Janesville Road Design Fits Trend for 'New Urbanism'

Janesville Road is the main artery for business in the city, and the upcoming design for it seems to address the need for pedestrians as well as motorists to get around the city.

Jeff Muenkel, city planner and Steve Filmanowicz, who was the Communications Director for the Congress on New Urbanism, talked about Janesville Road plans, and how they fit into how cities in general are rethinking their plans. They were featured speakers during the State of the City address Monday morning at the Muskego Public Library, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.

Muenkel laid out the 'brass tacks' of the project, including introductions of Micheal Mentzel of RA construction, who will be the 'boots on the ground' during the reconstruction of the road. Edward Hinrichs, an engineer with Waukesha County, was also on hand.

"Full construction will begin around mid-April, and you'll begin to see the barrels and traffic control prior to that," said Muenkel. The phase II design for the remainder of the project that will take place in 2013 is ahead of schedule as well. The Janesville Road website, Hinrichs said, will be updated every two weeks as well to keep people informed. Additional information can be found on the city's website as well.

Motorists will note the addition of driving lanes in either direction, but will also have to adjust to medians. Off the road, streetscaping will help to provide a "sense of place" and give distinction to the stretch of Janesville that has long been an eyesore of unconnected styles, Muenkel explained.

The 'off the road' features are what mark a departure for the city, said Muenkel. Previously, walkable areas have kept pedestrians away from the business district on Janesville. Sidewalks and clearly marked crosswalks in the new plans will help to encourage foot traffic around the area, as well as help create a destination for residents outside the immediate area.

Filmanowicz also presented several examples from around the area of what 'new urbanism' means. In short, cities were planned for motor traffic, and most did away with sidewalks. They also built neighborhoods that alienated residents from walking access to business districts.

"You have large cul de sacs in many developments, which channels traffic to intersections that are multi-laned, which isn't friendly to pedestrian traffic," he explained.

The trend now is, in a way, stepping back to more traditional designs, featuring closer, more compact neighborhoods, connected street networks, on street parking, and walking and biking paths and sidewalks.

Wisconsin's weather has not deterred residents from Bayshore Mall, Filmanowicz explained. The mall's transformation from an indoor-only shopping facility to its 'town center' feel has been very successful in summer and in winter, he explained.

Muenkel and others also pointed to the recent "Jammin on Janesville" that was more successful than organizers expected as proof that people want to congregate in their community.

"Creating more areas in a city that allow for people to gather is what planners are doing," Filmanowicz said. "The new street sides are meant to provide a human-scaled experience, as public spaces are people-centered."

The potential for development along Pioneer Drive and even the development of a lake park could also be catalysts for economic development, he said. The Riverwalk area along the Milwaukee River in its downtown was a $20 million investment that has resulted in $600 million in development, he explained.

The idea is that where people gather, or want to gather, property values rise, said Filmanowicz.

What happens on the lake is the people's choice, he added, but he felt that having access to the lake so close to Janesville Road "can be a game-changer" for the city. He said patience is also something that is a part of a city's transition, and estimated that changes are generally noted in three to 10 years.

For Muskego residents, he added, the key will be for the city to maintain communications on development and provide opportunities for people's concerns and questions to be addressed.