Will they get run over by the train? No, it will be the best thing since sliced bread.
From: Wyttenbach, Ruth – DOA On Behalf Of Schooff, Dan – DOA
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2010 10:09 AM
To: DOA DL All DOA Department; WAB DL All Staff; OSER DL Everyone in OSER
Subject: Important message regarding DOA BuildingDear Employees,
I am pleased to inform you that Governor Doyle and Mayor Cieslewicz will announce today that the DOA building has been selected as the site of Madison’s high-speed passenger rail station. This is an exciting decision. Our building will be the best location for a station that is vibrant, multi-use and well-connected to an expanded transportation network.
As an employee in this building you are probably wondering how the decision will affect you. First, our building will retain its function as a state office building as well as being a rail station. While the station has not been fully designed yet we do not anticipate any significant, long term impact on employee access or parking. There will, of course, be some disruption during construction but that should be primarily on the first floor. The train station itself is envisioned to be an addition to the back of the building.
Although, this will certainly change some of our building’s function, as with many successful multi-use buildings, these enhancements should increase and improve the services offered to employees in the building.
In light of our current cafeteria vendor notifying us that they are discontinuing service in the building, housing a train station provides us with the opportunity to attract a number of vendors that could greatly increase services and offerings to employees. Further, as a transportation hub, our building will be centrally connected to an expanded and versatile transportation network, which will provide employees a number of options for getting to and from work and getting around the area.
The train station is also expected to lead to greater business development in the surrounding neighborhood, including a possible public market across the street. As an employee in the DOA building, you will have direct access to these new food and retail options.
It is important to note that the selection of our building is another step in a process that will continue to seek public input. The next phase of the project will be selecting a design for the station. You may want to consider attending one of DOT’s public meetings and workshops to be held in the coming months. The first public meeting will be near the end of July. To keep abreast of the process, you can look for more information as it is posted on DOT’s website: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/. Look for the link to ‘High-speed Rail’.
A telephone number will be established to answer DOA employee questions and Peter Maternowski has been named as the point person for DOA.
Dan Schooff
