Southwest Area Plan Draft Actions

Sonia Haeckel Nov 8 2025 at 7:49PM on page 26

Suggestion

Collaborate with the City of Fitchburg and the UW Arboretum to build an entrance to the south arboretum from the Cannonball Trail near Seminole Highway.

Nick Davies Nov 3 2025 at 7:36PM on page 25

Suggestion

The neighborhood to the west could really use better access to Elver Park. Currently there is a connection through Valley Ridge Park but it is hardly passible on foot

Nick Davies Nov 3 2025 at 7:33PM on page 18

Question

Could you do a map with different colors for protected vs. unprotected?

Nick Davies Nov 3 2025 at 7:31PM on page 18

Suggestion

Is this accurate? I haven't seen a protected bike facility here, though the street really needs one

Nick Davies Nov 3 2025 at 7:29PM on page 21

Suggestion

I'm in favor of this wi-fi idea, but I feel like more year-round bathroom facilities are the more urgent need--literally

Nick Davies Nov 3 2025 at 7:26PM on page 8

Suggestion

As a homeowner in this area, wouldn't LMR still allow existing houses (or similar replacements) while also allowing for gradual densification?

If the Vitense Gold property might become high-density mixed use, I don't see what the harm would be of moving the surrounding block(s) to LMR

Nick Davies Nov 3 2025 at 7:23PM on page 18

Suggestion

These waterways/greenways represent a great opportunity to add biking/walking access that naturally doesn't have a steep grade

Nick Davies Nov 3 2025 at 7:16PM on page 16

Suggestion

FYI, Fitchburg is actively working on closing the bike/ped gap on Fitchrona north to the Military Ridge trail. Once that's done, there will still be a gap between the trail and Nesbitt. I'm not sure which parts belong to whom

Nick Davies Nov 3 2025 at 7:09PM on page 13

Suggestion

I don't see a need for this. There is already a path connection here. Cars can go from Struck to Grand Canyon just fine already. Please don't destroy one of the few safe Beltline crossings

Nick Davies Nov 3 2025 at 7:06PM on page 12

Suggestion

Raymond is so wide that you could maybe even close an entire half of it, and make the other half a non-thru street (for parking, bikes)

Nick Davies Nov 3 2025 at 6:54PM on page 8

Suggestion

I used to live at Watts & High Point. It was quite a walk to get anywhere. If some of the apartments here get redeveloped, maybe they could be mixed use

Nick Davies Nov 3 2025 at 6:52PM on page 8

Suggestion

Why is this marked as a future street connection? There is already a path through here. Cars can already get from Struck to Grand Canyon quite easily. Please don't ruin one of the few safe Beltline crossings

Paul Lata Nov 3 2025 at 2:20PM on page 15

Suggestion

It's important that a bike/ped connection from Mid-Town Rd through the Marty Rd area is maintained. An important link between Elver Park and Verona

Paul Lata Nov 3 2025 at 2:12PM on page 15

Suggestion

Hopefully the last steep portion of the hill on the path before Gammon Rd can be made less steep in conjunction with the Elver Park expansion project.

Paul Lata Nov 3 2025 at 1:53PM on page 15

Suggestion

Important connection but tunnel has issues which endanger cyclist safety:
1) During high humidity, condensation makes the floor wet and slick. I crashed there last June and required medical attention.
2) The lighting is poor and homeless individuals leave items in the tunnel which are hard to see.
3) Ice as thick as 2-3 inches forms on the floor at some times.
4) Cyclists traveling north have minimal time to react to cyclists on the beltline.
Fix issues to improve safety
Thanks

Neighbor Nov 3 2025 at 11:43AM on page 10

Question

There is existing multi family housing located on the westside Frisch Rd here by Hoff Ct.

Why does the City not see this area for future LMR, or MR1 zoning as it did in residential areas to the north and east?

Neighbor Nov 3 2025 at 8:07AM on page 10

Question

Why does the south side of the Beltline Highway have proposed building heights higher than the north side?

One year ago, the City of Madison finalized the West Area Plan...designating land along the north side of the Beltline at a maximum of (6) stories.

