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City Meetings and Updates Week of Oct 20

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  • City Meetings:
    • Plan Commission 10/20
    • Transportation Commission 10/22
    • Housing Policy Committee 10/23
  • REMINDER: Southeast Area Plan Input Phase 2 Meetings Begin 10/21
  • Update on In-Progress Safe Streets Madison Projects in District 3
  • Free Cyclocross Practice Night at Sycamore Park 10/22
  • Wisconsin Book Festival’s Fall Celebration is 10/23-10/26
  • Events & Announcements

City Meetings

Plan Commission

The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, October 20, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include development-related requests (none in District 3).

Transportation Commission 

Screenshot from City Engineering's Transportation Improvement Program showing the future path extension
Image credit: City Engineering
Autumn Ridge path extension over Stoughton Road planned for 2030, pending funding from WisDOT.

The Transportation Commission meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 22, at 5:00 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include a resolution approving application for a grant from WisDOT for Transportation Alternatives Program funds for a few City projects, including the Autumn Ridge Path Extension in District 3 (I’m a cosponsor). This project would extend the new All Ages, All Abilities ped/bike path from the current bridge over Hwy 30 to the west (along the south side of Hwy 30) and a new bridge over Stoughton Road near the top of the Garver Path, proposed to extend through the new Starkweather neighborhood at the old Voit Farm site. The agenda also includes an annual review of Metro Transit’s Safety Plan.

Housing Policy Committee

The Housing Policy Committee meeting will take place on Thursday, October 23, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include a staff presentation and discussion regarding data for the 2025 Housing Snapshot Report. While I presume the staff presentation/data will be attached to this Legistar item sometime this week, it’s not yet available. I’m eager to review this one.

REMINDER: Southeast Area Plan Input Phase 2 Meetings Begin Tuesday

Residents, community organizations, businesses, and others are invited to join in the second phase of the planning for the Southeast Area Plan with a series of public meetings in the coming weeks. Since the Southeast Area planning processes began in 2024, City staff have received community feedback through survey responses, interactive mapping comments, and during in-person and virtual meetings. 

Southeast Area Plan's boundaries
Image credit: City Planning

Now, residents have another opportunity to connect at the next set of virtual and in-person meetings to see what the City has heard so far during the planning process. These meetings will provide an overview of issues and opportunities in the planning area and offer a chance to review and comment on draft plan actions. Presentations at the virtual meetings will be followed by discussion and feedback. In-person meetings will have a short presentation followed by an open house.

For those interested in a preview, here is a story map of the Southeast Area Plan draft recommendations (so far) and here is the full document.

Thank you to each and every District 3 resident who has given input and engaged with this process so far!

Update on In-Progress Safe Streets Madison Projects in District 3

Eastside residents have been patiently waiting for the completion of three long-promised Safe Streets Madison traffic safety projects:

  • A left-turn arrow on eastbound Cottage Grove Road for drivers turning north onto Acewood Blvd
  • A rapid rectangular flashing beacon (or RRFB, meaning flashing lights that signal to drivers that pedestrians are crossing) at Milwaukee St and Walbridge Ave
  • Another rapid rectangular flashing beacon at Milwaukee St and Portland Pkwy which facilitates safer crossing for users of the new Autumn Ridge path

Each of these projects were approved in previous Safe Streets Madison funding cycles and were included in the 2025 Safe Streets contract for construction this year. The pavement work for each is complete. Now we’ve been waiting for the contractor to finish their work installing the electrical components of each – apparently this affects other projects Citywide as well.

In August the contractor told the City they were having issues with their supplier and hoped to finish these projects in September. It’s now mid-October and the work hasn’t been completed. This past Monday, City staff shared with me that the contractor told them that same morning they “are expecting materials to be delivered within 1-2 weeks to finish up the RRFB and traffic signal work at various sites citywide.”

I know many are as anxious to see these traffic safety improvements completed as I am, and I sincerely appreciate residents’ patience.

Free Cyclocross Practice Night at Sycamore Park Wednesday

What is Cyclocross?

Cyclocross is a form of bicycle racing similar to cross-country running, but on a bicycle. Courses feature wooded trails, grass, pavement, steep hills, and obstacles. Practice trails are offered periodically at select locations throughout the year. 

Map of Sycamore Park cyclocross track
Image credit: Madison Parks
Sycamore Park track map

In partnership with CORP (Capital Off Road Pathfinders), Madison Parks offers practice cyclocross courses in select parks for one designated evening in the late summer and early fall.

You'll need a bike with knobby tires, such as a mountain-style bike, and a good-fitting helmet. No registration is required.

  • Where: Sycamore Park, 830 Jana Lane
  • When: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 from 5pm – 7pm

Here’s the event page with more details the FREE Sycamore Park practice night!

Wisconsin Book Festival’s Fall Celebration is Thursday-Sunday

From the Madison Public Library: 

“More than 70 authors are scheduled to speak about their latest published works at the Wisconsin Book Festival’s 24th annual Fall Celebration October 23–26 at Central Library and downtown Madison partner venues. While the majority of events will take place at the library, others will be hosted at partner sites such as Arts + Literature Laboratory, UW-Madison’s Discovery Building, and the Wisconsin Historical Society. Throughout the four days, visitors can enjoy events featuring award-winning fiction authors, inspiring poetry, heartfelt memoir, and plenty of nonfiction books about food, music, politics, and science.” 

A list of daily highlights and the full lineup are available on this MPL webpage for the event.

Infographic for the fall celebration event
Image credit: Madison Public Library

Events & Announcements

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

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District 3 - Alder Field

Alder Derek Field

Alder Derek Field

District 3
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