[media-credit name=’JEFF SCHORFHEIDE/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]

Madison
engineers and planners presented possible options for enhancing West
Gilman Street Monday.

The
plan, set to start in 2009, includes opening the entire road to
two-way traffic.

City
residents and property owners bounced ideas off city officials for
the best solution to transform the 400 block of West Gilman Street
between University Avenue and State Street to a more attractive and
efficient route for motorists.

Engineers
and planners proposed three construction options, including two
separate two-way flow designs and improvement of the one-way flow
that currently exists.

According
to city traffic engineer Scott Langer, creating a two-way traffic
flow would augment circulation around State Street. Implementing a
north-south movement would increase business activity and foot
traffic, he said.

“It is a greater vision for the downtown
businesses,” Langer added. “It is necessary to keep a vibrant
downtown, and the street could use a little care and rehab.”

The
consideration to create a two-way flow stems from the ongoing State
Street reconstruction plans from 1999. These plans also included a
possible transformation of West Gilman Street into a more visually
cohesive block, similar to amenities seen on State Street like
pedestrian streetlights, benches and Metro Transit bus stops.

“We
are looking to provide additional amenities on the side streets to
provide the ‘district feel’ and give it personality and
character,” said Archie Nicolette, city planner for Madison. “We
are trying to keep the same family of elements so it all relates
together.”

According
to Langer, straighter sidewalks are a benefit of a two-way flow
design, which would also meet the expectations of the original State
Street plan.

Serious
concerns with pedestrian safety, more traffic congestion and loss of
parking spaces would also result from two-way traffic, Langer said.

“I
agree the enhancement could make the block vibrant, but I do not
necessarily see it linked to two-way access,” said Gregg Watermann,
a Gilman Street property owner. “Quite frankly, I think there is a
good argument that bringing two-way traffic decreases vibrancy. Part
of what makes State Street such a great street is the limit of
traffic, and that is the same concept that should be considered for
Gilman Street.”

The
other option presented was to keep the current one-way flow, adding
enhancements and amenities such as pedestrian streetlights and an
additional three feet of sidewalk space on both sides of the street.

“I
agree that the block could use a facelift, and I think tying the
amenities from State Street mall will go a long way towards upping
the image of that block,” Watermann said. “However, I do not see
how increasing vehicular flow will do anything to improve the
marriage between that block and State Street.”

Although
residents and city officials did not reach a resolution to the debate
between a two-way and one-way traffic flow, the general consensus was
the block needed restoration and improvements.

“It
has been a very pathetic-looking block, and it has been in need of
tender love and care,” said City Council President, Mike Verveer,
District 4. “But, I have every faith and confidence that the design
produced by planners will really help to beautify this key block and
be an extension of our State Street reconstruction project.”