Chapter 3: Transportation

Dane County Wisconsin Comprehensive PlanChap 3. Transportation 15

October 2007

Chapter 3:TransportationIntroductionDane County provides many different transportationresources including planning, designing, and maintain-ing the 543-mile county trunk highway system, as wellas providing and maintaining bike paths, hiking andskiing trails. Through the county’s Department ofHuman Services, the county also provides funding forand administers specialized transportation services.

The transportation network facilitates the flow ofgoods and people throughout the region, and bothresponds to, and influences land use growth patterns.The intersections of Dane County’s highways, urbanstreets, farm roads, railways, airport runways andbicycle paths symbolize the pervasive nature of trans-portation issues, intersecting with the economy, envi-ronment, land use, housing, and agriculture.

Purpose

This chapter identifies goals, objectives, policies andprograms to guide the future development of DaneCounty’s various modes of transportation, including:

• Highways;

• Transit;

• Transportation facilities for the disabled;

• Bicycles;

• Walking;

• Railroads;

• Air transportation;

• Trucking, and;

• Water transportation.

Stakeholders

The Transportation, Utilities and Community Facili-ties workgroup (TUCF) generated all the recommen-dations in this chapter, based on a consensus decision-making model. Contributors to Chapter 3 included:town officials, county government officials, transporta-tion planners, environmental groups, regional planningadvocates, members of the Wisconsin River RailTransit Commission, advocates for transportation forpeople with disabilities, and advocates for variousmodes including bicycle, pedestrian and air travel.

How can Dane County best promote safe and efficient mobility for its residents and visitors when:

• 30,000 work trips a day originate from outside of Dane County?

• The number of cars per household continues to increase?

• Greater proportions of commuters drive alone to work?

• Portions of the Dane County transportation network are beginning to experience significantcongestion and traffic delays?

• The number of transit passengers has increased steadily since 1998?

• Commuting by bicycle has increased significantly?

• Estimated daily vehicle miles traveled (VMT) continues to increase?

• Flights to and from the Dane County Regional Airport continue to expand and increase?

• Rail freight, bicycles, passenger rail, commuter rail and transit jointly use the same existing rights-of-way?

• Transportation contributes approximately 1/3 of all greenhouse gases statewide?

Key

Issu

es

Dane County Wisconsin Comprehensive Plan Chap 3. Transportation16

October 2007

Survey Results

The Dane County Comprehensive Plan Survey not onlyasked respondents to provide feedback on overalltransportation goals for the county, but also asked themspecific questions about how they get to work, howoften they use transit services and what role DaneCounty should take in improving transportation.When asked to identify which transportation goalsneeded “more,” or “considerably more” county atten-tion, 72% of respondents identified “providing publictransportation between housing, shopping and work,”and “ensuring all forms of transportation are safe andefficient.” Sixty-one percent of respondents thought thecounty should pay more or considerably more attentionto “providing safe and convenient bicycle and pedes-trian travel.” The survey reveals different transportationpreferences between urban and rural residents. Forexample, urban residents tended to emphasize publictransportation, bicycle and pedestrian transportationmore than rural residents. A consistent majority (58%)of both urban and rural respondents thought thecounty should pay more or considerably more attentionto “providing effective transportation to persons withdisabilities.”

The survey also included questions about countyresource allocation for transportation. When askedhow Dane County government should use its resourcesto promote safe and efficient transportation “into andout of ” Dane County, 47% of respondents selected“highways” as their top priority, 21% selected “passen-ger rail in the future,” and another 21% selected “masstransit.” The survey included a similar question regard-ing transportation “within Dane County.” Fiftypercent of respondents chose “local roads” as their toppriority for county resource allocation, 22% chose “busservice,” and 13% chose “bike paths and trails.”

When asked what the most important role DaneCounty government should play in addressing trans-portation issues, respondents ranked “help buildcooperative relationships between transportation andgovernment” (34%), “invest public money in moretransportation options” (24%), and “educate the publicon transportation issues” (18%) as the most important.Only 1% of respondents selected “maintain roadsbetter” as their top priority.

