Channel3000.com
MADISON, Wis. — Plans for a high-speed rail in downtown Madison are on track — but at what cost?
The state estimated the new glass and steel station will carry a price tag of about $12 million, and Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said he hopes the cost will be entirely covered by federal funds; however, there are still other improvements planned for downtown.
“It’s an historic opportunity,” said Cieslewicz. “The grand vision would be, you’d come out of the train station and you’d say, ‘Wow, this is a great city.’”
The Department of Transportation’s rendering pictures a bustling street front with a public market, intermodal transit and hidden, underground parking.
“Right now, if you came out of that station, you’d see a parking ramp and — more or less — a vacant lot and some parking,” Cieslewicz said.
Cieslewicz estimated that each new stall in the underground ramp would cost $27,000, and he said he hopes the state will pay for extra spots for the station and the rest of the funds would come from parking revenue — not tax coffers.
Not everyone is convinced, however, and possible mayoral candidate Noel Radomski offered some examples of how it may end up costing more.
“(The mayor’s plan) is assuming that they don’t have to do more engineering work to support the Madison public market,” Radomski said.
According to the current plans, the market would sit on top of the underground ramp.
Radomski supports the high-speed rail, but has questions and concerns about costs that cannot be reviewed on paper — like add-ons to the station or other improvements that the street may need later.
“The alders need to look at a comparison,” Radomski said. “Right now, we are getting absolutely no comparison of what other options are and what the costs would be.”
Yet, Cieslewicz said he has a plan that will be revealed shortly in his capital budget, which is due next week and which he claims will spell out how money will be spent to create the new public market and replace the old parking area.
“My hope is, for what we’re going to get, there’s going to be a minimal public investment,” Cieslewicz said.
The mayor said his budget may not include figures for the added spaces he hopes the state will pay for.
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