The Fuzzy World 3um

More info:

http://ocr.wi.gov/4-9-12CAL.pdf

http://psc.wi.gov/apps35/ERF_view/viewd ... cid=159366

This trail proposal was first made public in a May 8 2004 Journal Sentinel article. So if the trail does go forward in 2013 as hoped for (I'm not holding my breath as I've been in contact with Steve Schaer from the City all these years and a couple of times he's mentioned fairly concrete plans in a certain year, only to have them fall through), then this will have taken a decade to implement. And it was never a money problem; they've had funds lined up since at least 2006. It has been the UPRR which has blocked this project at every turn. Shame on them.

I've sent Steve an email to inquire on how the hearing went this afternoon. I'll let you know if I get any news.

Very interested in finding out what happened at the meeting.

I thought there was a possibility of going under the tracks.

The TMER&L traveled under a bridge on the C&NW Milwaukee Sub Mainline at this location. I wonder if there are still any remnants under the current rail bed. I would assume there was a bridge at the track that connected to the Waukesha Sub.

Map?



Mike

Here is the location

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=r51njp ... orm=LMLTCC

http://msrmaps.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=11& ... ee%7cwi%7c

So hopefully we'll find out in the next two months that we will indeed have a trail.

Originally the City wanted to simply run the trail along the north side of the E-W tracks, crossing the double-track mainline in the curve and then crossing the north to west track, all at grade. See Google Maps for a look on what that plan was about:

http://maps.google.com/?ll=43.00959,-88 ... 5&t=m&z=17

But the RR was opposed to this. They insisted on a grade separation. A bridge wouldn't work because of the overhead power lines. A tunnel would be extremely expensive, but for a while that was the only option really open to the City. But now the plan is to cross the two mainline tracks and the track to the west (three in total) just to the west of I-894, where the track is still straight. Then the trail would go along the south side of the tracks until just before STH 100, where it would cross back to the north side. Then there would be the always-planned bridge over STH 100 for the trail. Why this plan, with its same number of track crossings (actually it is one more than the original plan), is any better than the original plan is beyond me. It seems to be a lot of misdirection on the bike trail for no reason.

Thanx!



Mike

1937 Aerial photo of the area. You can see the old RR bridge.
The western track connection did not exist at this time.

OCR recommends the petition be denied.

http://ocr.wi.gov/apps40/dockets/conten ... %20Company

http://psc.wi.gov/apps35/ERF_view/viewd ... cid=169219

Then let UP pay for a tunnel underneath their damn tracks if a trail crossing is so unsafe.

This is boloney.

This summer I have been updating the Milwaukee and SE Wisconsin bicycle map published by bikeverywhere.

There are two very nice rural roads that are on the current edition but will be removed from the new one, because a railroad crossing was closed:

1. Hoosier Creek Rd southeast of Burlington, a Wisconsin registered rustic road.

2. Colgate Rd which connects Waukesha with Washington county a bit west of Menomonee Falls. All of the alternative routes have more traffic.

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be anyone to speak for bicyclists in these hearings. We find out about them later and in any case don't have the expertise to argue about what makes for a safe rr crossing.

Incidentally, nice to see some posting on this site even though the news is sad. I had about given up.

Bruce

There is construction on the Cross-Town Connector! They have cleared all the brush on the segment from 124th to 108th and construction will be finished sometime this year. Too bad this is really not too useful of a segment; where it ends at 108th there really isn't anything at all and 108th is not a good road to bike on. It will be very useful though once they're able to get to 92nd and get people to the other side of I-894.

I looked today and could not find any sign of construction.