The University of Wisconsin and the city of Madison are looking at preliminary plans for a redesigned Library Mall that will include the 700 and 800 blocks of State Street. Public input has been gathered since April, and initial broad concepts include proposals for more green space, bike and pedestrian routes, and food cart locations. The concrete speaker’s podium would likely come down.
A report in the Wisconsin State Journal noted that in one 12-hour observation, a consultant counted 10,000 pedestrians and 1,000 bicyclists passing through the area, with about 90% of the cyclists ignoring signs to walk bikes.
The city has budgeted $550,000 toward design this year and plans to spend up to $4.9 million for construction in 2014.
