The Associated Students of Madison Legislative Affairs Committee met Monday to discuss high-speed rail stops and alcohol policies with representatives from Madison's Downtown Coordinating Committee.
Last Friday, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation selected four possible Madison stop locations for the proposed high-speed rail, which would connect Madison and Milwaukee.
The committees discussed the pros and cons of the four possible locations: Monona Terrace, the Kohl Center, Yahara Station on East Washington Avenue and the Dane County Regional Airport.
According to Troy Thiel, chair of the DCC, a Monona Terrace stop would have operational issues, space concerns and a lack of parking. He said the Kohl Center is also landlocked in terms of transit connects and would present problems during rush hour.
The Yahara Station has 15 bus routes with stops on its block, carrying over four million passengers a year, while transit routes to the airport transport only 5,600 people per year, he said.
""Connectability is a major key,"" Thiel said. ""When you're locating a transit station … it needs to be a place where the market is already accessing.""
According to Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, the Department of Transportation should study the efficacy of a stop at Monona Terrace or the Kohl Center. He agrees that a stop at the airport is not the best location.
""The airport clearly fails in practically all aspects,"" he said.
Verveer said the high-speed rail stop location is ultimately chosen by the state government and the Department of Transportation, not the city of Madison.
""Hopefully we can have a lot of influence,"" he said. ""We're hoping to make an important statement … at the city council meeting.""
The committees also discussed how the Alcohol License Density Ordinance affects alternative entertainment options for students. ALDO, which prevents new establishments from obtaining an alcohol license unless they replace an existing business that currently holds a Class A liquor license, is set to expire in October.
""We can maybe make some modifications immediately that will foster and encourage … alternative entertainment options that otherwise are precluded by the law,"" Verveer said.
Downtown Coordinating Committee members plan to further discuss both high-speed rail stop locations and ALDO at the city Common Council meeting Tuesday.
