Regent Street plan tweaks; University and Meadow development update; MPD hosting Assemblies and Demonstrations training; Lots of parks PIMs and more!

Hello neighbors,

It’s been a busy week! After the public information meeting regarding the reconstruction of Regent Street, our Traffic Engineering team went back to finesse a few things. The new preferred option (see slide 14) will be presented at the Transportation Commission meeting on Wednesday, March 4 at 5pm. This is an informational meeting only, meant to foster discussion, and get feedback from the committee. Once that feedback is received, Traffic Engineering may make additional tweaks, and then an additional public information meeting will be held prior to formal introduction of the preferred road geometry to the Transportation Commission, Board of Public Works, and ultimately the Common Council for approval.

Many folks in the Sunset Village and Rocky Bluff area have been concerned about the lack of sidewalk access on University Avenue and Meadow Lane during the development project at that corner. Unfortunately, things are going to get worse for local access before they get better. To connect utilities to the site, the construction company will have to block off two lanes of eastbound University Ave (bringing it down to one lane). They will try to accomplish this over a weekend, and the closure will be publicly noticed when it is planned to occur. Only after the utilities are connected will the construction company be able to open sidewalk access. I do not yet have a timeline of when these steps will occur, but will communicate them as soon as possible once I do.  

Updates and Notices

Traffic Enforcement Safety Team: Concerned about speeding and reckless driving? MPD has a Traffic Enforcement & Safety Team that takes your traffic complaints seriously and works to address them. Visit the Traffic Enforcement website or call the Speeder's Hotline at 608-266-4822 to report your speeding or reckless driving concerns.

The Madison Police Department is hosting a series of presentations on "Assemblies and Demonstrations". The East District will host one Wednesday, March 11 at 6pm at Hawthorne Library. The Mid-town District will host one Thursday, March 19 at 5:30pm in the Mid-town District station's community room.

Public Information Meetings (PIMs)

• Public Input Meeting - Marshall Park, Tuesday, March 3 (Virtual): The City of Madison Parks Division is improving the playground at Marshall Park and we want your input. At this meeting City staff will present revised playground equipment options from input gathered at the playground workshop. 
• Public Input Meeting - Olin Park, Wednesday, March 4 (Virtual): The pavilion in Olin Park, known as the Monona Lake Assembly Normal Hall, is one of the most historic buildings owned by the City of Madison and one of the most popular park shelters in Madison. The landmark building requires substantial structural and exterior repairs happening in 2026. The community is invited to a virtual public meeting as Parks and Engineering staff will provide information on the planned rehabilitation work for the Olin Park Pavilion – Normal Hall. 
• Public Input Meeting - James Madison Park, Wednesday, March 4 (Virtual): The City of Madison Parks Division is improving the playground at James Madison Park and we want your input. At this meeting City staff will present revised playground equipment options from input gathered at the playground workshop. 
• Virtual Open House | District 3 Parks, Thursday, March 5, 2026 (This event occurs on multiple dates): Madison Parks is holding a series of virtual public input sessions for the Southeast Park Development Plan process coinciding with the City Planning Division's Southeast Area Plan. 

Announcements and News Releases

• Lane Reduction on University Avenue Starting Monday, March 2: Starting 7:00 am on Monday, March 2nd, R. G Huston will begin the first phase of construction on Hawthorne Court.  This project will be completed in multiple phases and will impact University Avenue, N. Lake Street, and W. Dayton Street.
• D7 Lunch and Learn: Understanding Property Taxes with Alder Badri Lankella: District 7 Alder Badri Lankella will continue his Lunch & Learn series on Monday, March 9th, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Join us on Zoom for an informative hour with Michelle Drea from the Assessor's Office and David Schmiedicke from the Finance Department.
• 1000 Friends of WI recently put out applications (due March 14) for their next Community Transportation Academy cohort. The Community Transportation Academy is designed to help bridge the gap between community advocates and transportation planning entities. Over ten weeks, participants learn about the fundamentals of transportation planning, hear from guest speakers with local and national expertise, and have the opportunity to propose a solution to a local transportation problem. Community members will come away from the Academy with skills and knowledge to advocate for safe and accessible transportation networks that work for everyone.
• Women in Construction Week 2026 Stories Ahead: The City of Madison is proud to join the nationally recognized Women in Construction Week, March 1-7, 2026.
• Common Council approves investments into affordable homeownership: The City of Madison Common Council approved more than $6 million of funding for several homeownership programs and new owner-occupied homes. 
• Mayor and Alders Propose New Funding for Utility Rebate Program: Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and several members of the Common Council are advancing legislation to maintain a popular program that reduces utility bills for low-income Madison residents.

