Standing Up for South Madison Neighborhoods
We are asking all residents and friends of South Madison to endorse our statement about the negative impacts of eliminating Bus #13.
(Read it below the endorsement form)
(Read it below the endorsement form)
To: Transportation Policy and Planning Board
From: South Madison Neighbors
Re: Impacts of the elimination of service provided by Bus Routes #13 and #4 on South Madison
After reviewing the latest draft plan, dated March 5, 2022, and meeting with city transit planners, the undersigned residents of South Madison (representing Bay Creek, Bram’s Addition, Burr Oaks, Greenbush, and Capitol View) wish to express our concerns about the proposed discontinuation of the service provided by Bus Route 13 and 4, which currently run through our neighborhoods.
AREA SERVED BY ROUTE 13
Currently, Route 13 forms a backwards “C” in South Madison and serves the moderate to low-income residential communities of the south portion of the Bay Creek, Bram’s Addition and Capitol View Neighborhoods. Route 13 goes as far east as Rimrock Road and John Nolen Drive, as far south as West Badger Road, and as far west as South Park Street. The route also bisects Bay Creek along Olin Avenue; Capitol View along N. Rusk Avenue and Koster Street; and Bram’s Addition along Bram Street, Fisher Street, and Buick Street. Part of the Capitol View neighborhood contains an area where WI DOT data shows a large portion of non-drivers.
The furthest reaches of Bay Creek’s residential area are approximately ¾ of a mile from South Park Street, necessitating a walk of up to 20 minutes or more each way. Portions of Capitol View would be 2/3 of a mile from the closest bus stop on South Park Street. The walkability of the area is variable due to the rise along Olin Avenue and Beld Street to Park Street and the absence of sidewalks along a portion of N. Rusk Avenue. Capitol View residents wishing to ride the newly proposed “G” route would need to walk to West Badger Road via N. Rusk Avenue, a 700-foot portion of which does not have sidewalk and crests a steep hill. There is no firm commitment from the city to install the missing sidewalk. Additionally, access to the proposed new bus service heading south on South Park Street will require residents of these neighborhoods to cross South Park Street with its heavy and rapidly dangerous traffic flow to ride the new “B” bus on South Park Street.
AREA SERVED BY ROUTE 4
Currently the southern portion of Route 4 bisects Burr Oaks along West Badger Road and then travels north along its western periphery on Fish Hatchery Road until it meets South Park Street at Parr Street. It then travels north on South Park Street to Erin Street, to Mills Street, and then to the UW.
The furthest reaches of Burr Oaks along Fish Hatchery are approximately ½ mile from South Park Street, necessitating a walk of up to 15 minutes each way. The non-grid-like and winding nature of many of the residential streets in this neighborhood, such as Sequoia Trail and Fish Hatchery Lane, will make for longer walks from the interior residential streets. Access to the proposed new bus service heading north will require some Burr Oaks residents to cross South Park Street.
FACILITIES SERVING THE COMMUNITY WITHIN EASY WALKING DISTANCE OF TRANSIT SERVICES PROVIDED BY ROUTES 13 & 4
The neighborhoods served by Routes 13 & 4 include significant numbers of low-income residents, including senior citizens and persons with disabilities, as well as are the following public services, facilities, and affordable accommodations:
We believe that, while eliminating Routes 13 and 4 may not prove an inconvenience to those who have easy pedestrian or cycle access to Park Street—many seniors, people who have physical disabilities, and individuals who are of low-income, rely on bus service through the South Side neighborhoods for meeting their daily living needs and will experience the absence of bus coverage throughout South Madison as a life-changing and insurmountable burden. We feel the system redesign will create a hardship for the following groups of people.
PEOPLE OF LIMITED PHYSICAL ABILITY/THOSE WHO HAVE A DISABILITY/THE ELDERLY
The South Side has a large population of residents who experience health disparities due to race, age, or income. For citizens with limited physical/cognitive ability, the long walk to South Park Street to catch a bus will prove to be an impediment to accessing public transportation. Summer heat will make the walk exhausting and dangerous while winter temperatures and street conditions may make the route impassable and dangerous.
PEOPLE OF LOW-INCOME
South Madison enjoys a considerable amount of naturally-occurring affordable housing, much of which is located in Bram’s Addition, Burr Oaks, and Capitol View. Many people of low-income who live here rely on public transit to get to work, to childcare, to doctors’ appointments, and to purchase affordable food. For many low-income residents and people of color who live and work in South Madison, the elimination of Routes 13 and 4 will decrease their ease of access to work, childcare, shopping, doctors, etc. and increase their reliance on other more costly forms of transportation.
FAMILIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN
South Madison also has a large number of families. For young people arriving at Goodman Park or Family Services on Olin Avenue, and Vilas Park or Zoo on Drake via public transit, and perhaps eventually the Alliant Energy Center, the walk to and from Park Street may prove an impediment to getting to the pool, parks, or zoo in the heat of summer, or to the ice-skating and hockey ponds in the cold of winter. This will create inequitable access to utilizing free and affordable community recreation spots intentionally designed to remove barriers and increase access to all families in Madison.
