Hank Aaron Trail to close for freeway construction

Yesterday was the perfect day to enjoy the Hank Aaron State Trail. I wanted to take the opportunity to ride the entire western section before it closes for five years! If the Zoo Interchange reconstruction project goes as planned the segment of the HAST between 94th Place and its intersection with the Oak Leaf Trail near 124th St. will close in November. The DOT says it probably won't open again until 2018.

Although I went out alone, there was plenty of company on the HAST yesterday. It's nice to see the popularity of the Trail.

I made these two shots in the section to be closed. We still have until November to enjoy the Trail. (2018 sounds like a very long time away!)

The trees lose again!

Many people in Wauwatosa, as well as others who frequent the County Grounds, are still in shock at the loss of trees there. Prepare yourselves! If you drive along this stretch of Highway 100 south of Watertown Plank Road you will see that here too the highway is winning and the trees losing.

In this case, it is due to the widening of Hwy 100 that is being done to accommodate a projected increase in traffic during the Zoo Interchange reconstruction. Of course, it won't be narrowed again once that project is completed.

Wauwatosa is among the many cities that pride themselves on being a Tree City. How many stumps does it take to lose that designation, I wonder? I hope it doesn't come to that.

I want to thank Cheryl Marlega, one of the staunchest supporters of the Friends of the Monarch Trail for sharing the following link to a video about the tree cutting on the County Grounds. It is called, "In Memory of the Trees." If you were among the many who were moved by my post on that subject, you will want to check out this link: "In Memory of the Trees."

All is not completely gloom and doom, however. We Energies has just unveiled its plan for the new substation to be built on the County Grounds. It will be sited to the west of the existing plant in what is currently an open field, as indicated in orange on the map. This is a better location than the other alternative, north of the plant, which is still woodland and butler garter snake habitat - among other wildlife species! So, here is a case where the trees have been saved for the time being. A Tree City ought to be able to protect them in perpetuity, don't you agree?

Sent DOT your Comments about Zoo Interchange plans

Friends of the Monarch Trail and the Milwaukee County Grounds:

This is an update to my last post regarding a public hearing on the plans for Zoo Interchange reconstruction that could destroy valuable acreage along the Monarch Trail on the County Grounds. The public hearing has concluded but there is still time to send public comments to the Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation (DOT). Contact info below.

Dianne Dagalen, conservation chair of the local Sierra Club group, was interviewed on Lake Effect. I recommend listening to her compelling arguments, which you can do by clicking on this link.


The DOT does listen to the public! After viewing the new plans, it was clear to me that comments from the last public hearing, about a year ago, had affected the current plans - positively, I thought. They are still debating whether to widen the freeways to 8 lanes or keep the current 6 lanes (or, if not debating, at least both are still on the table.) Please urge them not to add lanes. (Experience elsewhere has demonstrated that larger freeways create larger traffic problems and do not relieve congestion in the long run.) 

DOT Stormwater proposals:

·               A three-acre toxic stormwater pond (instead of nectaring plants) to replace the South Berm of the Monarch Trail, with the surrounding wetlands filled in by excavation.

·               A five acre pond to replace the Oak Leaf Bike Trail at Underwood Creek Pkwy.

·               Four acres clear-cut for a pond on the historic Honey CreekParkway.

12 acres of county parkland may be lost to these ponds, which are designed to hold toxic runoff that salt and heavy metals from vehicle exhaust and brake wear. Furthermore, Milwaukee County taxpayers will be responsible for pond maintenance and liability.

There are alternatives: permeable pavement for highway shoulders, roadside swales

with catchment tunnels, underground cisterns, and bio-filtration fields.

Let DOT know that you don't want county parkland used for stormwater ponds.
> Come to the hearings and submit a DOT Comment Form.  > Mail a form from on-line: www.sefreeways.org

> Email your comments to: dotdtsdsezoo@dot.wi.gov or
> Fax them to: 262-548-5662. 
Deadline:  Comments must be postmarked by April 4, 2011.

All Wisconsin residents may comment on the Zoo Interchange.

If you have questions contact Dianne Dagelen, Sierra Club Conservation Chair:

ddagelen@sbcglobal.net

414-771-1505

The Monarch Trail in bloom

To see more images of the Monarch Trail and County Grounds, click here.

Zoo Interchange Public Hearing

Friends of the Monarch Trail and the Milwaukee County Grounds:

The reconstruction of the Zoo Interchange is imminent. The Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation (DOT) is holding two days of public hearings about their plans for this huge project on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Please plan to attend one of them and voice your concern for the preservation of wildlife habitat. The plans include the proposed creation of stormwater detention ponds for runoff from the freeway.

The following information was provided by Dianne Dagalen of the Sierra Club.

DOT Stormwater proposals:

·               A three-acre toxic stormwater pond (instead of nectaring plants) to replace the South Berm of the Monarch Trail, with the surrounding wetlands filled in by excavation.

·               A five acre pond to replace the Oak Leaf Bike Trail at Underwood Creek Pkwy.

·               Four acres clear-cut for a pond on the historic Honey Creek Parkway.

12 acres of county parkland may be lost to these ponds, which are designed to hold toxic runoff that salt and heavy metals from vehicle exhaust and brake wear. Furthermore, Milwaukee County taxpayers will be responsible for pond maintenance and liability.

There are alternatives: permeable pavement for highway shoulders, roadside swales

with catchment tunnels, underground cisterns, and bio-filtration fields.

Let DOT know that you don't want county parkland used for stormwater ponds.
> Come to the hearings and submit a DOT Comment Form. 
> Mail a form from on-line: www.sefreeways.org

> Email your comments to: dotdtsdsezoo@dot.wi.gov or
> Fax them to: 262-548-5662.
Deadline:  Comments must be postmarked by April 4, 2011.

All Wisconsin residents may comment on the Zoo Interchange.

ZOO  INTERCHANGE  PUBLIC  HEARING

Tues., March 22nd (2-7pm)  
Wed., March 23rd (4-8pm)

Tommy Thompson Youth Center 
640 N. 84th St.

West Allis State Fair Park, gate #5.

If you have questions contact Dianne Dagelen, Sierra Club Conservation Chair:

ddagelen@sbcglobal.net

414-771-1505

view of Eschweiler Buildings from the Monarch Trail

To see more images of the Monarch Trail and County Grounds, click here.