City officials gathered Monday evening to emphasize the need to bolster support for the UW Transportation Services Initiative and to start work on the East Campus Utility Project.
The UW Transportation Services Initiative was a topic of heavy discussion. Officials said they want to improve the so-called ""Taj Garage,"" or Lot 46, located across from the Nitty Gritty. The garage was originally called the Taj Garage because it was one of the more attractive parking garages on campus, but it is now troubled by crime and acts of vandalism.
""The police often find people drinking, urinating and fighting in there,"" said Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4.
Verveer said the university's main objective is to renovate the ramp so it is safer and more inviting.
""They will install a lot more lights, install mirrors so that you can see around corners, improve the landscaping around the building so that the shrubbery currently there obstructing views from the sidewalk and street will be pruned back,"" Verveer said.
At the meeting, City officials also said construction work will begin this on a utility tunnel beneath Johnson Street and University Avenue. The tunnel would provide utility services to major construction projects set to take place on the east side of campus, including the demolition of Ogg Hall.
The tunnel is projected to cause major transportation problems, and committee member John Fish said avoiding interference with pedestrian and automobile traffic in the area would be difficult.
""The way we can accomplish this in a short period of time is that we're literally building the surface of the bridge across the street,"" Fish said. ""Over a period of months, we can excavate the tunnel underneath that bridge.""
Instead of excavating the tunnel first, Fish said a bridge would be constructed over the area, so as to allow the tunnels to be dug.
""It will be a challenge, but it can be done,"" said committee member John Harrod.
