Tonight the city council is poised to grant final approval to the State Street Design Project. In the two-and-a-half years since the council first adopted the State Street Strategic Plan, the design project has worked its way through countless committees, public hearings and ridiculous protests (save the potted plants!).

The importance of this vote to students is considerable; we are the greatest frequenters of the sidewalks, stores, restaurants and bars of Madison’s signature street. For this reason we are acutely aware of the problems facing State Street, including crumbling infrastructure, poor lighting, decrepit bus shelters and dying potted plants.

The State Street Design Project aims to address these issues and more. It is not perfect — it lacks solutions for long-range transportation, social and economic issues. Still, it is an important step in the right direction that will lead to an improvement in both the physical and economic environment of State Street.

This vote represents one of the most important student issues on council. We commend Ald. Mike Verveer for his commitment to the project; we hope the city council in general and Alders Todd Jarrell and Tom Powell in particular join him in representing this essential student concern.