Let's Talk Streets

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Let’s talk…about what our streets should look like

Madison is working on several projects this year related to how our streets work. These projects will impact the way the City makes decisions about streets in the future: how they are designed, who they serve, how they are used, and how to make them safer. We want these future decisions to be rooted in shared community values.


Let’s talk…about values and find what brings us together.

These conversations will shape several initiatives, including:

  • Complete Green Streets
  • Vision Zero
  • Traffic Calming & Pedestrian/Bicycle Enhancements
  • And other ongoing decisions about street design and traffic operations


Let’s talk…about the history of street design

Watch the video below to learn about how values and priorities related to streets changed over time. Learn about how a century of conventional approaches across America have prioritized white-collar commuting—a practice that is inequitable and has made walking, biking, and using transit more challenging. As Madison grows and moves toward a more equitable future, we want to reexamine who is being served and how well. We want streets for everyone.

Let's Talk Streets Overview Video (English) 

Resumen de hablemos de calles (en Español)

News & Updates


Current/Upcoming Events:

 

Midvale Blvd (University Ave to Mineral Point Rd) Neighborhood Meeting

Midvale Blvd has been identified for consideration of safety and pedestrian/bicycle connectivity improvements. The proposal to add buffered bike lanes on Midvale Blvd includes the removal of parking. A second neighborhood meeting has been scheduled to review this proposal, discuss the impacts, answer questions and hear more from residents.

Neighborhood Meeting #2

Past Events:

Safe Streets Madison presented the following project at the Transportation Commission meeting on Wednesday, September 13. 

Baldwin St Improvements:

Eastmorland Neighborhood Improvements:

Midvale Blvd Improvements:

 

Greenbush Neighborhood Safe Streets Improvements
Streets in the Greenbush Neighborhood have been identified for consideration of safety improvements and improving connections for walking and biking. Streets identified include Drake St and Mills St. This meeting also discussed potential changes on Randall Ave to support the new Metro Transit Route including changes to the traffic calming circle at Vilas Ave and parking changes near the circle. 

Neighborhood Meeting:

 

Midvale Blvd (University Ave to Mineral Point Rd) Safe Streets Improvements

This section of Midvale Blvd has been identified for review with the goal of improving overall traffic safety and improving walking and biking connections.  A neighborhood meeting was held to gather more information and discuss potential improvements.

Neighborhood Meeting:

 

Baldwin St (N & S) Safe Streets Improvements
Baldwin Street has been identified for review with the goal of improving overall traffic safety and improving walking and biking connections. A neighborhood meeting was held to gather more information and discuss potential improvements.

Neighborhood Meeting:

 

Eastmorland Neighborhood Safe Streets Improvements
Streets in the Eastmorland Neighborhood have been identified for consideration of safety improvements and improving connections for walking and biking. Streets identifed include Dempsey Rd (Capital City Trail to Milwaukee St), Walter St, and Dawes St. A neighborhood meeting was held to discuss potential changes and hear more about traffic safety concerns.

Neighborhood Meeting:

 

Let’s Talk Streets: Complete Green Street Public Presentation - September, 27, 2022Review the Complete Green Streets Presentation video and draft guide components. 
 

Street Stats

Take a look at maps and data showing how Madison’s streets perform for people walking, biking, taking transit, and driving.


Project Documents

Engagement Summary Interim Report & Equity Framework

Read the presentation from the February 14, 2022 Transportation Policy and Planning Board meeting
Read the presentation from October 18, 2021 Transportation Policy & Planning Board meeting. 
Read the presentation from August 16, 2021 Transportation Policy & Planning Board meeting.

About the Project

The City of Madison is currently working on multiple interrelated initiatives in 2021 related to street design and operation. Each of these studies will influence Madison’s streets in the years and decades to come. With significant growth and development, rising concerns about safety, and increased awareness of disparities, we need public input to help us define our community’s transportation values and priorities, in order to ensure that these studies reflect those values.

Complete Green Streets

Streets in Madison move people, but are also our largest public spaces. Neighbors, business owners, bicyclists, transit users, and the health of our streams and lakes all have a stake in how that public space is allocated. Should valuable street space go towards parking or bike lanes? Bus lanes or street trees? Rain gardens or sidewalks with café dining? The answer likely varies in different situations, but how do we make those decisions? The Complete Green Streets project will develop a decision process and tools to help consistently achieve community goals and streamline the decision-making process.

Vision Zero

Madison has set a goal of achieving zero traffic deaths by 2030 under the Vision Zero campaign. Vision Zero is an approach—successfully implemented in multiple European countries—that reduces and ultimately eliminates traffic deaths through proven safety strategies. Under Madison’s Vision Zero plan, the City is looking at the street segments with the most severe and fatal crashes. The City will invest in re-engineering those segments to slow vehicle speeds and making intersections safer for people walking, biking and driving. The strategies and actions in the Vision Zero campaign will include ways to eliminate disproportionate impacts of unsafe streets on low income people and people of color.

Traffic Calming and Pedestrian / Bicycle Enhancements

The City’s Transportation Policy and Planning Board and Transportation Commission is looking at combining several funding programs that aim to reduce traffic speeds (think: speed humps and traffic circles) and improve safety and convenience for people walking and biking (think: improved crosswalks with rapid flashing lights, adding green markings and driver speed feedback boards). The current programs are being reviewed to improve equitable project distribution, and to ensure that projects align with the most pressing safety needs.

Initiatives

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Upcoming Events

  • Midvale Blvd (University Ave to Mineral Point Rd) Neighborhood Meeting

    Midvale Blvd has been identified for consideration of safety and pedestrian/bicycle connectivity improvements. The proposal to add buffered bike lanes on Midvale Blvd includes the removal of parking. A second neighborhood meeting has been scheduled to review this proposal, discuss the impacts, answer questions and hear more from residents.

    Neighborhood Meeting #2

Past Events