The final issues are transportation and the environment. Madison and the university are continually growing and the candidates will face the problem of keeping a balance between green space and parking space.
How do you plan to brace Madison for the number of vehicles expected in the next 10 years?
Incumbent Mayor Dave Cieslewicz:
Well, I think three things. We've got studies underway on commuter rail, streetcars and buses. All of those studies will be done by the second half of the year. My idea is to pull them all together in a comprehensive plan to address the specter of 100,000 more cars coming to Dane County over the course of the next 10 years.
Challenger Ray Allen:
First off, the vehicles aren't all coming at one time. The mayor talks about 100,000 cars—they're not coming at the same time. Secondly, I'm going to support the North Mendota Parkway Project because they allow transportation that would normally go through Madison to go around Madison. Then, I'm going to focus on the bus system ... to make it more efficient.
How do you plan to manage green space in the city?
MD: We actually have many more acres of park per capita than the average city in America, so we have over 200 parks. We've actually built over 15 parks on the edge of the city in the last four years.
RA: I would look at some incentives to have green building. It's great for the environment. It's great for the people who are building. I think you look at it, as a city, to encourage sound environmental policy wherever possible.
What will the street car system, assuming it passes through successfully, do for student transportation?
MD: I think it'll be great for students. It would link students to other parts of the city, it would link the near east side to State Street and campus ... and it's a system that's clean, quiet and cool. I think students would like to ride it.
RA: I think it'll raise their cost of transportation overall and I think it also may hinder some of the transportation options that they have, given that you're going to put permanent tracks down on the street. Overall, I think it's going to have a negative effect.
What is one thing you would like to fix about the current state of transportation?
MD: I think we need more options. The bus system is great and we won't do anything to hurt the bus system, but I do think we need other options to get around. Another thing we're looking at is making Madison the best place to bike.
RA: I'd like to have a more efficient bus system that could be effectively used as a work-force transportation system. Some people in challenged neighborhoods have difficulty getting to jobs because of rerouting.
How do you plan to make transportation more environmentally friendly in the city and near campus?
MD: I think emphasizing alternatives to cars, bicycling and riding the bus. We are buying some diesel-electric hybrid buses this year; actually, the university is helping us with that so that some of those buses can run on campus.
RA: Well, we've already expended for some environmentally friendly buses. And I think as you look at development, any expansion we can do of bike paths and walking paths ... I certainly would be very supportive of that.
