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DRAFT Pedestrian Plan

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The comment period closed at noon on April 27. Comments that were provided will be reviewed for inclusion in the final draft plan.

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Andrew McFadden Apr 27 2026 at 11:47AM on page 36

Needs Attention

One dimension of use and comfort that I think it largely absent from the plan is the time of day variability of a place. For ease of data collection and analysis, most of our measures focus on daily measures (e.g. pedestrian volume, traffic volume and speed). These measures can vary dramatically over a day or week and significantly affect pedestrian safety and comfort. Conditions and strategies, to the extent possible, should reflect this dynamic nature.

Melanie Apr 27 2026 at 11:44AM on page 48

Needs Attention

People usually just use the Edgewood sidewalk, having a sidewalk here would lose a lot of trees with minimal benefit.

Andrew McFadden Apr 27 2026 at 11:39AM on page 25

Since 2020, roughly 45% of Madison's pedestrian involved crashes occurred during non-daylight conditions (dawn, dusk, and night). Systematically evaluating the city's lighting practices near crossings is a crucial part of improving safety.

Andrew McFadden Apr 27 2026 at 11:08AM on page 45

I believe this grocery store was in reference to the Stop and Go convenience store that is no longer there. I know this information is from the existing conditions document so it is unlikely to be addressed now.

Ben Varick Apr 27 2026 at 9:47AM on page 26

Suggestion

All resurfacing and reconstruction projects should be an opportunity to narrow the street (both lane reduction and lane narrowing) as much as possible. Existing streets that are over capacity should be prioritized for reconstruction on the TIP.

Julia 1 Apr 27 2026 at 9:00AM on page 32

My Idea

This should be included as high prority area - the crossing at Odana and Whitney Wayt lacks medians and curbs to reduce stress. Far more stressfull then crossings at Schroeder Road, but related to this area as crossing under beltlane to access businesses/WMCA on Whitney Way and Odana are part of the same network.

Julia 1 Apr 27 2026 at 8:56AM on page 20

Needs Attention

See above comment regarding Whitney Way and Odana intersection. This is a high injury zone where there have been fatalities. Lots of commercial buildings near high-density residential houses and apartments. Should be a prioroty to increase walkabilty and safety for pedestrians .

Julia 1 Apr 27 2026 at 8:52AM on page 14

Needs Attention

The intersection of Odana and Whitney Way should be a priority due to high volume of apartment complexes and increasing density. This is a commercial district that sees little foot traffic due to hostile car-oriented intersection.

in reply to Ben Noffke's comment

Will 3 Apr 27 2026 at 8:44AM on page 61

Adding to this, it'd be good to have an explicit set of standards for when and where the city allows concerns over emergency-vehicle access to take precedence over physical pedestrian safety improvements like bulbouts and raised crosswalks. There seems to be a tacit decision that the tradeoff between "protect pedestrians" and "don't impede emergency vehicles" must always tilt in favor of the latter, with no clear way to adjudicate whether that's actually the best outcome in any specific case.

in reply to Ben Noffke's comment

Austin Griesbach 5 Apr 27 2026 at 8:27AM on page 61

Per NACTO, those European fire trucks also often have BETTER ladder reach than our juggernaut behemoths.

link

Blake Wasung Apr 27 2026 at 6:27AM on page 6

While it is policy on paper, it is not true in practice. The most recent example being Regent St getting bigger for cars at the expense of pedestrians and cyclists, directly going against Complete Green Streets

Julian Wood Apr 26 2026 at 10:48PM on page 36

Suggestion

Can we add one (and a crosswalk) at N Park St and Langdon St by Memorial Union? It's so congested and a nightmare for everyone involved. Lots of pedestrian traffic and lots of vehicle traffic, and as someone who crosses here frequently I am always unsure when to cross due to the sheer amount of traffic. When the buses are parked on Langdon I can't see oncoming traffic and have to walk in the street and peer around the bus to see. Not a very safe intersection.

in reply to Will's comment

Amber Wolma Apr 26 2026 at 10:33PM on page 23

Firetrucks, yes, definitely, but also why do police cars all need to be enormous SUVs?

