City of Madison to Test Removal of Williamson Street Peak-Hour Travel Lanes to Evaluate Safety Benefits in Response to Resident Requests
Wisconsin Eagle/10316593

~ The City of Madison is taking action to address resident concerns about safety on Williamson Street. Starting on Tuesday, September 9, the Traffic Engineering Division will begin a test project that removes peak-hour travel lanes in order to evaluate potential safety benefits.

This decision was made after extensive public comments and discussions at the City's Transportation Commission. The test and data collection plan were developed by City staff in response to requests from residents for improved pedestrian crossings and reduced speeding.

To implement the changes, updated signage will be installed over the next few days. By midday on Tuesday, all changes are expected to be in place and the test will officially begin.

During this test period, Williamson Street will have one lane of traffic in both directions at all times. On-street parking will still be available on both sides of the street. However, a new Thursday parking restriction will be implemented to allow for trash and recycling collection as well as other maintenance tasks such as brush and leaf collection and street sweeping. This is a change from the previous peak-hour parking restrictions.

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In addition, parking will be restricted further back from intersections to allow for smoother traffic flow during peak hours when left-turning vehicles can cause delays.

The main goal of this test is to evaluate whether or not the peak-hour travel lanes are necessary along this corridor. It also aims to address safety concerns during high-traffic periods, particularly difficult pedestrian crossings. The test is expected to run for approximately two months.

During this time, Traffic Engineering staff will collect data related to traffic volume and travel times on adjacent corridors, conduct field observations, and gather public input. This information will be used to evaluate the benefits and impacts of the lane changes.

The City of Madison is asking for help from residents in determining the overall preference for this section of Williamson Street. A survey has been created specifically for this purpose and can be accessed on the Williamson Street Safety Study website. The feedback collected through this survey will be used to make final decisions on the next steps for safety and lane configurations along this corridor.

The City is committed to ensuring the safety of its residents and is taking proactive measures to address their concerns. The test project on Williamson Street is just one example of this commitment and the City looks forward to receiving valuable feedback from the community.

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