AT ODDS WITH THE SOUTH MADISON PLAN
In addition, the elimination of Route 13 is at odds with elements of the South Madison Plan. The recently completed South Madison Plan Update included a height map for South Madison as well as a proposed revised land use for the Olin Triangle. Both presume full-time public transit to the area. Conceptual plans for the east end of Olin Avenue and the areas surrounding the AEC also have presumed the availability of full-time public transit as a standing amenity that will serve the residents of the proposed new housing to lessen dependence on cars. For reference, the Olin Triangle will be 0.8 mile from the nearest full-time bus stop on South Park. We are additionally concerned about the impact of the elimination of public transit along Olin Avenue on development plans for South Madison and the impacts of additional car traffic in areas where bus routes have been eliminated. The city appears to be working at cross purposes to itself, weighing the merits of development proposals based on their proximity to public transit—even proposing changes to the land use map—when plans for eliminating access to adjacent bus service are underway.
THE NEED FOR MORE PARATRANSIT
Finally the new system redesign would seem to create the need for more paratransit, required by law for those with disabilities, who are a protected class. We are concerned that without additional funding to provide additional paratransit service, people will not have access to this needed service. We are also concerned that there will be individuals who do not fit into one of the three categories to be eligible for paratransit, who may still be disadvantaged because of the redesign—i.e. people who can no longer walk the distance to and from a bus stop. It should be noted that paratransit service must be scheduled at least a day in advance.
IN CONCLUSION
The transit system redesign is just the first step toward a regional transit system planned for realization by 2050. Certainly, bus service running up and down Madison’s major arteries presents advantages; but, as laid out in the draft plans, the cost of achieving this goal is the elimination of some essential local bus service.
We feel that Madison should be looking at ways of preserving local bus service to the neighborhoods of South Madison currently served by Routes 4 and 13, routes on which transit-dependent residents rely. For example, might it be possible to retain much of the service provided by Routes 13 and 4, by running service through Capitol View, Bram’s Addition, and Bay Creek to Park Street and then through the Greenbush and Vilas Neighborhoods to the UW. Thanks for your time and attention to our perspectives.
Best regards,
From: South Madison Neighbors
Re: Impacts of the elimination of service provided by Bus Routes #13 and #4 on South Madison
After reviewing the latest draft plan, dated March 5, 2022, and meeting with city transit planners, the undersigned residents of South Madison (representing Bay Creek, Bram’s Addition, Burr Oaks, Greenbush, and Capitol View) wish to express our concerns about the proposed discontinuation of the service provided by Bus Route 13 and 4, which currently run through our neighborhoods.
AREA SERVED BY ROUTE 13
Currently, Route 13 forms a backwards “C” in South Madison and serves the moderate to low-income residential communities of the south portion of the Bay Creek, Bram’s Addition and Capitol View Neighborhoods. Route 13 goes as far east as Rimrock Road and John Nolen Drive, as far south as West Badger Road, and as far west as South Park Street. The route also bisects Bay Creek along Olin Avenue; Capitol View along N. Rusk Avenue and Koster Street; and Bram’s Addition along Bram Street, Fisher Street, and Buick Street. Part of the Capitol View neighborhood contains an area where WI DOT data shows a large portion of non-drivers.
The furthest reaches of Bay Creek’s residential area are approximately ¾ of a mile from South Park Street, necessitating a walk of up to 20 minutes or more each way. Portions of Capitol View would be 2/3 of a mile from the closest bus stop on South Park Street. The walkability of the area is variable due to the rise along Olin Avenue and Beld Street to Park Street and the absence of sidewalks along a portion of N. Rusk Avenue. Capitol View residents wishing to ride the newly proposed “G” route would need to walk to West Badger Road via N. Rusk Avenue, a 700-foot portion of which does not have sidewalk and crests a steep hill. There is no firm commitment from the city to install the missing sidewalk. Additionally, access to the proposed new bus service heading south on South Park Street will require residents of these neighborhoods to cross South Park Street with its heavy and rapidly dangerous traffic flow to ride the new “B” bus on South Park Street.
AREA SERVED BY ROUTE 4
Currently the southern portion of Route 4 bisects Burr Oaks along West Badger Road and then travels north along its western periphery on Fish Hatchery Road until it meets South Park Street at Parr Street. It then travels north on South Park Street to Erin Street, to Mills Street, and then to the UW.
The furthest reaches of Burr Oaks along Fish Hatchery are approximately ½ mile from South Park Street, necessitating a walk of up to 15 minutes each way. The non-grid-like and winding nature of many of the residential streets in this neighborhood, such as Sequoia Trail and Fish Hatchery Lane, will make for longer walks from the interior residential streets. Access to the proposed new bus service heading north will require some Burr Oaks residents to cross South Park Street.