Background/Orientation

The recommendations in this chapter of the DaneCounty Comprehensive Plan incorporate and comple-ment a variety of county, state and regional transporta-tion planning documents. A complete list of ongoingtransportation planning projects is included in VolumeII. Some of the more significant county or regionaltransportation plans include:

• the Regional Transportation Plan 2030;

• Transport 2020 (Madison Area MetropolitanPlanning Organization, currently in develop-ment);

• State Highway Plan (Wisconsin Department ofTransportation);

• State Rail Plan (Wisconsin Department of Trans-portation);

• Transportation Improvement Program (TIP),Madison Area Metropolitan Planning Organiza-tion;

• Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), MadisonArea Metropolitan Planning Organization, and;

• Dane County Parks and Open Space Plan, DaneCounty Land and Water Resources Department.This includes planning and acquisition prioritiesfor the county’s regional bicycle, pedestrian andwater trail systems.

Dane County plays the most direct role in the CountyTrunk Highway System, the Dane County RegionalAirport, county bike facilities, and in specializedtransportation services provided by the Department ofHuman Services. These efforts are coordinated withregional and other local transportation planningefforts.


October 2007

Goals, Objectives, Policies andPrograms

Overall Transportation

Goals

1. Provide an integrated, efficient and economicaltransportation system that affords mobility,convenience and safety and that meets the needs ofall citizens, including transit-dependent anddisabled citizens.

2. Provide an accessible, integrated and well-main-tained multi-modal transportation network thatprovides for the movement of people and goods in asafe and efficient manner.

3. Coordinate land use and transportation plans anddecisions to ensure that transportation facilities arecompatible with planned development.

4. Ensure that future transportation planning exam-ines the full range of costs associated with infra-structure improvements and programs, includingindirect, external, and opportunity costs.

5. Reduce transportation’s contribution of greenhousegases that contribute to climate change.

Supporting Objectives

A. Increase mode choices while enhancing andpreserving the character and livability ofneighborhoods where transportation facilitiesare located.

B. Decisions regarding transportation should beconsistent with other elements of the DaneCounty Comprehensive Plan.

C. Work with the Wisconsin Department ofTransportation (WisDOT), other agencies anddevelopers to ensure that transportationimprovements are consistent with the goals andpolicies of the Dane County ComprehensivePlan.

D. Utilize and update existing transportationrelated plans. (State Rail, State Highways,Bicycle, TIP, etc.)

E. Develop and implement programs, workingwith towns, cities and villages, as necessary, toensure that developers consistently shareresponsibility for the transportation infrastruc-ture costs of new development.

Policies and Programs

1. Promote a coordinated planning approach toaddress the interrelated nature of transportationissues and ensure an integrated and well maintainedmultimodal transportation network, by pursuingthe following key concepts:

A. Growth Area and Activity Center Linkage:Seek to maintain mobility and accessibilityoptions throughout the region by continuingthe interconnection of major activity centerswithin the Madison area and between DaneCounty’s growth centers with a system ofarterial and collector roadways, while providingfor the connection of these same centers withexpress bus service and possible future railservice.

B. Balanced Transportation: Strive to increasetravel reliance on transit, carpooling and othertravel options such as bicycling and walking,and trip reduction. This reduces the demandon the roadway network and provides mobilitychoices for those who wish to use other modesof travel rather than an automobile or who donot have access to an automobile.

in the Madison Area

Prepared by staff to the:

PRINTED: 5/29/2007

ExistingMajor Bicycle/Pedestrian Paths Programmed*PathOver/Underpass *Committed funding

PathOver/Underpass

0 1 2

Miles

Madison Area T.P.B.


October 2007

C. Traffic Accommodation: Continue to acceptsomewhat higher traffic congestion levels,particularly during the peak hours. This isintended as a means of encouraging travelduring off-peak periods, greater use of transitand carpooling, and lessening the need forexpanding streets and roadways. Techniques oftraffic engineering and safety improvementsmake existing streets and roadways moreefficient in moving traffic. Higher mobilitylevels are also maintained on some key circum-ferential routes (the Beltline and Interstate) toensure efficient movement of people and goodsthrough the region.

