Increased Traffic Enforcement, Updating Pedestrian Plan, Voting, Brush and Yard Waste Set-Out Dates, plus more updates

Hi Everyone,

The Madison Police Department and Dane County Sheriff's Office are conducting additional patrols to enforce Wisconsin's laws around alcohol, speeding, and seatbelt usage. The increased enforcement is funded through overtime traffic grants from the state's Department of Transportation, with the goal of enhancing public safety and preventing tragedies on the roads.

Why it matters

Traffic safety is an ongoing concern in the Madison area, with alcohol-related crashes, speeding, and lack of seatbelt use contributing to preventable injuries and fatalities. This coordinated enforcement effort between local law enforcement agencies aims to address these issues and improve overall road safety for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

The details

The extra patrols will focus on identifying and citing drivers who are operating vehicles while impaired, exceeding posted speed limits, or not wearing seatbelts. Officers will be out in force, using the additional funding to work overtime shifts dedicated to these traffic enforcement efforts.

The increased patrols began on April 4, 2026. 

Let's be mindful that while enforcement is a necessary component to the city's Vision Zero goals of eliminating traffic deaths, each of us plays an important role as we choose to drive the speed limit, set down our phones, and pay careful attention to pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and other motorists.

Speaking of pedestrians...

Updating the City's Pedestrian Plan

The City of Madison is developing an update to its 1997 Pedestrian Plan. The plan will provide direction for policy, programs and safety improvements that will increase safety, accessibility and walking connections throughout the City. Funding for this project is through the US DOT's Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program.

A virtual public information meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7 at 6:00pm to discuss the Draft Pedestrian Plan. The meeting will include an overview of the planning process, key recommendations in the plan, a description of how the public can comment on the plan, and time for questions and answers.  Click here for more information and how to register.

Tuesday, April 7 is Voting Day

Voting Information: The Spring Election will take place on April 7, 2026. All polling places in Wisconsin are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/ to find your polling location and learn about your ballot. 

Brush and Yard Waste Set-Out Dates

2026 Brush Collection Season Has Started; Get Your Brush Set-Out Schedule Today: The 2026 brush collection season is underway for some neighborhoods. When you should set out your brush for pickup depends on where you live.  Each neighborhood has different set-out dates. Check your set-out dates before you stack… [posted March 30, 2026] 

Set-out dates for yard waste pick-up are also available by clicking here.

Boards, Commissions, and Committee Meetings 

Note: This is not a complete list of meetings for this upcoming week. All meetings and their details can be found at the Meeting Schedule page. 

• City-County Homeless Issues Committee: The City-County Homeless Issues Committee meeting will take place on Monday, April 6, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include an update on the Men's Shelter. 
• Meeting Details 
• Meeting Agenda 
• Register for Public Comment 
• Watch Online 
• Board of Public Works: The Board of Public Works meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 8, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include construction management in Districts 1, 5, 10, 11, 12, 15, 18, and 20. 
• Meeting Details 
• Meeting Agenda 
• Register for Public Comment 
• Watch Online  

If you would like more information about becoming a member of a City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here. 

Public Information Meetings (PIMs) 

•  West Towne Shared-Use Path – Phase 2b, Thursday, April 9: The proposed project is a key segment for completion of the West Towne Shared-Use Path, which provides a safe, shared-use path facility for the growing west-side of Madison that connects the local area as well as a larger connection to regional paths in the Madison-area. A public information meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., April 9, 2026. Registration prior is required.  