Why the push for more intense zoning on the southwest side of the Beltline E of Struck?

Why not match the maximum building height on the south side as the same that is in place on the north side of the highway at 6 story buildings?

Monica Nov 2 2025 at 3:11PM on page 29

I like the idea of street lighting. Is there a way to reduce other lighting, such as residential and commercial buildings at night, to save energy and reduce nighttime light pollution?

Monica Nov 2 2025 at 3:02PM on page 12

I carpool every day from the Southwest area to UW. Please keep traffic efficiency on the list of priorities. With all these proposed traffic calming measures, I worry that the city is becoming increasingly unfriendly toward commuters.

Resident 1 Oct 30 2025 at 7:19PM on page 18

Suggestion

I’m thrilled at the prospect of a bike/pedestrian trail that crosses the highway here. It would be transformative for the area.

Adam Biewer Oct 29 2025 at 7:55PM on page 11

I consciously choose never to bike along Whitney Way because of the traffic there. Separated bike lanes would be great

Adam Biewer Oct 29 2025 at 7:54PM on page 13

Yes please!

Adam Biewer Oct 29 2025 at 7:52PM on page 31

Question

What does this map show? Because, it feels like McKee is definitely at least a Collector road with how fast/how many people drive on it

Adam Biewer Oct 29 2025 at 7:49PM on page 29

Suggestion

This is needed, but I feel like there should also be a sort of community-outreach portion. A lot of bicyclists in particular don't use lights at night, which can be inexpensive ways to increase safety, regardless of where we bike at night

Adam Biewer Oct 29 2025 at 7:46PM on page 29

So many people speeding on Maple Grove. There is so much parking that never gets used, that you get passed through the parking lane if you're going the speed limit. I'd be in favor of getting rid of one side of the parking, and expanding green space, or having multi-use pedestrian/bicycle lanes that are wide enough to support it.

Adam Biewer Oct 29 2025 at 7:40PM on page 26

My HOA doesn't allow gardening areas on the property, and even if they did there is not a lot of space for one regardless. It would be great to have additional areas close to multi-family residences for this

Adam Biewer Oct 29 2025 at 7:39PM on page 26

If this was similar to the Ice Age Trail Junction area parking, I wouldn't be wholly opposed to it. It still feels a bit unnecessary, since there is already parking in the Badger Prairie County Park for drivers.

Adam Biewer Oct 29 2025 at 7:28PM on page 23

+1 to creating more walkable spaces, especially in this area. As it stands, the street layout encourages speeding, especially when turning onto Maple Grove, which is incredibly dangerous to the people walking through that intersection

Adam Biewer Oct 29 2025 at 7:24PM on page 21

I'm curious what this would look like. I think ideally, this would include sheltered areas where people can connect to the wifi without having to worry about getting rained on while working (school or jobs). I wonder what the cost/benefit would be like if such areas were not included

Adam Biewer Oct 29 2025 at 7:21PM on page 19

I would love to see even more areas getting moved from Low or Low-Medium to Medium or Mixed. Personally, I enjoy biking/walking between places a lot more than driving. And if we have more distributed shopping centers, even if I have to drive, they will likely require fewer parking spaces, and result in shorter trips.

in reply to Alex Kocher's comment

Adam Biewer Oct 29 2025 at 7:10PM on page 7

I honestly hate driving through the intersection just north of here. I think the current proposal is not to eliminate the off-ramp, but to have through traffic to Shroeder Rd take a brief detour along Whitney Way. I don't have any opinion on the street placement here, it does strike me as a bit odd. But I am in favor of simplifying the connections to the highway to make them safer and presumably have higher throughput.

Adam Biewer Oct 29 2025 at 7:06PM on page 4

It would be awesome if we had more mixed-use zoning in this area. I don't know how feasible it is to require it, but given the new construction on the SW corner, having more things to walk to instead of drive to would be great.

in reply to Resident's comment

Adam Biewer Oct 29 2025 at 6:59PM on page 18

The Military Ridge trail runs along 18 there. I am absolutely in favor of this connection being made, since I have to take Nesbitt Rd if I want to get on the path currently. It absolutely discourages me from biking sometimes, especially during rush hour.