2. Promote multi-modal uses along transportationand utility corridors and new transportationoptions.

A. Make sure county-funded highway and othertransportation improvements and plans takeinto account the needs of farmers, bicyclists,and other uses.

Air Transportation

Goals

1. Support operations of airports located in DaneCounty through the promotion of compatible landuses to protect their function as a vital componentof the region’s transportation system.

2. Improve multi-modal access, including publictransit services, to the Dane County RegionalAirport.


1. Continue implementation and updates of the DaneCounty Regional Airport Master Plan. Support theDane County Regional Airport Master Plan’spromotion of compatible land uses.

2. Master planning and promotion of compatible landuses should be applied to all municipal airports inDane County.

3. Plan for municipal airports and rural airfields, aswell as that for the regional airport. Examples ofuses of smaller airports include air ambulanceservice, personal business use and insect andseeding spraying.

4. Include transportation of agricultural goods tomarket in all long-term planning related to air-freight transport.


October 2007

Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation

Goals

1. Provide for safe, convenient and efficient bicycleand pedestrian travel throughout the county,including on-street and off-street facilities.

2. Promote the development of safe bicycle andpedestrian routes to schools and other communityfacilities.


A. Incorporate bikeway, pedestrian, and otherfacilities as a part of all major roadway improve-ment projects and new developments.

B. Develop interconnected bikeway and pedes-trian systems as a part of transportation plan-ning and improvement efforts undertaken byall units of government in Dane County.

C. Promote biking as an alternative through bikelanes and a countywide bike system.


1. Continue to program and build major bikewayfacilities within urban service areas countywide.

2. Continue Dane County’s efforts to link bike trailsas outlined in the Dane County Parks and OpenSpace Plan.

3. Encourage all villages, cities and towns in thecounty to develop bikeway systems, routes andfacility plans as part of transportation planningefforts they may undertake.

4. Continue to provide public information via theInternet, brochures, special events, and other meansto notify the public of where and when bikewayroutes and facilities are available.

5. Encourage the inclusion of bikeway and pedestrianimprovements in all development proposals.

6. Adopt countywide signage for bike facilities.

7. Review and enhance the Dane County BicycleTransportation Plan, as appropriate.

8. Encourage municipalities to adopt ordinances thatrequire the installation of sidewalks in all urbanand suburban subdivision developments.

9. Encourage municipalities to adopt design guide-lines and other standards to encourage morepedestrian trips, especially to governmental facili-ties such as parks, schools and libraries.

10. Provide for pedestrian connections to park and ridelots, bus transfer points, and other intermodaltransfer facilities.

11. Encourage municipalities to adopt design guide-lines that encourage commercial buildings andcommunity facilities to be built up to the sidewalkand locate parking lots to the back and side.

12. Encourage countywide countdown pedestriancrossing signals, where appropriate.

13. Maintain or add bike trails along rail corridors.


October 2007

Rail Transportation

Goals

1. Preserve rail corridors to serve current and plannedfreight and passenger service.

2. Seek opportunities to assist and expand, in a cost-effective manner, the range of passenger and freightrail service options in Dane County.


1. Continue to consider initiatives to bring enhancedpassenger rail options to the Dane County area,including:

A. enhanced intercity and interstate rail service,such as the Midwest High-Speed Rail Initia-tive;

B. regional commuter rail initiatives, such as theTransport 2020 plan, and;

C. local, intra-city rail transit alternatives such asstreetcars or special-event rail service.

2. Maintain or add bike trails along rail corridors.

3. Provide public transit at intercity rail stations in thecounty.

4. Preserve rail corridors for high-speed rail service asdefined in Midwest Regional Rail System.

5. Improve rail-crossing safety particularly along high-volume rail lines, e.g., add gates and signals.

6. Include transportation of agricultural goods tomarket in all long-term planning related to railfreight.

7. Work with private rail operators to encourage andestablish freight rail infrastructure, such as load-outsites and freight car staging areas, in closer proxim-ity to current and prospective industrial customersto improve efficiencies and avoid conflicts withresidential neighborhoods.

