Arcadia may join growing county ATV/UTV routes

City of Arcadia officials are grappling with whether ATVs and UTVs on city streets could be an economic boon or a nuisance as nearby municipalities begin permitting the vehicles on public roads.

City staff and Mayor Rob Reichwein will draft an ordinance for the council to consider that could allow the vehicles on some city streets. The proposal comes as several town adjoining Arcadia open their roads to UTV/ATV traffic. The town of Dodge allows the vehicles on County Road J as it approaches Arcadia, and the township of Arcadia is considering limited access on county roads J and G within its boundaries.

Reichwein told the council that the vehicles could in fact cross state highways. Had crossings not been allowed, Arcadia opening streets to the vehicles would have been limited by state highways 93 and 95.

Arcadia could also receive traffic from Buffalo County where ATV and UTV use of county roads was approved in March. It will officially go into effect once signs are posted.

“We can come up with all sorts of rules, but if we don’t let people stay in Arcadia, they’ll go to Dodge and we’ll lose the economic benefit,” said Arcadia City Council member Dan Sonsalla last Wednesday.

Arcadia resident Todd Fetsch, however, argued allowing the vehicles on city streets would be unsafe and increase traffic. “I don’t want the noise and I don’t want them driving by my house,” Fetsch said.

“They are quieter than motorcycles,” Sonsalla responded. “Noise is not a legitimate complaint.”

Al Rinka, county highway commissioner, said the highway committee opens roads to the vehicles based on requests from individuals, clubs or townships. The gradual opening of roads to the vehicles comes after a proposal to open all county roads in 2019 ran into objections, including some from county board members.

So far, town and some county roads are open to varying degrees in the townships of Preston, Sumner, Trempealeau, Dodge, Ettrick and, perhaps soon, Arcadia. A major utility vehicle trail also runs roughly along Highway 10 from Mondovi to Fairchild.

A map of all ATV, UTV trails is available at the Trempealeau County Highway Department web site, https://co.trempealeau.wi.us/departments/service_departments/highway/ind....

Blair passed in June an ordinance allowing the vehicles on certain streets. It will officially go into effect once signs are posted. Whitehall allows residents to travel on city streets from their homes to a designated trail. In Independence, UTVs are allowed on city streets but not ATVs.

Rinka said when a road or street is opened to the vehicles, drivers must stay on paved road and obey all traffic rules.