Department of Transportation

Beginning Monday, October 11, the City of Madison will move to the next location of speed changes supporting the Vision Zero initiative. The posted speed limit on the .7 mile stretch of North Thompson Drive, from Sycamore to Hwy 30, will change from 30 mph to 25 mph. Temporary digital signboards are present in the areas to remind drivers of the speed limit changes.

North Thompson Drive is a busy residential street that is close to parks, an important corridor for transit and biking, with connections to East Town Mall. This speed reduction will increase the travel time by less than 20 seconds along this roadway. Data shows that speed is involved twice as often in crashes that result in fatal or incapacitating injuries when compared to collisions with no injuries, possible injuries, or non-incapacitating injuries.

“As a community, we should not fear for our families crossing a road to access a bus stop or biking to a friend’s house. Reducing speeds along these busy multi-modal roadways improves safety for everyone,” said Yang Tao, City Traffic Engineer.

The last street that will welcome speed limit reductions later in 2021 include:

• Cottage Grove Rd
  • Drexel to State Highway 51 (reduced to 25 mph from 30 mph)
  • State Highway 51 to Flora (reduced to 30 mph from 35 mph)

City news releases on previous Vision Zero speed reductions for 2021
Vision Zero Continues Speed Reductions, Next Up Sections of Whitney Way and Mineral Point Rd
Vision Zero Continues Speed Reductions, Next Up Whitney Way from Raymond Road to the Beltline
Vision Zero Continues Speed Reductions, Park Street is Next Up

What is Vision Zero?
Vision Zero is a data driven strategy intended to eliminate traffic deaths and severe injuries on City streets by 2030 while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. For more information about the City of Madison’s Vision Zero initiative and to sign up for Vision Zero news updates, please see www.cityofmadison.com/visionzero