Adam Biewer Oct 29 2025 at 6:56PM on page 16

Question

What does "Priority Sidewalk connection" mean? As in, the city is prioritizing adding sidewalk connections here? Because there is no sidewalk on this road

Adam Biewer Oct 29 2025 at 6:52PM on page 13

I don't often take the D towards Epic during rush hour, but the one time I did (it was still 75 at the time) it was absolutely packed. I and many others would love additional frequency for those times

Baxter Oct 29 2025 at 6:46PM on page 16

Suggestion

This sidewalk/path connection on the north side of PD between Dorchester Way and the new development in Fitchburg is desperately needed sooner rather than later, especially in light of the bus stop on PD at Fitchrona.

Eric Murphy Oct 29 2025 at 3:32PM on page 15

Suggestion

Connectivity is needed in this area

Eric Murphy Oct 29 2025 at 3:31PM on page 14

Suggestion

This should be a priority

Dave Bertrand Oct 29 2025 at 2:35PM on page 15

Suggestion

This proposal displays a roadway through our campus building complex where patients and staff routinely walk between our buildings. This is not a feasible plan for the safety of our patient, staff and visitors to the campus. I would suggest finding an alternate route.

Eric Murphy Oct 29 2025 at 2:15PM on page 13

Suggestion

I use Raymond Rd between High Point and Verona Rd often, and would support a reduction in lanes. It would make taking my bike more often a more attractive option.

Eric Murphy Oct 29 2025 at 2:10PM on page 6

Suggestion

I live near this intersection. Upzoning this area and allowing for more mixed uses like restaurants and retail would benefit me by providing more amenities and destinations for me to walk to and make me less reliant on a car to get places I need to go.

Eric Oct 29 2025 at 12:24PM on page 5

Suggestion

More housing with increased green space sounds great. It's a better use of space than the current giant parking lot.

Alex Kocher Oct 27 2025 at 3:09PM on page 7

Question

As a resident living off of Schroeder Rd, it is very evident that there is consensus to improve the speed and safety of traffic and address the Whitney Way intersection. Removing a heavily leveraged exit ramp, destroying a cornerstone of the community in Vitense Golfland (pending land sale) and repositioning through streets is not the answer. Are there alternatives not documented here that are still up for consideration?

Alexandre Minot Oct 27 2025 at 11:13AM on page 11

Suggestion

I approve of all new infrastructure listed here, but would like to also see improvement of existing infrastructure. The Raymond road and McKenna bd are two very important north-south and east-west roads. However, the bike facility on these axes are not of all ages and ability, or even comfortable for highly experienced riders. It's a narrow, unbuffered lane, regularly used for parking cars. Motorized traffic speeds are high, regularly above 40 mph. Last serious accident was at 80mph.

Alexandre Minot Oct 27 2025 at 11:07AM on page 11

Suggestion

Great idea. Will also need safety improvement of the Mc Kenna crossing at Hamersley. A raised crosswalk would be best.

Sonia Oct 24 2025 at 5:11PM on page 26

love this!

Sonia Oct 24 2025 at 4:54PM on page 2

Suggestion

Consider adding the area around Home Depot/Uhaul here

Sonia Oct 24 2025 at 4:16PM on page 16

Suggestion

Watts Road should be a priority sidewalk connection.

Sonia Oct 24 2025 at 4:14PM on page 15

Suggestion

"If Home Depot and Uhaul area redevelops, realign the existing street network to provide a tighter street grid and greater pedestrian and bicycle connecitons.

Sonia Oct 24 2025 at 3:46PM on page 9

Question

Shouldn't the area by Verona Road/Atticus way/Interstate Blood and Plasma/Autozone be considered for rezoning? The current street layout there--as a result of Verona Road reconstruciton--is a bit messy and it is not ideal. Businesses behind Interstate Blood an Plasma have had a hard time staying in business, as well as in the area next to Autozone.

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Southwest Area Plan Draft Actions

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