The proposed changes for the 8th and 9th Street construction project are a bad idea. The plan is to replace the water mains along the route, widen the road by four feet on either side of the road and acquire this land from property owners. Some city officials feel that not widening the roads is a safety problem. I disagree. Widening the road will invite speeding and encourage more passing in lanes where cars should not be passed. This is only asking for trouble. It also has been stated by some city officials that the projected increase in traffic warrants this widening, as well.
I approve of updating water mains along this corridor. They are in bad shape and need to be replaced. However, I do not believe we should widen the streets. I have lived in Monroe for 19 years, and in all that time the population has increased by only close to 200 people. That, in my mind, does not indicate a need to widen the road. With new retail developments springing up in areas away from existing ones, the 8th and 9th Street corridor does not warrant widening.
A statement was made by someone at the Public Works Committee meeting, that "If we're spending $3 million on the downtown area, I think we should have a decent road to get there." Does that mean that if we are redoing the street with the updated water mains, then we won't have a decent road to get there? Hardly.
Now let's look at the idea of widening the streets and the impact to existing property owners. Many of these properties already have extremely small front yards. In fact, many sidewalks are extremely close to the front of homes and businesses along this route. So, now we want to make their situation even worse? How will this affect their property and resale values?
Perhaps you already know of an owner of a business or residential property along this route. Have you asked them how they feel about this? They would be the people most affected by it. Also, all the trees along this route will have to be taken down and replaced. Trees take years to grow. They also provide much needed shade to some of the homes along the route. Next time you drive this route, just look at all the trees on the terrace and imagine what it would look like with them gone.
Another argument against my stand made by several people dealing with this issue in city government is, "Well, we can get grant money for the project and it won't cost us as much." That's all well and good if there is a need shown for the widening. I believe the need is not there. We can apply for and probably get a grant years down the road when the water mains need to be replaced again, and then maybe have the road widened.
I work along this corridor and there is rarely a really bad traffic problem, except where the traffic is slow and busy at 5 p.m. near the Kwik Trip area. If there is any change that needs to be made, that is the place. The sharp curve in front of The Red Apple Inn and Kwik-Trip is a high accident area and needs some work, but to have to widen the road all the way up to the vacated BP gas station to make the transition a little better is completely ridiculous. Work also needs to be done to the bridge overpass by the Medicine Mart.
In about another 50 years, there will need to be replacements again to the water mains. Let's assess the need then, and possibly widen the road by asking these questions:
1. How much has the population and traffic increased?
2. Where is the new housing and retail development moving to?
3. Will we be able to fund this or get grant money?
Before I was elected to Monroe City Council, I attended the informational meetings on this project, and I don't remember one person there who was happy with what they learned, but they felt helpless to change the minds of the powers that be.
If you agree with me and feel that the road widening project is wrong, please call your alderman and ask him to look at this proposed project again and change what certainly is a bad idea.
I approve of updating water mains along this corridor. They are in bad shape and need to be replaced. However, I do not believe we should widen the streets. I have lived in Monroe for 19 years, and in all that time the population has increased by only close to 200 people. That, in my mind, does not indicate a need to widen the road. With new retail developments springing up in areas away from existing ones, the 8th and 9th Street corridor does not warrant widening.
A statement was made by someone at the Public Works Committee meeting, that "If we're spending $3 million on the downtown area, I think we should have a decent road to get there." Does that mean that if we are redoing the street with the updated water mains, then we won't have a decent road to get there? Hardly.
Now let's look at the idea of widening the streets and the impact to existing property owners. Many of these properties already have extremely small front yards. In fact, many sidewalks are extremely close to the front of homes and businesses along this route. So, now we want to make their situation even worse? How will this affect their property and resale values?
Perhaps you already know of an owner of a business or residential property along this route. Have you asked them how they feel about this? They would be the people most affected by it. Also, all the trees along this route will have to be taken down and replaced. Trees take years to grow. They also provide much needed shade to some of the homes along the route. Next time you drive this route, just look at all the trees on the terrace and imagine what it would look like with them gone.
Another argument against my stand made by several people dealing with this issue in city government is, "Well, we can get grant money for the project and it won't cost us as much." That's all well and good if there is a need shown for the widening. I believe the need is not there. We can apply for and probably get a grant years down the road when the water mains need to be replaced again, and then maybe have the road widened.
I work along this corridor and there is rarely a really bad traffic problem, except where the traffic is slow and busy at 5 p.m. near the Kwik Trip area. If there is any change that needs to be made, that is the place. The sharp curve in front of The Red Apple Inn and Kwik-Trip is a high accident area and needs some work, but to have to widen the road all the way up to the vacated BP gas station to make the transition a little better is completely ridiculous. Work also needs to be done to the bridge overpass by the Medicine Mart.
In about another 50 years, there will need to be replacements again to the water mains. Let's assess the need then, and possibly widen the road by asking these questions:
1. How much has the population and traffic increased?
2. Where is the new housing and retail development moving to?
3. Will we be able to fund this or get grant money?
Before I was elected to Monroe City Council, I attended the informational meetings on this project, and I don't remember one person there who was happy with what they learned, but they felt helpless to change the minds of the powers that be.
If you agree with me and feel that the road widening project is wrong, please call your alderman and ask him to look at this proposed project again and change what certainly is a bad idea.
