Southwest Commuter Path Signals & Lighting

Project Information

Project Background

City Traffic Engineering plans to install path lighting along the Southwest Commuter path for the section between Monroe Street and N. Shore Drive. The added lighting will improve safety along this approximate 1.3-mile section of the bike path. Currently along this section there are only a few existing lighting fixtures between N Charter Street and N Mills Street and intersection lighting, which will remain.

The project will include approximately 50 new light poles and fixtures. The path lighting will use full cut-off LED fixtures which are Dark Skies compliant which will be mounted on poles that are 20 feet high. 

Additionally, City Traffic Engineering plans to install new traffic signals at the intersection of W. Washington Avenue and the Southwest Commuter Path. The traffic signals will improve safety and operation of the shared path crossing and will include pre-emption during train events for the railroad crossing of W. Washington Avenue.

There have been a number of safety incidents and raised concerns about the shared path crossing over the past years. Currently there is a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) which requires cyclists and pedestrians to push a button to activate the beacons when crossing at this intersection. The new traffic signal will continue the use of push buttons for pedestrians and add non-intrusive detection for bicyclists while providing controlled crossings on the path.

The traffic signal project has already conducted a Public Information Meeting and has received Board of Public Works and Common Council approval. It is being combined with the lighting project for contractor rebidding.

Project Limits

Project Schedule

RFP documents can be found on Vendor Net and Demandstar

• Planning and Design: 5/22/26 through 9/8/2026
• Construction and Bid Doc Preparation: September 9, 2026, through October 1, 2026

Bid and Construction:

All information regarding dates/times/locations are informational and should be verified with official bidding documents posted on Bid Express.

There are a number of points of contact during this project where the public is encouraged to give feedback as part of public information meetings and public hearings. Dates, times and locations are indicated below:

Public Involvement

Public Information Meeting

There will be a public information meeting in the Spring of 2027.  

Details coming soon! 

City Process Meetings

Presentation at the Board of Public Works - aiming for November 4, 2026

Presentation at the Common Council  - aiming for November 24, 2026