Last Chance at Yard Waste Collection, Transit Network Redesign Impacts on D13, and more

Hi Everyone,

Happy Friday!

Here are some end-of-the-week updates, including timely information about yard waste collection, a meeting on Monday to discuss the Transit Network Redesign and its potential impacts on D13 and D14 neighborhoods, a proposed new Planning Framework, and more.

Last Chance Yard Waste Collection Begins Week of May 15

If you're like me, due to our late spring -- all those weeks of cold, clammy weather -- you were slow to start gardening. Consequently, you may have missed the scheduled pickups for yard waste, those having concluded before you got yours collected and placed by the curb.

In response to complaints, the Streets Division will perform one final yard waste collection this spring.

Residents who wish to take advantage of this collection must have their yard waste out for pickup by this Sunday, May 15.

Crews will begin the last chance collection during the work week following Sunday, May 15. Crews will be performing one final sweep through the city.

This will be the final collection this spring. Once the last chance sweep through the city concludes, then curbside yard waste pickup must halt until the fall.

For more information, click here.

Metro Transit Network Redesign to be Discussed at Monday's SMPC Meeting

This Monday, May 16, the South Madison Planning Council will be discussing potential alternatives that have been proposed to the Draft Plan. Specifically, Metro staff has come up with four possible amendments for a Route O to address gaps in service which would arise with the proposed elimination of Routes 4 and 13, the loss of which would impact D13 residents in Bay Creek and Greenbush, as well as D14 residents further to the south. Metro Transportation Planner Mike Cechvala will be on hand to provide detailed information about the proposed alternatives and to answer questions. Click here for the Zoom link.

Not yet included in the four concept amendments would be transit service to the Henry Vilas Zoo. During the Vilas Park Master Plan process of resident engagement, there was broad recognition of the need for bus access to the zoo, both to address equity considerations and to relieve the parking burden on the adjoining residential streets. Staff has indicated bus service could be added to S. Randall, but this would require removing the traffic circle at Vilas and Randall, which raises traffic safety concerns.

If you miss Monday's meeting, Metro is holding a final general public meeting on the network redesign on Thursday, May 19, at 6pm. The meeting will be held in person in Room 215 of the Madison Municipal Building (215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.), and it will also be streamed live. People watching from home will be able to submit questions through a button on Mediasite so that they can be answered live during the meeting. Complete meeting details are here.

On Tuesday, May 31, Metro Transit and the Transportation Policy and Planning Board will hold a public hearing at 6 PM to discuss the proposed network redesign expected to go into effect in June of 2023. More details about the meeting are available here. Learn more about overall Redesign efforts by clicking on the project page.

Proposed New Planning Framework

A proposed Planning Framework was introduced at the Common Council on Tuesday May 10. It will simplify and standardize the City's sub-area planning and make it more equitable. The Planning Division will focus on 13 higher-level "Area Plans" covering the entire City. These will be updated every 10 years, and be considered the guiding plan for future land use and infrastructure investment.

The City currently has nearly 70 adopted sub-area plans with a wide variety of content, all of which will be considered as a new Area Plan is created. Each Area Plan process will provide an opportunity to consider older sub-area plans for potential retirement, as outlined on page 126 of the Comprehensive Plan. The proposed Framework will be reviewed by multiple City committees.

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Zoning

The Planning Division, in collaboration with Zoning staff, is working to implement a 2018 Comprehensive Plan call for implementation of "TOD overlay zoning" along planned BRT and other high-frequency transit corridors to "create development intensity minimums, reduce parking requirements, and support transit use."  For more information, and to sign up for May 16th public meetings on this effort, please visit the project web page. 

Support a Utility Box Installation

The Madison Arts Commission has created Support a Utility Box Installation to highlight, encourage and promote local artists by giving them exposure in the public realm. Artists are compensated $500 for a license of each image used in the program. This project's funds will be used to pay artists and cover the costs of installing the art on utility boxes. Contributions of any size are welcome, but a $2,500 contribution will fully cover the cost of a box wrap in your neighborhood and a box in a neighborhood where there aren't as many financial resources https://www.friendsofmadisonarts.org/.

Make Music Madison

Registration closes on May 25th at 11:59 PM. Learn more at http://www.makemusicmadison.org/.

That's all for now. Bella and I look forward to it cooling off as we don't have air conditioning!

Take care and stay safe,

Tag