Letters

New Bar Center will be inaccessible by city bus

I am writing in response to State Bar President Susan Steingass's claim in the November 1998 issue that "the new Bar Center will be readily accessible to all (including the disabled) by public transportation."

The new Bar Center will be located on Eastpark Boulevard at the northeastern edge of Madison. My Madison Metro bus map shows only routes 6 and 7 go anywhere near this location. The nearest route 7 stop is about one mile driving distance from the new Bar Center site, and the nearest route 6 stop is even father away and is separated from the new Bar Center site by the I-90/94 expressway. The route 7 stop is separated from the new Bar Center site by Highway 151, which in that area also is a limited-access highway.

Even if a bus line were to be established going to the new Bar Center, it would take about 40 minutes by bus to reach the site from downtown - hardly realistic for busy, time-conscious lawyers. Compare that with a new Bar Center in downtown Madison, where it would be just steps from the Capitol, major law firms, and the U.S. and county courthouses.

Nevertheless, I am willing to take our president at her word that the new Bar Center will be "readily accessible" by public transportation. I therefore respectfully invite Ms. Steingass to ride the bus with me out to our "readily accessible" new Bar Center site. I'll pay her fare.

Timothy Kiefer
Madison

Early inquiries into possible bus service to our new building resulted in the mistaken belief that the service did, or would, exist. When we discovered that was not the case, we took immediate action.

We learned from Madison Metro that the closest bus line to our new building went to neighborhoods behind several of the businesses near our building, but across Highway 151. In addition, American Family has its own private shuttle service from East Towne Mall.

Neither of those alternatives is helpful to us right now. However, we continue working with Madison Metro and American Family about possible changes in the near future.

Madison Metro officials indicate that eventually, if the American Center business park is populated to the point that bus service would be warranted, it will expand its service into the area. There are some encouraging signs that that will happen.

American Family will soon move the rest of its employees from its old headquarters to its current building, doubling the workforce there.

In addition to the State Bar's move to the area, the Wisconsin Bankers Association is building a new office. Furthermore, a new U.W. Clinic is under construction.

So, as you can see, the area is growing dramatically. We are hopeful and, quite frankly, optimistic that these pending changes, and future changes, will eventually result in bus service to our new headquarters.

Susan R. Steingass, State Bar president
Madison