Tracking Complete Streets Progress in Milwaukee

The Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW) has unveiled a benchmark report, the first of its kind in the city, on progress toward goals for Complete Streets set in October 2019, reports Jeramey Jannene.

The city of Milwaukee adopted its Complete Streets policy with the goal to increase road safety for all users, by planning each project with the safety of not just motorists, but also "pedestrians, bicyclists and other road users, regardless of age or ability, in every street project," explains Jannene. 

The report tracks the city's progress toward making those planning considerations in 2019.

The report looks at all street reconstruction, repaving or striping projects greater than a quarter-mile in length where a “substantial design change” occurred. DPW notes that 22 projects were completed in 2019. Primarily due to the timing of the policy’s October 2018 adoption and long lead time on many DPW projects, only two projects incorporated Complete Streets improvements. One of the projects was located in an [Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Areas].

Next year's report will have plenty to talk about, notes Jannene: "A number of projects have already been implemented in 2020 that aren’t included in the report, including narrowing or removing travel lanes, shortening pedestrian crossing distances and implementing an Active Street program."