OPINION & EDITORIAL
State solutions
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Also by Badger Herald Editorial Board:
- Madison's annual hip-hop conference falters (April 14, 2003)
- Dear Dave: Post this near your desk (April 17, 2003)
- Politicking destroyed opt-out's proponents (April 14, 2003)
- Don't Cut Historical Society Funds (April 29, 2003)
- Redirecting control (April 23, 2003)
Related Stories:
- State of State Street (November 11, 2001)
- A true student concern (April 9, 2002)
- A hallow compromise (September 21, 2006)
- It's been how long? (March 13, 2002)
- The road less traveled (February 1, 2006)
by Badger Herald Editorial Board
Monday, February 4, 2002
After over 20 years of corrosion and three years of planning, State Street may soon get its much-needed facelift.
On March 5, the City Council will debate — and hopefully approve — a plan to update Madison’s most famous street. The plan, which calls for $14 million worth of investments in State Street, was first proposed in 1999 but has since languished before city committees and public hearings.
For the most part, the State Street Design Project is a good plan and should be approved with little trouble. The improvements to the street’s sidewalks, lighting and bus shelters are long overdue. The proposed replacement of the street’s aging and dying trees is also a good idea — the new trees will benefit from an underground irrigation system and improved soil/gravel that will allow unprecedented summertime shade in a few short years.
Unfortunately, for a plan three years in the making, the State Street Design Project is appeasing too many people for the street’s own good. Instead of agreeing on a long-term vision for State Street, the city will be adopting a few uncontroversial, cosmetic improvements. The result is little more than a Band-Aid to cover the street’s more serious problems, including unwanted bus traffic, economic issues, over-saturation of bars and liquor stores, and social problems.
Federal funding makes the bus issue problematic. Eighty percent of the tab is federal funding, most of which is linked to the street’s designation as a “fixed guide way,” similar to the bus lane running along University Avenue. In other words, federal funding equals busses. Still, the city should explore the possibility of re-routing the regular busses and developing alternative busses devoted solely to State Street.
Aside from aiming to make the street more versatile, the State Street redesign also lacks economic foresight. While much of the street’s charm comes from its eclectic local shops, those local shops are not visible enough to draw customers downtown. For long-term success, local shops need big name neighbors. Unfortunately, the State Street Design Project ignores this economic reality. A better plan would include efforts to recruit big-name businesses that would draw enough non-isthmus customers to keep the character shops financially viable.
Lastly, there is no mention of the conundrum caused by a street with soup kitchens on one end, kind-hearted college students on the other, and scores of bars in between. While the city has improved the monitoring of State Street panhandlers in recent years, the street’s economics are unlikely to improve so long as public alcoholism and panhandling run rampant.
The State Street Design Project is a short-term answer that ignores long-term issues like transportation, economics and panhandling. The silly uproar about potted plants shows that controversy is inevitable — it would be far better if people were arguing about things that matter. Unfortunately, the State Street Design Project does not give the chance.
