Madison's downtown blocks for a parking spot? Take heed-those days may be numbered.
The mayor and county executive have each proposed a transportation system-streetcar and light rail, respectively-that would ease traffic congestion and encourage positive development in Dane County and Madison.
Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk and Supervisor Scott McDonnell offered their rail transit proposal in August 2004. Dubbed \Dane Train,"" the system of small diesel electric vehicles would run on existing rail corridors around Dane County and rail lines to be built into Madison streets. Phase I of Dane Train would connect Middleton to downtown Madison. Eventually, lines could be expanded to link Fitchburg, Dane County airport and Sun Prairie.
Falk sees the plan as a perfect fit with Dane County. She said the diesel electric vehicles can go on a variety of tracks and are much more quiet than conventional trains.
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz is still fine-tuning his plan and chose streetcars, a lighter-weight car similar to a trolley, as the focus of his new system.
Streetcars are beneficial to a city, according to Jeanne Hoffman, assistant to the mayor. ""It's a cute vehicle, it's fun, the ride is smooth and comfortable and the access-getting on and off the vehicle-is easy,"" Hoffman said.
Mayor Cieslewicz's plan is modeled on the system built in Portland, Ore. Portland was a good option because the city successfully connected a major hospital, a university and Portland's downtown, according to Hoffman. The two systems have different primary purposes: getting people into the city or getting people around the city.
""They're to serve two different markets, two different clientele,"" said James LaGro, UW-Madison professor of urban and regional planning.
Falk said she believes the mayor's plan alone would not be sufficient for Dane County and said her proposal better serves broader regional needs.
Hoffman, however, said she believes the trolleys are a better option for downtown Madison. ""[The trolley] can get to places where a bigger type of train could not go, including places on campus,"" she said.
Dane County residents should not expect to see new trains anytime soon, however, as both plans are still in the early planning stages. Transport 2020 released the Dane Train proposal to meet state and federal funding requirements, which could come this spring when Congress reviews and reauthorizes transportation laws and funding.
