Proposal aims to enhance lakeshore path

Retaining the unpaved portion of the Howard Temin Lakeshore Path and preventing further erosion are two key recommendations to enhance bicycle and pedestrian safety along the popular campus transportation route.

These recommendations and others from the Lakeshore Path Advisory Committee will be discussed at a public meeting Tuesday, Oct. 17. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. in 107 Brogden Psychology Building, 1202 W. Johnson St.

John Harrington, chair of the advisory committee and professor of landscape architecture, says the recommendations seek to balance the safety and transportation needs of commuters and recreational users with continued care of the path’s surrounding environment.

“The recommendations are designed to enhance the natural beauty of the path while helping to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, eliminate erosion and maintain compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act,” Harrington says.

The final project design for the 3.7-mile lakeshore path is scheduled to be completed by December. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2001. Strand Associates, Inc. and Ken Saiki Design are consultants on the project.

The top recommendations call for retaining the current crushed limestone surface of the path starting at the Limnology Laboratory near Park Street and running west to near Elm Drive and Chamberlin House.

These recommendations also include storm water control measures for the unpaved portion of the path, such as regrading and crowning the path and adding tubes and culverts as necessary. Harrington says the advisory committee and consultants are studying how to address erosion problems in ways that are unobtrusive to path users.

Keeping the lakeshore path separated for bicyclists and walkers near Picnic Point is another top recommendation. The walking path could be covered with a surface different than asphalt depending on maintenance costs and needs. The committee also suggests narrowing the entry to the Picnic Point parking lot, with the goal of eventually eliminating the lot.

Other key recommendations for this section of the path include removing portions of Marsh Lane to improve storm water runoff and safety access in the boat dock area, and adding a footpath from Lot 60 to the pedestrian path.

The Crew House, 680 Babcock Drive, is also a top priority for the advisory committee. With the lakeshore path running directly in front of the building, it is considered a dangerous location as runners, bikers and athletes all use the space. Motor vehicles also are used in the area.

Campus planners are working with the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, which has plans to renovate the Crew House, on possibly directing some grant money toward renovating the structure.

In addition, the committee recommends that campus planners and Transportation Services examine possible changes to the path area near the Limnology Laboratory. The area has large bicycle and pedestrian traffic and is considered by many to be unsafe. Possibilities include a one-way route through the parking area for both bicycles and automobiles and adding a yield sign for vehicles entering the lot.

Next in priority for the path renovation is the recommendation to align the parking lot entrance on Willow Beach Drive with the driveway entrance by the J.F. Friedrick Center. Following that is a recommendation to keep separated the bicycle and pedestrian paths on the far west end of campus. This recommendation also calls for improving signs on Oxford Drive and paving the dirt path behind the bus shelter on Lake Mendota Drive.

Last in priority is the section of the lakeshore path from Chamberlin House west to Willow Creek behind the Natatorium. This recommendation calls for continuing a split bicycle-walking path if there is enough room. Should the path not be split, the committee calls for keeping the surface asphalt.

The university was awarded a $488,400 Statewide Multimodal Improvement Program grant last year for the lakeshore path project from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

The funding came from the federal Transportation Equity Act and included a $97,680 match from Transportation Services.