FACILITIES SERVING THE COMMUNITY WITHIN EASY WALKING DISTANCE OF TRANSIT SERVICES PROVIDED BY ROUTES 13 & 4
The neighborhoods served by Routes 13 & 4 include significant numbers of low-income residents, including senior citizens and persons with disabilities, as well as are the following public services, facilities, and affordable accommodations:
- Madison CDA’s Romnes Apartments, Journey Mental Health Center, Goodman Park/Pool, and Family Services (Olin Avenue);
- Park Village Apartments, Ridge Apartments, the Catholic Multicultural Center with its food pantry (Beld Street);
- Bram Hill Apartments (Bram Street)
- Boys & Girls Club (Fisher Street);
- Neighborhood House (S. Mills Street);
- St. Mark’s Church with its food pantry and Friday noon meal service (Spruce Street);
- Madison Mobile Home Park (south of Honeysuckle and West of Rusk);
- Low-income housing complexes on Baird and Fisher streets, and naturally occurring affordable housing units scattered throughout;
- Centro Hispano and Burr Oaks Senior Apartments (West Badger);
- Sunshine Family Daycare (Catalpa Road);
- St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, Shenandoah Apartments, Wright Middle School, SSM Health’s new clinic (Fish Hatchery);
- Goodman Library, Urban League, Access Community Health (South Park)
- The Arboretum (N. Wingra Drive); and
- Vilas Park and Zoo (Drake Street).
We believe that, while eliminating Routes 13 and 4 may not prove an inconvenience to those who have easy pedestrian or cycle access to Park Street—many seniors, people who have physical disabilities, and individuals who are of low-income, rely on bus service through the South Side neighborhoods for meeting their daily living needs and will experience the absence of bus coverage throughout South Madison as a life-changing and insurmountable burden. We feel the system redesign will create a hardship for the following groups of people.
PEOPLE OF LIMITED PHYSICAL ABILITY/THOSE WHO HAVE A DISABILITY/THE ELDERLY
The South Side has a large population of residents who experience health disparities due to race, age, or income. For citizens with limited physical/cognitive ability, the long walk to South Park Street to catch a bus will prove to be an impediment to accessing public transportation. Summer heat will make the walk exhausting and dangerous while winter temperatures and street conditions may make the route impassable and dangerous.
PEOPLE OF LOW-INCOME
South Madison enjoys a considerable amount of naturally-occurring affordable housing, much of which is located in Bram’s Addition, Burr Oaks, and Capitol View. Many people of low-income who live here rely on public transit to get to work, to childcare, to doctors’ appointments, and to purchase affordable food. For many low-income residents and people of color who live and work in South Madison, the elimination of Routes 13 and 4 will decrease their ease of access to work, childcare, shopping, doctors, etc. and increase their reliance on other more costly forms of transportation.
FAMILIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN
South Madison also has a large number of families. For young people arriving at Goodman Park or Family Services on Olin Avenue, and Vilas Park or Zoo on Drake via public transit, and perhaps eventually the Alliant Energy Center, the walk to and from Park Street may prove an impediment to getting to the pool, parks, or zoo in the heat of summer, or to the ice-skating and hockey ponds in the cold of winter. This will create inequitable access to utilizing free and affordable community recreation spots intentionally designed to remove barriers and increase access to all families in Madison.
AT ODDS WITH THE SOUTH MADISON PLAN
In addition, the elimination of Route 13 is at odds with elements of the South Madison Plan. The recently completed South Madison Plan Update included a height map for South Madison as well as a proposed revised land use for the Olin Triangle. Both presume full-time public transit to the area. Conceptual plans for the east end of Olin Avenue and the areas surrounding the AEC also have presumed the availability of full-time public transit as a standing amenity that will serve the residents of the proposed new housing to lessen dependence on cars. For reference, the Olin Triangle will be 0.8 mile from the nearest full-time bus stop on South Park. We are additionally concerned about the impact of the elimination of public transit along Olin Avenue on development plans for South Madison and the impacts of additional car traffic in areas where bus routes have been eliminated. The city appears to be working at cross purposes to itself, weighing the merits of development proposals based on their proximity to public transit—even proposing changes to the land use map—when plans for eliminating access to adjacent bus service are underway.
THE NEED FOR MORE PARATRANSIT
Finally the new system redesign would seem to create the need for more paratransit, required by law for those with disabilities, who are a protected class. We are concerned that without additional funding to provide additional paratransit service, people will not have access to this needed service. We are also concerned that there will be individuals who do not fit into one of the three categories to be eligible for paratransit, who may still be disadvantaged because of the redesign—i.e. people who can no longer walk the distance to and from a bus stop. It should be noted that paratransit service must be scheduled at least a day in advance.
IN CONCLUSION
The transit system redesign is just the first step toward a regional transit system planned for realization by 2050. Certainly, bus service running up and down Madison’s major arteries presents advantages; but, as laid out in the draft plans, the cost of achieving this goal is the elimination of some essential local bus service.
We feel that Madison should be looking at ways of preserving local bus service to the neighborhoods of South Madison currently served by Routes 4 and 13, routes on which transit-dependent residents rely. For example, might it be possible to retain much of the service provided by Routes 13 and 4, by running service through Capitol View, Bram’s Addition, and Bay Creek to Park Street and then through the Greenbush and Vilas Neighborhoods to the UW. Thanks for your time and attention to our perspectives.
Best regards,