Common Council members were briefed on a tentative Transportation Improvement Plan Tuesday that outlines tactics to improve roads and bike and pedestrian paths.
The proposal, which will be funded primarily by the city, will be submitted to the Metropolitan Planning Organization after some revisions, according to Deputy City Engineer Rob Phillips.
TIP is competing against other municipalities for funding, Phillips said, and MPO determines how the funds are allocated and used.
“It’s general tax dollars and federal funds that will fund [the proposed projects],” Phillips said. “We listed all the projects that we’re working with the Department of Transportation on [and] county funds are involved as well.”
Phillips said it is important to realize the money for these projects is not coming from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
In 2009, the TIP budget totaled approximately $68 million — $32 million was from tax dollars, $15 million was from federal sources, $9 million was from the state, $3.9 million was from special assessment money, $1.4 million was from tax increment financing and $6.6 million came from other municipalities.
Total projected revenue for 2010 projects is about $47.7 million. Projects include repairing the pavements on Campus Drive, University Avenue and Gorham Street.
This is the earliest the City Council has seen the TIP and since the alders expressed interest in what is being submitted to the MPO, they want an earlier chance to voice comment, Phillips said.
Many planned projects are near the campus of the University of Wisconsin. For example TIP proposes renovations of University Avenue and Park Street, according to Phillips.
The project, which is scheduled to begin in 2010, will cost a projected $550,000, the TIP proposal stated.
Also, over the next few years, TIP will seek funding for the renovation of the intersection of County M and Valley View Road to the intersection of Mineral Point Road and the Beltline Highway, which is adjacent to the University of Wisconsin’s second research park.
Ald. Bryon Eagon, District 8, said the city is splitting construction schedules in a way that will help UW students and faculty deal with the pain.
For example construction to renovate the part of University Avenue that touches the UW is being held off for two weeks to ensure classes are completed and that students and staff have as much access to campus as possible, Eagon said.
“The city recognized the importance of student and faculty and being able to access campus, so they tried their best to break up construction to keep transportation to campus most efficient as possible at same time as improving roads and traffic ways,” Eagon said.
Phillips said TIP hosts a variety of pedestrian and bike projects as well.
