County Executive to Host 2013 Bike Dane Meeting
April 10, 2013
Carrie Springer, Office of the County Executive 608.267.8823 or cell, 608.843.8858
County Executive
Meeting to help set 2014 budget priorities for biking
Dane County Executive Joe Parisi will host his annual Bike Dane Meeting this Friday at the Lussier Family Heritage Center. The meeting will help shape Parisi’s 2014 budget priorities for bicycle-related budget items. It will be held on Friday, April 12, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Lussier Family Heritage Center at Lake Farm Park.
“Dane County is well known as a bike-friendly community. Hearing directly from the cycling community helps me make the best decisions to improve our biking infrastructure,” said Parisi.
Parisi unveiled a five-year plan for bicycle improvements on roads and highways at the Bike Dane meeting last year. It includes changes to make intersections safe, wider shoulders on roadways and many new off-road bike paths. Important pieces to connect existing bike paths are a critical part of the five-year plan.
Progress has been made on the plan as well as other key recommendations from last year’s meeting, including $25,000 in the 2013 Dane County budget to fund more signage, road striping, bike trail crossing improvements and lighting to enhance bike safety.
A number of trail projects will move forward this year including connecting the Military Ridge State Trail to Brigham County Park. The trail will be a little over 1 mile long, paved 10’ wide and traverse through some of the most scenic areas of Dane County. Construction will most likely begin sometime this summer with completion anticipated by July of 2014.
“With over 200 miles of trails, Dane County is a great destination for cyclists. The IronMan competition recently committed to Madison through 2018 so our area will continue to attract those looking to train for that event. But we also have plenty of biking opportunities for the more casual cyclist. Continued discussions with our dedicated cycling community will help us achieve the long-term countywide goal of a bicycle pedestrian trail system that connects the majority of the major population centers to county park facilities and other regional trails,” said Parisi.
The meeting will have an update on road improvement to Dane County Highways, a trail project status report and time for suggesting new ideas to Parisi. Press are welcome to attend.
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