Announcements and News Releases 

• Email Phishing Scam Involving Planning and Zoning Applications and Permits : The City of Madison is aware of fraudulent emails circulating locally. [posted April 3, 2026] 
• City to Host Second Round of Public Meetings for Perry Street Study: The City of Madison invites community members to participate in the second round of public information meetings for the Perry Street Reconnection Study. Public involvement is a key component of the study. These meetings are an opportunity for… [posted April 3, 2026] 
• Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) Provides Decisions on Madison Water Utility's Rate Case: The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) recently provided a ruling on Madison Water Utility's (MWU) 2025 application to increase water rates (3280-WR-117). Madison Water Utility customarily files a new rate case every two years to… [posted April 2, 2026] 
• Ride The Drive 2026: Madison Parks is excited to announce the date and new route for Ride the Drive 2026! With RTD's signature route along John Nolen Drive under reconstruction, we have an exciting new route for this year's event. Three miles and three hubs overflowing… [posted April 2, 2026] 
• New Traffic Pattern for John Nolen Drive Construction : Beginning Monday, April 6, southbound South Broom Street will close to traffic, between West Wilson Street and John Nolen Drive, as part of the next phase of the John Nolen Drive reconstruction project. [posted April 1, 2026] 
• Applications for next Youth Poet Laureate now open. The Madison Arts Commission and Madison Poet Laureate Steven Espada Dawson are pleased to announce that the fifth annual call for a Madison Youth Poet Laureate is now open. [posted April 1, 2026] 
• Madison Fire Now Hiring for Firefighter/EMT Positions: Serve the City of Madison as a firefighter/EMT! Applications are accepted now through May 26, 2026. [posted April 1, 2026] 
• Efficiency Navigator Providing Free Improvements for Affordable Apartment Housing: The City of Madison, the City of Fitchburg, and Sustain Dane announced at a news conference this morning that applications are now open for Efficiency Navigator in 2026. [posted March 31, 2026] 
• OIPM Annual Report 2025-2026: The Office of the Independent Police Monitor has released the revised annual report for 2025-2026. This report covers the key activities, research findings and initiatives of the office over the last 12 months. Revisions can be found in… [posted March 31, 2026] 

Please visit the City news webpage to find additional news and announcements and to subscribe to receive notification of news releases as they are posted. 

Events 

• Wisconsin Virtual TB Summit, Tuesday, April 7: Join local, state, and national tuberculosis experts as they share their work to understand and improve care for people diagnosed with TB in our community.  
• MSCR & Madison Parks Hiring Fair, Thursday, April 9: Madison Parks and MSCR are hiring seasonal staff in aquatics, maintenance, conservation and more! Attend a Hiring Fair at Parks Lakeside Offices and apply and interview onsite! Make this a summer to remember!  
• Wright Design Series - The Wright Revival: Madison's Rediscovery of Frank Lloyd Wright, Thursday, April 9: This Zoom webinar will be presented by Anna Andrzejewski is the Frank Lloyd Wright Professor of Modern American Architecture at the Department of Art History at University of Wisconsin-Madison.  She teaches courses in the history of American art, architecture and material culture. 
• Spring Home Maintenance, Thursday, April 9: Ready to tackle spring home maintenance like a pro? Our engaging course will empower you to confidently care for your home, inside and out! Learn essential skills, from maximizing your HVAC system efficiency and troubleshooting sump pump woes to prepping your roof and gutters for spring showers and revitalizing your outdoor spaces. 
• Warner Family Fun Night, Friday, April 10: Join us at WPCRC for Warner Family Fun Night! Families can create art projects, play in the gym, watch a movie or win some prizes playing bingo!  
• Free Homebuyer Education Class (in person), Saturday, April 11: Take the first step to owning a home and join us in this Home Buyer Education Workshop. This FREE Homebuyer Education workshop takes place in-person at the Southwest Madison Employment Center, 1233 McKenna Blvd, Madison, WI 53719 on Saturday, April 11, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm! Lunch will be provided. 
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Owen, Saturday, April 11: Pasture to Prairie History Walk ~ Join retired Madison Parks Conservation Manager Si Widstrand and Naturalist Eva Roos for a free guided nature walk to see farm fields and pastures that have been restored to native prairies and learn about their human and ecological history.   
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Turville Point, Sunday, April 12: Looking for Spring Ephemerals ~ Join Naturalist Jeff Nesta as we look for Trilliums and other beautiful early Spring Ephemeral wildflowers that take advantage of available sunlight before trees and bushes fully leaf out.   

Additional upcoming events can also be found on the City events calendar. 

That's all for now.

Take care and stay safe,

Tag