In many ways, Madison is a victim of its success. The growth of tech-related businesses, rising enrollment at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the city’s blend of cultural and natural attractions have pushed its population to about 288,000 — up nearly 4.75% since the 2020 census — with forecasts of nearly 400,000 capital city residents by 2050.
Even with a downtown built on an isthmus between lakes, must sensible traffic planning and its possible effects on businesses be shoved to the curb?
It’s no secret that city officials, from the mayor’s office on down, would like to steer people out of their private cars in favor of other modes of travel, such as bus rapid transit, bicycles and walking. That’s especially true when it comes to new downtown development, both commercial and residential.
Of late, those official policies have unofficially extended to people who live elsewhere in Madison and Dane County — as well as vital out-of-town visitors and commercial vehicles.
Madison’s isthmus is already a political island; it’s becoming a traffic island, as well.
The issue came to a head with the John Nolen Drive reconstruction project, which is expected to last about two years. There’s no doubt the causeway’s infrastructure needed help — it was built largely on sand fill in the 1960s. However, complaints quickly emerged over the lack of feasible alternative routes, some of which are under construction at the same time.
Whether one travels from the west on Regent Street, Monroe Street or University Avenue-Campus Drive; from the south on Fish Hatchery Road or Park Street to West Washington Avenue; or from the east on Williamson Street or other East Washington Avenue side routes, the congestion can be miserable. That’s especially so for commercial and recreational visitors unfamiliar with the city’s grid and sometimes surprised by lane closures.
No one I spoke with wants to publicly label it as an “anti-car” attitude in City Hall, or to disparage BRT as a legitimate option, but there’s a notable preference for bicycle solutions to managing downtown traffic.
When the Wisconsin State Journal asked readers for their questions about the John Nolen reconstruction project, one reader was skeptical of the city’s biking preference: “How will that work in the winter, and for older residents and people with disabilities?” The published answer from the city traffic engineer boiled down to: “Give biking a try; you might enjoy it.”
Or as Queen Marie Antoinette might have said centuries ago: “Let them eat spokes.”
The city’s stance on cars is evident in other ways around town, often under the mantra of safety for all.
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Artificially low speed limits, championed by the “20 is plenty” crowd, don’t work on their own, according to some studies. They especially don’t work with chronic speeders and people intent on breaking the law.
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Some traffic lights are not well-timed, which means car and truck traffic must stop at a series of red lights on the same street versus one or two. More idling means more carbon dioxide emissions.
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Bad traffic signal timing means drivers blow through yellow lights they consider to be “orange.” They do so to enhance their chances of not getting stacked up at the next signaled intersection.
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Speaking of CO2 emissions, how about the flurry of streets with “No Turn on Red” signs, even when there’s plenty of visibility?
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Flashing yellow lights at pedestrian crossings enhance safety … except when they remain flashing long after pedestrians or bicyclists have passed.
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Express lanes on the Beltline amount to unused capacity most of the day. Just open them 24/7.
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Plans to limit access points on Stoughton Road, which is also U.S. Highway 51, might trigger reactions from federal officials who may want to protect a major north-south thoroughfare for truck traffic.
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The number of cars hitting awkwardly placed street medians may be on the rise, according to one local leader who had an unfortunate encounter. Kaleem Caire, founder of One City Schools, recently broke his wrist when his car struck an overly wide city median designed for — you guessed it — bicycle safety. He was told by the responding police officer that it was becoming more commonplace.
The city of Madison is growing fast, but so are other Dane County communities. Regional planning will become more important as local officials strive to maintain livability for their taxpayers, businesses and visitors. No city, village or town can afford to be an island.
