MILWAUKEE — City of Milwaukee officials showcased some new construction projects Thursday. The projects are on residential streets to mitigate reckless driving, and improve safety for pedestrians.
The projects are primarily paid for using federal COVID-19 relief money. They include better signage, high visibility crosswalk markings, traffic circles, refuge islands in the center of streets, and bumpouts or curb extensions.
“What bumpouts do is reduce the pedestrian pathway across roadways, making that distance shorter, and getting those pedestrians out of traffic,” said Jerrel Kruschke, Commissioner of Public Works. “They also prevent drivers from passing on the right, in the bike lane.
Krushcke, Mayor Cavalier Johnson, and Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic, met in Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood to showcase recently-installed bumpouts. They are on Oklahoma Avenue between Clement and Howell, running alongside popular Humboldt Park. It’s an area full of pedestrians and close to schools.
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“I rely on the bike lane because the sidewalks are so bumpy,” said Tony Gibbs, who is disabled and relies on his motorized scooter to get around. “Even when I have the walk sign to cross the street, cars cut right out in front of me. You have to constantly be looking.”
“It’s a little bit scary sometimes when you’re walking across the street and a car whizzes by you,” said Kelly Bjornstad, who has lived in this neighborhood for 30 years. “This stop light at Oklahoma and Pine Avenues is particularly bad. People are running through the yellow and red lights here all the time.”
While neighbors are glad to see city leaders doing something to try and lessen reckless driving, some are worried that bumpouts are not the best solution.
“I worry they will cause more accidents as drivers don’t know they’re here, hit them, and lose control,” said Bjornstad. “The bumpouts are also still really close to the roadway for pedestrians. The city also thought creating fewer traffic lanes would help, but now Oklahoma gets very backed up. The cars still speed through. I think a better solution would be more traffic enforcement patrols by police. I’m hoping in the long run, these changes make a difference, but I think initially they can cause more problems.”
TMJ4 asked Kruschke if he was concerned about that.
“So, there’s always a transition period,” said Kruschke. “Is there always a fear in any change? Sure. But what you see with these bumpouts and refuge islands is not complete. There’s going to be signage and reflective lighting that will warn drivers that there is a bump. So really, we’re not worried.”
In addition to a stretch of Oklahoma in Bay View, similar safety additions will initially be added to:
-West Meinecke Ave. adjacent to Butterfly Park.
-Near Riverside Park at Newberry and Oakland.
-West Locust Street from Sherman to 40th Street.
-South 35th Street from Oklahoma to Forest Home.
“Ultimately, the city can keep trying to add safety measures, but the real change has to come from drivers,” said Gibbs. “Slow down. Pay attention. You don’t own the road.”
“Physical changes to our streets are part of a comprehensive effort that includes changing behavior, enforcement, and neighborhood involvement to reduce reckless driving,” said Mayor Johnson.
The Milwaukee Common Council recently passed a resolution allowing $3.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to go toward curbing reckless driving through design.
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The Department of Public Works (DPW) says it has several projects it will start next year with the money, including pinned-on curb extensions on 27th Street between Atkinson Avenue and Center Street; which will impact cars approaching this problem intersection.
TMJ4 is embarking on a new year-long commitment to covering one of our region's most pressing issues: reckless driving. Head to our Project: Drive Safer webpage here and check back often to see our latest stories, as well as submit story ideas and access safe driving resources. Email us at projectdrivesafer@tmj4.com today with your ideas.