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

• Seen & Unseen: A Homelessness Awareness Experience, Tuesday, March 3rd at 12pm: The event will kick off outside of Graze Restaurant (1 S. Pinckney St) on the Capitol Square and attendees will take an immersive guided walk around the Capitol, hearing from local leaders & community members along the way. 
• Vaccine Clinic at Leopold Elementary School, Saturday, March 7: All vaccines are free for eligible individuals. Children six months and older who lack insurance, are under 19, and are either Alaskan Native or American Indian, as well as those with BadgerCare or most other types of insurance, can receive vaccinations at no cost.
• 2026 Tee Off Party, Saturday, March 7: We're teeing off the 2026 golf season with our Annual Tee Off Party at Odana Hills Golf Course!
• Freeze for Food 5K/10K, Saturday, March 7: Lace up for the 45th Annual Freeze for Food! In partnership with Open Doors for Refugees, Freeze for Food raises funds for local food security initiatives and support refugees.
• International Festival, Saturday, March 7: Celebrate the rich cultural heritage within our community and enjoy nearly 30 FREE performances throughout Overture by artists who call Dane County home. Indulge in cuisines from around the world, browse stunning arts and crafts available for purchase and learn about the many local businesses with global connections.
• 2026 AFRICaide and 4W International Women's Day: Weaving our Stories, Saturday, March 7, 1 pm to 5 pm: We're celebrating International Women's Day with a public event - a festival for women. It is day when we take time to acknowledge the achievements that women have made from our local Madison area to the global sphere including the State of Wisconsin and the US at large.
• Neurodiversity: A Father and Son Perspective:Tuesday, March 10th, 6-7:30pm. Lincoln Elementary School. Join this dynamic presentation by a father-son duo sharing lived experience in autism, mental health, and family advocacy.
• Northside Neighborhood Party, Wednesday, March 11th, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM: It’s time to get together to celebrate the best neighborhood in town! Join us for a Northside Neighborhood Party at your favorite local gem. Whether you’ve lived here for decades, just moved in or are wanting to show off your neighborhood to your pals, come grab a drink and say "heya" at Northside Lounge!
• WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH MIXER: Bold Moves & Brave Moments, Thursday, March 12, 12 - 5 pm to 7:30 pm: The American Family Insurance DreamBank invites you to an inspiring evening in honor of Women’s History Month with Bold Moves & Brave Moments — a special panel conversation spotlighting local women who are bringing their dreams to life.
• Women's History Month Celebration: Leadership, Legacy & Global Impact, Thursday, Mar 12, 5 pm to 8 pm: Join us for an evening celebrating Women’s History Month, centered on uplifting Black women leaders and Black-led impact in our community.
• Shamrock Shuffle, Saturday, March 14: The 2026 Madison Shamrock Shuffle returns just a few days before St. Patrick´s Day! This Madison tradition is the city´s first major race of the year, bringing thousands of participants together downtown for a day of running, walking, biking and Celebrating!
• Madison's 26th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, Sunday, March 15, at 1:30 pm: The parade begins at 1:30 pm on the 10 Block of E. Mifflin Street and proceeds counter-clockwise around the Capitol Square to E. Washington Avenue. We welcome spectators, sponsors, parade entries and volunteers to join us in celebrating Irish culture.

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

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.

• Finance Committee: The Finance Committee meeting will take place on Monday, March 2, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include adding $4.0 million in TID 44-supported GO borrowing and authorizing the execution of a Purchase & Sale Agreement for the City to acquire property for the purposes of land banking in District 15.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, March 2, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include development-related requests in Districts 1, 2, 12, 14, 15, 18, and 19.
  • 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.

Be well,

Regina Vidaver