A proposed Midvale Boulevard project that would have increased bike lanes and cut on-street parking has been suspended after receiving opposition from some area homeowners, according to The Capital Times. City officials announced this week that alternatives will be taken under consideration, delaying the target construction date.
Nearly all parking on the boulevard from Mineral Point Road to University Avenue would have been eliminated under the city’s initial plans, which would have implemented additional bike lanes, improved pedestrian crossings at intersections, and resurfaced the entire section for the first time since 2005.
A Jan. 30 public information meeting yielded arguments from several residents, however, many centered on a current lack of bicyclists using northern Midvale Boulevard — which opponents of the plans said indicates little demand for new bike lanes.
Some homeowners suggested alternate routes for bicyclists, while others maintained that a bike lane and street parking can coexist on Midvale Boulevard. Meanwhile, data collected by Madison’s engineering agency reportedly indicates the boulevard is “underutilized,” and the city has received calls for it to be made safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.