Streets and Roadways

Goal

1. Correct auto, bicycle, and pedestrian safetyproblems and provide for street and roadwaycontinuity.


A. Give priority to maintaining and enhancingexisting infrastructure before adding newfacilities or capacity.

B. Address insufficient capacity using a variety ofstrategies, including Transportation DemandManagement and System Managementtechniques.

C. Provide for necessary roadway capacity expan-sion when Transportation System Managementand Transportation Demand Managementstrategies have been exhausted, consistent withthe compact urban development, modal choice,resource protection and other goals andobjectives of the Dane County ComprehensivePlan.


October 2007


1. Participate in, and implement recommendations ofthe Regional Transportation Plan 2030.

2. Start detailed planning and construction of streetand roadway projects as defined in the Transporta-tion Improvement Program (TIP).

3. Incorporate bikeway, transit and other facilities as apart of major street and roadway improvementprojects.

4. Highway shoulders and crossings should be de-signed to accommodate farm equipment, bicyclesand other uses and minimize safety conflicts withautomobile traffic.

5. Include transportation of agricultural goods tomarket in all long-term planning related to truckfreight transport.

6. Continue official mapping and other programs topreserve corridors for possible future travel uses.

7. Use street and roadway access control measures as ameans of preserving travel capacity on existingstreets and roadways, and of seeking safe andappropriate driveway access points.

8. Continue transportation system measures (TSM),to make the most efficient use of the existingtransportation system.

9. Invite neighboring counties to participate in asouth central transportation plan.

Transit and Public Transportation

Goals

1. Expand transit services in a manner to achieve anincreasing proportion of total trips by transit.

2. Ensure that Dane County has a well functioningparatransit service for people with disabilities andmake all transit services as accessible as reasonablypossible.

3. Develop a regional transit authority.

4. Recognize and promote the economic benefit oftransit-oriented development.


A. Explore potential to expand commuter bus/vanservices to serve more Dane County communi-ties.

B. Develop express commuter transit and vanpoolservices to and from the central Madison areaand other major activity centers from outlyingvillages and cities, including park and ride lotsalong major travel corridors, and at transitsystem transfer points.

C. Identify and maintain existing easements forrail/transit corridors; and obtain easements forfuture rail/transit corridors.


1. Support and maintain the current transit systemwhile moving toward an expanded and morecomprehensive transit system.


October 2007

A. Continue efforts to improve transit service toall shopping and commercial areas.

B. Expand commuter transit and/or vanpool andcarpool services from outlying villages andcities.

C. Expand, enhance and promote alternativetransportation options such as the MadisonArea Metropolitan Planning Organization’sregional carpool, or community-owned caroptions, so that residents have better access tojobs.

D. Encourage the use of incentives to increaseindividual transit usage.

E. Provide county incentives to foster communityparticipation in a regional bus system.

F. Conduct a comprehensive analysis to deter-mine the most appropriate model for some sortof regional transit and/or transportationorganization (i.e. transit authority).

G. Encourage progressive addition of regional andexpress service to the existing Madison Metrobus system.

H. Support intercity transit services, (bus andrail), and co-location of intercity, local transitmulti-modal terminals in central Madison.Make sure all terminals have convenientconnections to urban transit services and taxis,and improve access to major intermodalfacilities such as Dane County RegionalAirport.

I. Support improved transit and specializedtransportation systems outside the MadisonMetro service area.

(1) Encourage the creation of more shared-ridetaxi systems for local transit service.

(2) Improve specialized transportation services,especially for persons with disabilities.

2. Encourage land use and location of development tosupport and serve increased transit use.

3. Improve coordination of service among the variousproviders of specialized transportation service andinformation.

4. Inventory transit stops for compliance with theAmericans with Disabilities Act (ADA) andcoordinate with municipal street departments inscheduling improvements to bring them intocompliance with ADA.

5. Implement seamless transfers between transitmodes (for example one fare/pass).

Documents

Chapter 3: Transportation