UOSF: Issues and Opportunities in the East Rail Corridor

Issues and Opportunities in the East Rail Corridor

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There are five basic zones of opportunity in the East Rail Corridor. They are identified in the text and map below.

INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE CAMPUS (BLUE)
MG&E's history and stories -- of power, energy, and industry -- could be explored in this zone. Themes of energy in the past and in the present might run connect to a redeveloped Main St. and an Energy and Industry Museum.

INFILL REDEVELOPMENT (PURPLE)
The Main St. corridor has great sun exposure, wonderful historic architecture, and vacant and underutilized land -- it has great potential to become the focus of high-density mixed-use development. Small businesses, light manufacturing, galleries, lofts, retail, restaurants could be included.

TRANSPORTATION DEPOT (ORANGE CIRCLE)
A depot near the Metro Bus Barn could offer creative and efficient ways for visitors to explore the isthmus and for neighbors to get around their neighborhoods. A bus depot could have free "red bikes" or other innovative transit opportunities, and it would located close to a future commuter rail/ LRT station.

CORE PARK AREA (GREEN AT LEFT)
The core park could be the seam between the Tenney-Lapham and Marquette neighborthoods -- a place that draws them together around shared activities and amenities. This must be a place for all people that serves the needs of local residents, nearby workers, and visitors from the rest of the city and region.

YAHARA RIVER PARKWAY (GREEN AT RIGHT)
Any new green infrastructure must be considered in the context of the existing resources. The Yahara River system should be strengthened and the core park should be connected to and designed in coordination with this system.

There are also important opportunities to strengthen pedestrian and bike linkages between these areas and to the rest of the Isthmus, notably a connection to the Capitol along Main St.; a connection to the Monona Terrace beside John Nolen Drive; connections the Yahara River Parkway on Main St. and East Wilson St.; and a number of Isthmus Crossings that stitch together the two sides of the isthmus.

The "Power Point" intersection (at left, with the yellow views emanating from it) of Franklin St. and Main St. is an important location. It offers a dramatic panoramic view over the isthmus and to the lakes and the Capitol building. It is an important threshold to the East Isthmus. The street ends on the lakes can be considered "Launch Pads" (along the lakes, green circles with yellow views) to the resources of the lakes and beyond Madison.