Transportation

Vision Statement

In the year 2020, Sauk County boasts a modern, safe and well maintained transportation network that provides residents and visitors efficient movement within and through the county.   Historically, the county has recognized the importance of investing in traditional transportation corridors, while encouraging alternative modes of transportation when practical.  This planned approach will allow the county to experience contintued population growth and economic vitality, yet remain a leader in preserving agricultural lands, promoting recreational opportunities and maintaining natural resource areas.

GOAL 1

Sauk County should work to maintain the quality of the county’s road system.  

POLICY 1.1  

The Sauk County Highway Department should be required to create a formal Capital Improvements Plan that specifically explains future projects. This would allow local units of government to coordinate road plans (short/long term), equipment usage and better involve the public in the decision making process.  

POLICY 1.2 

The Sauk County Highway Department should hold an annual transportation forum for all levels of Sauk County government and the general public in which the Sauk County Capital Improvements Plan, common transportation issues and/or developments can be discussed.   

GOAL 2

Sauk County should maintain and promote safe, aesthetically pleasing transportation corridors.  

POLICY 2.1 

Sauk County should establish criteria for managing the amount and location of access along the county’s roads.  

POLICY 2.2 

When new development occurs, Sauk County should provide guidelines for setbacks and screening that encourage greenspace along the county’s roads.

GOAL 3

Sauk County should maintain and improve upon highway safety infrastructure.  

POLICY 3.1

  To maintain and improve upon safety on Sauk County’s roadways, attention should be paid to providing better pavement markings, limiting access to major thoroughfares, providing lighting at major intersections, regulating and enforcing “vision triangles” at intersections and allowing for access lanes. 

POLICY 3.2

  Sauk County should establish site plan review and establish an appropriate setback distance for future development that accesses, or is adjacent to roadways.  

POLICY 3.3

Sauk County should consistently review traffic counts to promote safety at controlled intersections.  

GOAL 4

Sauk County should maintain its existing freight railroad system. 

POLICY 4.1

  Sauk County should zone property around current and proposed railway routes and promote the maintenance of existing freight rail corridors.  

GOAL 5

Sauk County should establish new and improve upon existing shared ridership, transportation design management tools, car and van pools and commuter bicycling throughout the county.   

POLICY 5.1 

Sauk County should study commuter rail options and pursue any if feasible.  The county should be aware of any funding or other resources and work with adjoining counties and communities in this effort.

POLICY 5.2 

The county should establish a central contact/clearing house for program information. Furthermore, whenever possible, the county should attempt to obtain funding for the establishment of said programs, to include any matching and/or leveraging of private sector funds.

POLICY 5.3

Sauk County should support the Sauk County section of the Ice Age Trail as a recreational, educational and economic development tool.   

POLICY 5.4 

The county’s parks and transportation committees should collaborate on bicycle routes.    

POLICY 5.5 

Sauk County should continue to cooperate with snowmobile clubs and the state concerning safe snowmobile trails and operation.   

POLICY 5.6 

Sauk County should maintain its airports and support local airports for safe operation, including minimizing land use conflicts and keeping aware of all FAA regulations.  

POLICY 5.7

  The county should assess the needs of business and industry for the future of air freight and commuter traffic.    

POLICY 5.8 

Sauk County should support any organization’s efforts for ride sharing and volunteer programs.

GOAL 6

Sauk County should update its sign ordinance and encourage enforceable standards for commercial signage.

POLICY 6.1 

Through an amended sign ordinance, Sauk County should limit the number of new “off-premise” commercial billboards along its roadways.

POLICY 6.2

When allowing a commercial sign, Sauk County should be consistent with enforcement and fees as dictated in its amended sign ordinance.  Any signage fees generated from land use permits should be used towards monitoring compliance with the amended Sauk County Sign Ordinance.

POLICY 6.3

Sauk County should encourage extra-territorial areas and other jurisdictions with adopted sign ordinances to have uniform signage standards.

POLICY 6.4 

New “off-premise” billboards should be permitted if no existing billboard is available and provided that they meet all standards within the amended Sauk County sign ordinance.  Existing billboards may continue to exist as long as they meet those standards.  If an existing billboard does not fully meet the standards within the amended Sauk County sign ordinance, they should be considered non-compliant and the owner, who will be notified, will be given a sunset after which the sign must be removed.

POLICY 6.5

Sauk County should set standards for all “off-premise” billboards.  These signs should meet size, height, setback and material standards as specified in the amended Sauk County sign ordinance.

POLICY 6.6

Sauk County should establish standards for “on-premise” commercial signs that will include size, height, setback and material criteria.

GOAL 7

Sauk County should plan to ensure that raw materials are available for the maintenance and upgrade of its road system.  

POLICY 7.1 

Sauk County should continue, and improve upon, established buffer zones between mineral extraction activities and residential, agricultural, commercial and industrial sites, landmarks, sensitive natural areas and historic places.  

POLICY 7.2 

Sauk County should identify and zone existing potential nonmetallic mineral extraction material sources and access points.   This should be based upon the quantity and quality of materials, accessibility, adjacent land uses and impact to the significant natural resources within the county.

POLICY 7.3 

Sauk County should require the use of berms and foliage to limit sight distance of pits and quarries and require operators to provide a ”Right to Nonmetallic Mine Notice” to be given to properties within a two mile zone of a prospective site.  

GOAL 8

Sauk County should work on remediation of contaminated soils (Re: Leaking Underground Storage Tanks-LUSTS).  

POLICY 8.1

Rather than landfilling, Sauk County should utilize contaminated soils whenever possible.  Such uses might include use in bituminous aggregate.