City-County Building
Common Council

Week of July 28, 2025

posted 

Dear Neighbors,

As July comes to a close and we enter the last month of summer, I’m excited to share a full lineup of city news, community events, major service updates, and opportunities for your input. This week’s highlights include safer neighborhood speeds, transit expansion, new green space planning, and some great local events.

Let’s dive in!

🎉 CARES Program Reaches 10,000 Responses

This week, the City’s CARES program (Community Alternative Response Emergency Services) hit a remarkable milestone 10,000 calls for service since launching! CARES provides mobile mental health crisis support without police involvement, offering residents a more compassionate, health-centered emergency response option.

Congratulations to the Madison Fire Department and all CARES team members for your continued commitment to our community!

🚍 Metro Transit Service Changes – Effective August 17

✅ New Route D2 Service to Verona

Metro Transit is extending Route D2 beyond Maple Grove & McKee to downtown Verona and Epic Systems beginning August 17. Service will run:

  • Every 30 minutes on weekdays
  • Every 60 minutes nights & weekends
  • Paratransit coverage extended to Verona

🔗 More on Route D2 Expansion

🔁 Route Tweaks & Bus Stop Updates

Numerous smaller route adjustments and stop changes are also coming. Please review if you use Metro regularly.

🔗 August Service Updates
🔗Bus Stop Changes

💳 New: Contactless Fare Payment

You can now pay adult fares with contactless credit cards or mobile wallets. Discounted fare support is coming soon.

🔗 Tap-to-Pay Info

🔁 Old Pass Trade-In

Exchange 10-ride cards or 31-day passes for equivalent Fast Fare value.

🔗 Fare Trade-In Info

🛤️ University Ave / Babcock Dr. Realignment Proposal

The Transportation Commission will consider a realignment proposal for University Avenue and nearby rail crossings to improve pedestrian safety and long-term infrastructure.

🔗 Project Info on Legistar

🚦 20 is Plenty Program Officially Launched

The 20 is Plenty program was officially launched last week, marking a major step forward in neighborhood safety. This initiative lowers speed limits to 20 mph in residential areas as part of Madison’s Vision Zero strategy to eliminate traffic fatalities.

📍 Free multilingual yard signs (English, Spanish, Chinese, Hmong) are available at:

🎥 Watch the Press Conference
🔗 20 is Plenty Program Info

🌍 Southwest Area Plan: Share Your Voice

More community events are coming up to help shape the Southwest Area Plan. Your input helps guide how we grow equitably.

📅 Upcoming Feedback Events:

  • 📍Parks Alive – Allied Park → Aug 4, 5–7 PM, 2370 Revival Ridge
  • 📍National Night Out – Meadowood Park → Aug 5, 4–7:30 PM, 5800 Thrush Ln
  • 📍Parks Alive – Meadowood Park → Aug 6, 5–7 PM, 5800 Thrush Ln

🔗 SW Area Plan Website

📜 Dane County Covenant Removal Support

Dane County is helping property owners remove racially restrictive covenants from old deeds. Check if your property is impacted and learn how to take action.

🔗 Prejudice in Places Project

🧹 Streets & Urban Forestry Division Reminders

  • 🎓 Downtown Student Move-Out (Aug 3–22): Special pickups are in effect.
    🔗 Move-Out Info
  • 🖥️ Free Electronics Recycling: Drop off TVs, printers, phones, etc. at city sites no charge.
  • 📘 2025 Recyclopedia Available: Pick up at local libraries or request delivery.
  • 🌳 Be Cautious with Herbicides Around Trees: Use manual or granular weed control to prevent damage.
  • 🌿 Free Mulch Available: Now offered at South Point and Sycamore (no longer at Olin due to construction).

🏛️ Meetings This Week

🗓️ Monday, July 28:

  • Finance Committee – 4:30 PM (virtual)
    Topics: Issuance of $137M in general obligation notes
    🔗 Meeting Info & Agenda
  • Plan Commission – 5:30 PM (virtual)
    Topics: Updates to the area plan sequencing and development in Districts 6, 12, 13, and 15
    🔗 Meeting Info & Agenda

🗓️ Tuesday, July 29:

  • Public Input – Midtown Commons Park (Virtual)
    6:00 PM | Feedback on expanding this growing green space

🗓️ Thursday, July 31:

  • Public Input – Kenneth Newville Park (In-Person)
    6:00 PM | On-site at the park to shape amenities & layout

🎉 Community Events This Week

Saturday, July 26:

  • 💉Mobile Vaccination Clinic – Thoreau Elementary
  • 🐦Bird & Nature Adventures – Edna Taylor Park (10–11:30 AM)
  • 💪Disability Pride Festival – Celebrate disability community in Madison
  • 🎬Movie in the Park: Inside Out 2 – Peace Park, 8:30 PM

Tuesday, July 29:

  • 💦Ribbon Cutting – Jeff Erlanger Sprayground at Rennebohm Park, 1:00 PM
    Celebrate the newest family-friendly space in Madison!

Thanks for being an engaged neighbor and staying connected with what’s happening in our city. If you have any questions or ideas you'd like to share, I'm always here to listen.

In partnership,
Badri Lankella
Alder, District 7

Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of July 28, 2025

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.

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)

  • Public Input Meeting - Midtown Commons Park, Tuesday, July 29: The community is invited to a virtual public meeting to help guide the future of Midtown Commons Park, located at 1310 Waldorf Blvd. Midtown Commons Park is expanding to include ~8.2 acres of additional park green space. Community members are invited to review existing park uses and provide their thoughts on desired park amenities in the expansion area.
  • Public Input Meeting - Kenneth Newville Park, Thursday, July 31: Newville Park neighbors are invited to the park for a community input meeting on Thursday, July 31, starting at 6:00pm. Parks staff will be sharing potential amenities and layout options for a new development plan for Kenneth Newville Park. We’re seeking community feedback to help prioritize features and ensure the plan reflects local needs and preferences.

Announcements and News Releases

  • MPD recognizes National Deflection Week: Madison, Wis. – The Madison Police Department is pleased to announce its involvement in National Deflection Week and the efforts being done to help those experiencing substance use disorders in the community. [posted July 23, 2025]
  • August Moving Days: Your Time Starts Now: The annual August Moving Days for downtown Madison will soon get underway. Thousands of Madisonians will be changing homes within the moving days area during the first few weeks of August.  And if you are moving, you have many tasks… [posted July 23, 2025]
  • Ribbon Cutting Set for the Jeff Erlanger Sprayground at Rennebohm Park: Neighbors and community members are invited to join the Madison Parks Foundation and City leaders in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1:00pm on Tuesday, July 29, for the new sprayground at Rennebohm Park, 115 North Eau Claire Avenue, 53705. [posted July 23, 2025]

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

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

Categories:
Tags:
Was this page helpful to you?

District 7 - Alder Lankella

Alder Badri Lankella

Alder Badri Lankella

District 7
Contact Alder Lankella

Categories