If past council members would have had some foresight, the trail at that point would have been routed differently, and this wouldn't even be an issue now. THAT would have been real fiscal responsibility.

That is unfortunate. I support the tunnel 100%. I have seen and been involved in numerous "near misses" with impatient drivers, inattentive drivers and drivers who really could care less who or what is in the intersection. For those who say to go down the street and cross at the lights have not obviously done so or they would know there are two car dealership entrances to cross and more lanes of traffic. If past council members would have practiced fiscal restraint when times were good, the tunnel would have been in and paid for a long time ago. Fiscal responsibilty needs to be practiced when money is there to prepare for times when money is not. Not the other way around.

"I don't think there's any hurry to get it done," Brunner said of the tunnel. He nailed that one. I propose they put it off until the twelfth of never.

Obama will pay for it.
the candy man can!

Remember, Brunner is running for RE-ELECTION! Be careful what you believe. It was so obvious he intened on running again when he made such a big deal about trying to save Janesville residents from having to pay a back breaking tax increase of $24 a year. Now he is saying he "might at the very least reconsider the timing of the Milwaukee Street tunnel." He's not saying we dont need it. It's RE-ELECTION TIME and he is saying what he needs to say to get your vote!

Sounds like this could be a modern era "WPA" project.

I was a staunch supporter of the tunnel during the debate this summer. Frankly, I think this project should be tabled. In the long run this is the right thing to do...just not right now. I don't want this to become to political but I wonder if the Obama-nomics infrastructure plan may cover this someday? I have a shovel...4 score and 4 million shovel fulls ago...

"Backpeddling" while cute has negative connations. Kudos to Mr Brunner for rethinking this now controversial project. He could have easily stuck to his guns and refused to even reconsider his earlier position, But he may have heard the voice of the community that has said let's at least take another look at this considering the economic climate. I suppose the next headline will accuse the council of having "Tunnelvision" over this issue.

I think they should just paint it like Wright Rd with one lane of traffic, one parking lane and one bike lane. With one lane, the traffic would slow down and it would be easier to cross with only two lanes to watch instead of four. Paint can't be that expensive and it could be done in a day! I really want SOMETHING done and done soon because it is dangerous.

The tunnel will last 50 years or more, so ten years of personnel costs is not a realistic comparison. A realistic figure for hiring one (1) officer is at least $100,000 including salary, insurance, and other expenses such as equipment and training. So at best the amount spent by the *city* (not counting the grant) could cover an officer on your schedule for approximately 20 months.
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Don't imagine that capital expenditures and operating budget items are interchangeable. (It's like paying your credit cards with your mortgage.) Bond service on an amortizable capital improvement is much less expensive in the long run.

Lets not forget that we could hire one officer to sit on that cross walk for 16 hours a day for 7 days a week for 10 years for the cost of that tunnel. And with the tickets that officer would be writing we could recover some of that money, or put it aside to keep an officer there forever... Oh yeah, don't forget to let the assessor into your house for your tax adjustment next year...

Declining economies results in back to basics. Back to basics for government spending includes fire, police, garbage pickup, sewage & water, and not much else.
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Communities need to come together and raise extra money privately for anything additional. If it's that important, everyone with means will chip in enough for things like bike tunnels, skate parks, childrens' museum, etc.

I'm happy to see the council is finally showing some fiscal restraint. All of these projects are great as long as there is budget surplus money available and people are working. On the other hand, if budgets keep increasing and people keeping loosing their jobs then the priorities need to be different. As economic conditions improve, then we can look over these projects again.

Yes there is alternative solutions to the safety of bike and walkers that will cost 100's of thousands less. Lets use that money more wisely, for example this city still does not have a skate park that can be used 12 months of the year. The city approved 1.5 million for a baseball diamond that will be used only 3 months of they year. And of that time only when there is organized games and practice. The skate and bike park is one of the few activities that is a 1 on 1 sport. Kids and adults do not have to wait until they can get enough people together to organize a game. The same kids who play football, baseball, soccer, etc. are bored most of the time and would love to take there bike or skateboard to a area that is safe. Our streets and sidewalks are not the safest place for this kind of activity. contact your council member and explain why we need a skate park.