Officials to dip into past as they consider bike path
Saying that a new safety study of Juneau Boulevard would be a costly way to gather information the village largely already has, the Village Board recently rejected two bids from consultants.
But the move does not spell the death of efforts to create a bike and pedestrian path that would move non-motorized traffic between the downtown and the west end of the village.
Public Safety Committee members now will mine past studies done of Juneau Boulevard for relevant information to determine what, if any, new information is required. It is possible the village would then solicit bids from consultants who would gather just the specific information needed.
"What they want to do is take what they've got, pare it down and decide what finite additional information they really want, rather than the comprehensive nature of the study that they asked for," Village Manager Dave De Angelis said.
Two firms submitted proposals for full safety studies. R.A. Smith National quoted a cost of $77,000 and Schreiber Anderson Associates submitted a $48,000 plan.
Those costs were viewed by some as prohibitive, especially because this year's village budget did not include money for a safety study.
The village has three formal studies completed by outside consultants and one study completed by a citizen task force in the early 1990s on file. In addition, there is a significant amount of background information on the issue available, De Angelis said. The pathway has been a topic of discussion for more than a decade.
Trustee Jan Schoenecker said those earlier studies contain much of the information a new study would include.
"I just see so much redundancy," she said.
Elm Grove resident Thomas Brown, who spoke as a representative of the Concerned Citizens of Elm Grove, said he hopes the pathway discussion continues to move forward.
"From our perspective … what should be done here is a fresh approach be taken," he said, adding that he would like to see Public Safety Committee members work with residents on both sides of the issue as they examine the previous studies.
Village President Neil Palmer said any study-related expenditures recommended for 2010 should be brought to the Village Board by September for inclusion in the next budget process.
NEXT STEP
WHAT: Public Safety Committee meeting
WHEN: 5 p.m. July 9
WHERE: Park View Room of Village Hall, 13600 Juneau Blvd.
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