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Milwaukee implements "traffic-calming" features
Over the last couple of years, Milwaukee has been working hard to crack down on reckless driving and crashes by implementing what the city calls "traffic-calming" features. City leaders say these features are already showing promising results.
MILWAUKEE - Over the last couple of years, Milwaukee has been working hard to crack down on reckless driving and crashes by implementing what the city calls "traffic-calming" features.
City leaders say these features are already showing promising results.
Safety gains made
What they're saying:
"Drivers kind of feel like their goal is to get from a place to another place as fast as possible," said Peter Hertel Meirose.
It’s an issue the father of three says he’s witnessed in his Walker Square Neighborhood for 13 years.
"For our kids to be able to come across the street to the park without us being incredibly nervous every time is huge for our quality of life," added Meirose.
It's a safety concern Milwaukee leaders say now has a solution.
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New roundabout
Mayor Cavalier Johnson and the Department of Public Works (DPW) hosted a news conference on Thursday, Sept. 18 to highlight the impact of recent traffic-calming projects implemented across the city.
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Milwaukee traffic-calming projects update
Milwaukee officials are touting what they call the success of recent traffic-calming projects implemented in the city.
"As a city, we need people to drive the speed limit and practice safe driving behaviors. The City of Milwaukee's Department of Public Works has been designing and building streets across the city to help lower speeds and reduce the levels of traffic violence," Johnson said. "Now, all of this, progress brings us closer to achieving our vision zero goal of zero traffic deaths by the year 2037."
"We know that when pedestrians, bikers and operators of motor vehicles are safer, when adequately designed, roadways that reduce speeding and reckless driving have an effect," said Common Council President Jose Perez. "Ultimately, we gotta use all the tools we have to stop the behavior that's leading to the pursuits and reckless driving in Milwaukee."
Thursday's event took place at Walker Square Park, an area that has recently seen safety improvements through the completion of the Washington/Scott Bike Boulevard project.
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The project consisted of W. Washington Street being repaved from S. 20th Street to S. 1st Street and traffic-calming measures, including speed humps, curb extensions, pinned-on concrete bumpouts and traffic circles, being added to create an east-west bike boulevard. Similar improvements were also made on W. Scott Street from S. 20th Street to S. Layton Boulevard.
Dig deeper:
City officials shared data showing reductions in speed and crashes on streets where traffic-calming projects have been completed. Officials said these improvements help make Milwaukee’s streets safer for everyone, including people driving, walking, and biking.
The projects are part of Milwaukee’s broader Vision Zero Action Plan, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2037.
Milwaukee adopts Vision Zero, '1 traffic death is too many'
Milwaukee leaders hope to eliminate all traffic deaths within the next 15 years.
Dig deeper:
FOX6 also asked the city engineer if they are doing anything to help address safety when it comes to police pursuits.
He says they are looking to discussing strategies to help address this concern.
The Source: Information in this post was provided by the City of Milwaukee.