Public Comment Summary: Draft 2027–2031 TIP

Staff reviewed proposed STBG-Urban funding increases for the Glacial Drumlin Trail and Vinburn Road projects.

Staff also provided an update on the development of the 2027–2031 TIP using the new eTIP software. Local community staff were entering transportation project information into the platform, with MPO staff reviewing the information and providing assistance as needed.

Bruun asked MPO staff to send a reminder email close to the deadline for finalizing TIP project submittals. He noted that the deadline falls near the time Monona will be finalizing its budget, which could result in project changes.

The director of Humane-Dane spoke about the importance of creating livable, walkable communities that support local businesses and locally produced food. He emphasized the importance of rail transit and developing communities in ways that make it easier for people to live without a car.

Draft TIP Update

Staff reviewed the public participation activities used to gather input on the draft TIP. They also explained the transition from a PDF document to a website, making the TIP accessible to people with disabilities, including those using screen readers, and compliant with web content accessibility guidelines.

Staff summarized two changes to the draft TIP:

• Addition of the Old Middleton Road Underpass and Path project in Madison.
• Revision of the Troy Drive Railroad Bridge project to show that construction funding occurred in 2023 rather than 2025.

Staff also outlined a proposed TIP amendment schedule intended to make the process more efficient and limit amendments to no more than every other month. They reviewed several major projects included in the TIP.

Committee Recommendation

Acton moved, Hall seconded, to recommend approval of the Draft 2027–2031 Transportation Improvement Program for the Madison Metropolitan Area and Dane County, as presented. Motion carried.

Funding Programs

At the August meeting, staff summarized the STBG-U, TAP, and CRP programs and reviewed proposed STBG-Urban funding increases for the Glacial Drumlin Trail and Vinburn Road projects.

Callin asked how Carbon Reduction Program funding is apportioned to the MPO. Staff explained that the program is not expected to continue and that no formal funding amount has been established for future years.

New eTIP Platform and Review Schedule

Staff demonstrated how to navigate the new eTIP website. Kanning and Lyman had led several training sessions with local municipal staff on entering project listings into the platform.

Staff outlined the planned review and adoption schedule:

• August 19: Release the draft TIP.
• September 2: Hold a public hearing at the Policy Board meeting.
• September 23: Provide the Technical Coordinating Committee an opportunity to make recommendations.
• October 7: Provide the Policy Board an opportunity to adopt the TIP.

Board Questions and Feedback

Mayor Janairo and Alder Lieberman suggested improvements to the interactive eTIP map's color scheme and usability. Staff said they would work with the EcoInteractive team to address those suggestions.

Howe asked whether the costs shown in the table were in current year or year of expenditure dollars. Staff clarified that the amounts were shown in year of expenditure dollars. Howe also asked whether project listings would include total improvement costs, and Kanning confirmed that they would.

Staff presented the addition/change sheet listing proposed changes to the draft TIP. They noted that the TCC had reviewed the changes at its September meeting and recommended approval of the TIP with those changes.

Kvalo moved, Barushok seconded, to adopt the 2027–2031 TIP with the changes reflected in the Addition/Change sheet. Motion carried.

Public Comment

The issue here is that the project description makes no mention of including bike lanes in this intersection redesign. According to Madison's Complete Green Streets ordinance, both of the streets passing through this intersection are supposed to have bike lanes. But currently, they don't. 

For example, Odana Rd has bike lanes to the east and west of this intersection, but the bike lanes are just missing from the stretch of Odana Rd that passes through the intersection. Therefore, any redesign of this intersection needs to include addressing these gaps or at least take into account that, in the future, these streets will have bike lanes, even if that means eliminating redundant travel lanes.

Response

This project is a safety improvement project that was awarded funds to improve safety and reduce vehicle crashes. It is not a complete reconstruction. The funds are awarded to address distinct issues.

The project addresses safety in the following ways: improving signal visibility by adding signal heads over each traffic lane and high visibility backplates, improving pedestrian facilities by widening medians, installing high visibility crosswalks and accessible pedestrian signals, and reducing driver confusion by eliminating the extra northbound receiving lane.

A complete reconstruction would be a different class of project with extensive utility work as well as significant right of way acquisition. That would likely be included with a full Whitney Way reconstruct or Odana reconstruct in the future.

Public Comment

The description mentions adding a path on the north side of the street, where there is already a path. But approved designs for this project actually included a portion of a path on the south side of the street to bring cyclists up to sidewalk level in the 7900 block, where the bike lane currently disappears unexpectedly.

Response

This is correct. The approved design includes a portion of path on the south side of Mineral Point Road.

Public Comment

Current designs for Regent Street do not include any bike facility, so as to create unneeded parking. This is in violation of Madison's Complete Green Streets ordinance and Dane County's climate goals of reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT).

Therefore, I would recommend not approving this project in its current form.

Response

The City of Madison Transportation Commission and Common Council discussed this issue extensively. The project does not violate the ordinance. 

The Transportation Commission has the authority to approve variances when street designs need to differ from the parameters identified in the Guide to address a specific issue. Both the Transportation Commission and Common Council approved this design.

Public Comment

A multi-use path is much needed here! However, WisDOT data from 2025 shows only about 10k vehicle trips per day, so two lanes each way would be excessive. Rebuilding this as one lane each way would be better for safety, and at a lower cost.

Response

The street cross section will be determined during the design phase. The design must follow the state Facilities Development Manual, which requires the cross section to accommodate both existing traffic and projected traffic conditions 20 years into the future. 

Substantial growth is expected in this area of the city.

Public Comment

The project description ought to include a bike/ped facility. Portage Rd is a crucial connection for municipalities to the north; Hoepker Rd is one of the few low-stress crossings of I-90 and will soon connect to a multi-use path along north Stoughton Rd.

Response

This project is expected to include protected bicycle facilities.

Public Comment

I urge you to take this opportunity to disapprove of the additional lanes, which will do nothing to alleviate congestion but will only enable worse speeding and safety issues and do further environmental harm to the surrounding community.

Response

This project has undergone an extensive review process. The MPO Policy Board approved the project on September 3, 2025, and an amendment to the project on February 4, 2026.