2025 Vision Zero Safe Streets and Speed Management Projects

Since 2020, Vision Zero Madison has implemented safety improvement projects and speed management projects every year to further safe travel on City streets. These projects focus on Proven Safety Countermeasures like high visibility crosswalks, green bike markings, rapid flashing beacon lights, and increased signal visibility, as well as lowering speed limits across the city in high injury zones.

“Vision Zero is all about prioritizing safety for all roadway users no matter what type of travel. Whether you are driving, walking, biking, rolling or taking public transit, every person has the right to travel safely across our City.” said Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway.  “Vision Zero strives to improve our streets and prevent serious and fatal crashes. While each of these projects may be small, they add up to a big impact, and a safer city.”

Projects with Vision Zero safety improvements under construction or already completed include:

John Nolen Drive Reconstruction (2025-2029)

The John Nolen Drive Reconstruction project will encompass a number of infrastructure design improvements along the causeway between E Olin Avenue and S Broom Street.

Phase One of the project includes the segment from E Lakeside Street to S Broom Street and has been selected for funding and is expected to be constructed in 2025-2026. Phase Two includes the segment from E Olin Avenue to E Lakeside Street and will be fully designed and constructed once funding is available.

Phase One (E Lakeside St to S Broom St) will include the following improvements:

• Reconstruction of six bridges along the causeway, with 3 new separated bridges for the bike and pedestrian facilities
• Lane configuration and cross section changes to urbanize the roadway and provide traffic calming
• Expansion of the existing path to separate bike and pedestrian facilities
• Shoreline reconstruction along Lake Monona
• Reconstruction of storm sewer
• Traffic signals and street lighting
• Improvements to the North Shore Dr and S Broom St intersections
• Coordination with potential future improvements identified in the Lake Monona Waterfront Master Plan

Autumn Ridge Path

The Autumn Ridge Path is an exciting project, many years in the making. The project constructed a shared-use path connection between Milwaukee Ave and Commercial Ave (north of Highway 30), including a new bridge overpass over Highway 30. The project improves safety and accessibility for non-motorized modes of transportation to cross Highway 30, better connecting neighborhoods on either side of the highway. The Autumn Ridge Path expands the greater bike network of the area, as the path connects (via local roads) to the existing overpass over Stoughton Rd (Hwy 51) at Portland Pkwy, through the Eastmorland neighborhood to the recently constructed Garver Path, and finally to the Capital City Trail and downtown Madison-area. 

Rutledge Street Reconstruction

The Rutledge Street reconstruction project is currently in progress and includes many safety improvements for all road users and include:

• Curb bump-outs at Walton Place and north Russell Street intersections that narrow the roadway to reduce the pedestrian crossing distance and reduce vehicle speeds.
• Improved pavement markings and grading at all the intersections to help pedestrians of all ages and abilities cross the street safely.
• Two-sided parking will narrow the roadway to help reduce vehicle speeds.

2025 Safe Streets Madison Projects Highlights

A total of 27 projects were approved by the Transportation Commission this year so far. These projects will make our streets safer by adding proven safety countermeasures such as bike lanes, rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs), traffic signal safety, and other pedestrian bicycle improvements.

Examples of these projects include:

• Bike lanes and new green markings
  • Broom Street parking-protected bike lane
  • Thierer Road street reconfiguration
• Signal Phasing Improvements at various locations across the city
• Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons i at the following intersections
  • Wright St-Straubel St
  • Whitney Way-Russett Rd
  • Monroe St-Randall Ave
  • Maple Grove Dr-Keswick Ct

Starting in Summer, the City will be continuing efforts to set safe speed limits with speed limit reductions on the following streets:

• Old Sauk Rd (Beltline to N Pleasant View Rd 35-30 mph)
• Raymond Rd (McKenna Blvd to S High Point Rd 35-30 mph)
• Eastpark Blvd (Portage Rd to American Pkwy 35-30 mph)
• W Washington Ave (Park St to Regent St 30-25 mph)

“We want to thank our residents and City officials for the support and collaboration in making our streets safer,” said Yang Tao, Director of the City’s Traffic Engineering Division. “To achieve safer streets, Madison needs to continue to improve walking and biking and accessibility to other transportation alternatives throughout the community. Everyone deserves to have safe streets to get to work, to school and to play and enjoy our city.”

Vision Zero is a community and city-wide effort. To reach zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways, we need to create a safe driving culture. We need to design our roadways and speeds to allow for human error but also focus on outreach to communities on safe travel for all modes of transportation. Safety starts with all of us.