Cars and a biker on a multi-lane road. There is also a person walking on the sidewalk.
Traffic Engineering
Yang Tao, Director of Traffic Engineering

Safety Improvement Types

The City of Madison strives to provide a safety, reliable and connected transportation system for people whether they are walking, taking transit, biking or driving. The City follows the US DoT Safe System Approach and implements the federally recognized Proven Safety Countermeasures. This includes physical design and other street operation strategies that account for human mistakes and focus on reducing the severity of any crashes that do occur. Some typical improvements that you might see focus on speed management and providing space for different users. 

Speed management programs use physical design and other measures to improve safety for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists. Methods used combat speeding and other unsafe behaviors of drivers in the neighborhoods, and aims to encourage safer, more responsible driving and potentially reduce traffic flow. 

  • speed hump with white paint for driver alert

    Speed Humps

    Speed humps slow down vehicles and make them conform more to speed limits. As a result, they reduce not only accidents but also their severity. 

  • Odana Rd Buffered Bike Lane

    Bike Lanes

    Specialized lanes for on-street bicycle traffic. 

  • Person crossing street with white cane at pedestrian crosswalk featuring flashing beacons.

    Flashing Crosswalk Beacons

    An RRFB is a pedestrian-actuated warning device used at uncontrolled crosswalks to warn motorists of pedestrians or bicyclists waiting to use, or that are already using, the crossing. It has flashing yellow lights that are highly visible to motorists that may be approaching the crossing.

  • round traffic circle in intersection with yellow visibility paint around it, and grass in the center.

    Traffic Circles & Roundabouts

    Traffic circles and roundabouts improve the flow of traffic and reduce conflict points.

  • Example of raised crosswalk at a stop sign controlled intersection.

    Raised Crosswalks

    Raised crosswalks that slow drivers and make crosswalks more visible.

  • intersection crossing with pedestrian safety island

    Pedestrian Safety Islands

    safe haven to reduce time in the roadway in larger crossing areas

  • overhead of Blair and Wilson intersection with new crosswalks, newly painted green bike lanes, and other lane markings

    Surface Textures and Paint

    physical and visual means of slowing cars

  • traffic lanes split into two with bollards separating the bicycles from general traffic.

    Physical Lane Barriers

    Bollards, diverters, or other barriers that limit traffic on local streets and guide traffic (e.g. a concrete island that only permits left turns) to make roadways safer for pedestrians and bikes.

  • overhead view of narrowed traffic lanes

    Bump-outs and narrowed traffic lanes

    reduce the distance pedestrians must cross and discourage speeding. Widened sidewalks and reduced traffic lanes to create space for non-car uses.

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