Vision Zero Continues Speed Reductions, Park Street is Next Up

Included as part of the Vision Zero initiative roadway improvements, upcoming speed limit reductions are scheduled for several Madison streets identified as having a high level of injury causing crashes. The first one to occur, on South Park Street between Regent Street and Badger Road, begins on Monday, August 30 and will reduce the speed limit to 25 mph.

Data shows that in Madison between the years 2015 and 2019, seventeen people suffered serious injury and two pedestrians died in traffic crashes. In the years that have followed, we continue to see an increase in fatal and life changing incidents. Studies show that lowering the speed limit by 5 mph helps increase the safety of all who use our city streets, especially children and people walking or biking.

In 2020, previous Vision Zero improvements on South Park Street included enhanced crosswalks at Badger Road and Buick St and a new crosswalk near the bus stops at the railroad crossing.

“The South Park Street area contains several neighborhoods with many residences and small businesses. All day and every day, people cross this street to shop, attend schools, visit parks, and get to their bus stops,” said Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, “This speed reduction, and the others planned, are important pieces to create a safer city for all of our residents and visitors.”

Additional streets that will welcome speed limit reductions later in 2021 include:

• Cottage Grove Rd
  • Drexel to State Highway 51 (reduced to 25 mph from 30 mph)
  • State Highway 51 to Flora (reduced to 30 mph from 35 mph)
• Whitney Way
  • Sheboygan Ave to Mineral Point Rd (reduced to 25 mph from 30 mph)
  • Mineral Point Rd to Tokay Blvd (reduced to 30 mph from 35 mph)
• Mineral Point Rd from Whitney Way to Science Dr (reduced to 35 mph from 40 mph)
• Whitney Way from the Beltline to Raymond Rd (reduced to 25 mph from 30 mph)
• N Thompson Dr from Sycamore to State Highway 30 (reduced to 25 mph from 30 mph)

For each of these changes, once the permanent signs have been updated, temporary digital signboards will be placed in the area to remind drivers of the speed limit changes.

In the coming months, additional Vision Zero improvements will occur around the city including crosswalk enhancements, street lighting upgrades, and additional buffered bike lanes.

What is Vision Zero?
Vision Zero is a data driven strategy intended to eliminate traffic deaths and severe injuries on City streets by 2030 while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. For more information about the City of Madison’s Vision Zero initiative and to sign up for Vision Zero news updates, please visiy www.cityofmadison.com/visionzero.
 

Links

• Vision Zero

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