Milwaukee Launches Vision Zero Plan

Seven years after the city signed its Complete Streets Policy, the city is doubling down on its efforts to eliminate traffic deaths.

1 minute read

July 9, 2025, 5:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


View down center of street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Sam Wagner / Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson announced a new Vision Zero action plan for the city, which has seen a 7 percent decline in traffic deaths between 2023 and 2024. 

As Jeramey Jannene reports in Urban Milwaukee, “The new action plan, unanimously adopted by the Common Council last week, includes seven strategies: build safe streets for all users by prioritizing the most dangerous roads; supporting accountability in the justice system; supporting vibrant, people-centered places; promoting traffic safety through communication and education; ensuring timely and effective EMS and medical care advocacy for safer vehicles; and champion and advocate for state-level changes to laws and practices.”

According to the mayor, the city is “redesigning 9% of the streets where 59% of the serious crashes happen,” using tax increment financing to build better bike infrastructure, and evaluating its licensing system to keep dangerous drivers off the streets. Johnson also said the city has equipped fire stations with whole blood to enable EMTs to save lives and treat patients faster when crashes happen.

Wednesday, July 2, 2025 in Urban Milwaukee

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

5 hours ago - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Brutalist grey department of housing and urban development building in Washington DC.

How Trump's HUD Budget Proposal Would Harm Homelessness Response

Experts say the change to the HUD budget would make it more difficult to identify people who are homeless and connect them with services, and to prevent homelessness.

3 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Lancaster Boulevard with tree-lined median and wide sidewalks in Lancaster, California.

The Vast Potential of the Right-of-Way

One writer argues that the space between two building faces is the most important element of the built environment.

4 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

Sign in front of building for seior services center in St. Petersburg, Fl.

Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk

High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.

6 hours ago - WESH