Roads, rail on mayoral agenda
Candidates share views on transportation issues
Jan. 19, 2010 | 0 comments
From road repairs to sidewalk construction, Brookfield's next mayor will have plenty of transportation-related issues to deal with over the next four years.
Here's a look at how the candidates in the Feb. 16 primary election - Mayor Jeff Speaker, Alderman Steve Ponto, Waukesha County Supervisor Thomas Schellinger and former Elmbrook School Board member and alderman David Marcello - stand on key transportation issues facing the city.
Road projects vs. resident impact
Marcello said when he served on the Common Council in the 1990s, the city took an "incremental approach" to road improvements to ensure all roads received timely repairs and improvements.
But now, he said, an emphasis on major road projects, such as the widening of the southern section of Calhoun Road, has resulted in some roads having a higher priority than others when it comes to maintenance. That could drive more traffic to those improved roads and increase congestion, while at the same time allowing other streets to suffer from lack of timely maintenance.
"We're going to make one road significantly better than all the other roads," he said. "That road's going to pull more traffic to it."
Schellinger said decisions about road projects need to be based on a number of factors, such as cost, use and the effect the project would have on residents.
"I think everybody's for better service and safety, and you have to balance that with the impact on the neighborhoods and the environment," he said.
As a county supervisor, he has made contacts with the county and the state, Schellinger said, adding that he would work them and push for projects "that are favorable to Brookfield."
He would like to see policies that make sure transportation infrastructure is "adequately and fairly funded" by developers, he said.
Ponto believes any road construction project needs to take into account "the burdens that are being placed on the adjoining landowners.
"Anytime that you have a largely developed community, when you undertake the major change of widening a road, it creates a lot of anxiety," he said.
Ponto said it is "much less intrusive" to approach traffic issues via intersection improvements - such as the roundabout planned for the intersection at Barker Road and North Avenue - when traffic volumes dictate a change, than widening roadways.
Speaker said addressing traffic problems by improving intersections has long been preferred by the city, including by himself, to widening streets, when those improvements would be sufficient over the long-term.
For any road project, the city's engineers and consultants do modeling to see how the roadway or intersection will function over the next 25 or 30 years and what needs to be done - anything from minor improvements and adding turn lanes to reconstruction - to make sure the city's roadways remain safe.
"We try to lobby for the least impact possible for our citizens and our businesses," he said.
Pathways connect the city
All four candidates said they support the installation of sidewalks along arterial roads and the expansion of the Greenway Trail System.
Marcello said: "For the most part, I think residents really use them and appreciate them once they're in place."
But while he said he is supportive of pathways throughout the city, he doesn't necessarily understand the need for the planned pathways along the eastern section of Capitol Drive.
Ponto said connecting the city's park system via the pathways is "a really attractive idea," but the interests of property owners also need to be considered.
He said he would be wary of putting in any path that has a significant impact on an established neighborhood, such as a path that would force the removal of many mature trees.
Speaker said he supports the city's long-term goal to put sidewalks on both sides of major arterial roads, as it is an issue of safety.
But Speaker said the city isn't trying to put the paths in every residential subdivision; it's just a way to connect areas of Brookfield by setting aside space on major thoroughfares.
Schellinger, who served as the first chairman of the city's Greenway Trail Committee, said he has heard "overwhelming support" for the paths from residents.
The committee wanted a strong start to the project and focused on the high-priority trail segments first, he said, adding that he supports the continuation of the system.
High-speed rail a possibility
All candidates said they would take a "wait-and-see" approach with a state and federal project that could be on the horizon - a high-speed passenger rail system that would connect the Twin Cities to Chicago via Madison and Milwaukee, and could include a station in Brookfield.
Speaker said he has not seen any proposals from the state or federal government, but said funding levels "are going to be a big key."
Marcello agreed, saying: "I can't say that I'm for it or against it without knowing what the financials are."
Ponto said building a station in Brookfield would be a plus for the city, if it "doesn't place a significant burden on the Brookfield taxpayer."
Schellinger supports a station, but is skeptical about its prospects, given the deficits facing state and federal governments. "I don't know if this is something that will ever get done," he said.
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