City could pay $133,000 for consultant to look at South Ave.

DOT and city want different things

Different goals. Different needs. Seems to be the case with La Crosse’s South Avenue.

The DOT wants better traffic flow and fewer accidents. City hall is looking for a more neighbor-friendly street – one that’s better for walkers and bicyclists.

Thursday, a council committee agreed to spend up to $133,000 on a consultant to study alternative plans for the street as well as get public input. The full council votes on that next week.

“It’s a very difficult thing that’s going on, but we need to come up with a compromise (to make) it work for everybody,” city council member Fran Formanek, who represents the area, said.

Formanek is among those supporting a plan by the city to pay a consultant.

The committee has agreed to a plan to hire the Toole Design Group to study alternative transportation plans. There are already hints of what that may look like, Formanek said.

“I believe, looking at the two groups projected before, more calming of the roadway and more beautification of the neighborhood through that,” he said.