Dave Stecher 3 Apr 26 2026 at 10:23PM on page 31

Suggestion

This crossing pictured is not physically narrow. You should use a picture of an intersection where the curb extensions/bulbs have been installed to make the street only the width of the travel lanes per NATCO. Also maybe use one where pedestrians are crossing.

in reply to Dave Stecher 3's comment

Dave Stecher 3 Apr 26 2026 at 10:18PM on page 16

Suggestion

In particular the coordination is necessary when the critical vehicle is a city owned vehicle.

Dave Stecher 3 Apr 26 2026 at 10:15PM on page 16

Suggestion

Page 16 - Need inter-agency coordination too within the city. Transit, Fire, Police, EMS, snow removal, urban forestry, parks, all impact the project success.

in reply to Ella Christoph's comment

Dave Stecher 3 Apr 26 2026 at 10:11PM on page 12

Yes It seems like the city is much more proactive about plowing streets. I never need to use report a problem regarding clearing the street itself. We need that same level of proactiveness for sidwalks/ramps.

in reply to Ben Noffke's comment

Amber Wolma Apr 26 2026 at 10:08PM on page 61

Indeed, and perhaps some guidelines for how large the fire trucks actually need to be are long overdue. Enormous ladder trucks are frequently deployed for fire station grocery runs and minor medical emergencies; this does not seem like an efficient use of resources. In Europe (to use an urbanist cliche...) they use fire trucks that can fit on their bike lane infrastructure. It's a lot easier to clear out a bike path than a road full of cars.

Dave Stecher 3 Apr 26 2026 at 10:05PM on page 11

Suggestion

I believe the pavement quality and snow removal requirements already exist. It's just that the snow removal requirement is implemented by thousands of individual property owners. It would be great for this to include the text "Identify critical routes for city funded and implemented sidewalk snow removal"

Dave Stecher 3 Apr 26 2026 at 10:03PM on page 60

Needs Attention

Is there any funding for implementation? It would be great to understand - based on current funding - what can be implemented in the next 5 years, 10 years.

We need dedicated funding at the city level for pedestrian infrastructure.

The state has policies in place to dedicate funding for highways and adjust for inflation. We need the same thing for pedestrian infrastructure. link

in reply to ga 1's comment

Amber Wolma Apr 26 2026 at 9:56PM on page 55

Seems like one or two less car lanes and a proper bike lane instead would make the major roads way quieter and more pleasant for pedestrians and bikers alike. Bikers have destinations on major roads too and don't want to be perpetually detoured so that cars may continue to zoom around unabated.

in reply to Austin Griesbach's comment

Amber Wolma Apr 26 2026 at 9:44PM on page 49

I agree; I live close to a railyard, and I love it, and I love trains, but I have a long-standing fantasy of a skybridge across it so my kids can actually walk to school instead of having to skirt around it the long way by car.

in reply to Courtney Konieczko's comment

Amber Wolma Apr 26 2026 at 9:41PM on page 45

They have a weird shabby liquor store marked as a grocery store in my neighborhood (Sherman/Fordem). The criteria here is pretty dubious.

Dave Stecher 3 Apr 26 2026 at 9:35PM on page 51

Needs Attention

This makes it seem like the city is just going to give up on ped improvements unless there is a full reconstruction. There are always opportunities to make Ped CROSSINGs shorter and safer. Resurfacing be a great opportunity to add concrete curb bulbs/extensions. And chipsealing can be a great opportunity to add temporary measures, like flexipost bulbs/extensions.

in reply to Ben Noffke's comment

Mary Apr 26 2026 at 9:24PM on page 48

Agree, a raised crossing could help drivers "know" that they are entering a heavily pedestrian area.

in reply to Simon's comment

Mary Apr 26 2026 at 9:16PM on page 33

Or mud!

in reply to Susan 1's comment

Mary Apr 26 2026 at 9:15PM on page 33

Suggestion

Agree, when I am walking with my kids and I can't hear them due to traffic noise, we switch streets. Sometimes we don't have an option, so it's not a comfortable walk, having to shout over the car noise.

Paul Apr 26 2026 at 9:14PM on page 4

Things I Love

I appreciate calling out related documents in this document.

Dave Stecher 3 Apr 26 2026 at 9:11PM on page 40

Suggestion

Action 8.4 should be split up into two actions - one for plowing and one for pavement maintenance - to better track success. The goal of plowing should be coordination between streets and parks to maximize the Network of plowed paths and sidewalks that is cleared after a snowstorm - not just in the park itself, but connecting between the parks.

Paul Apr 26 2026 at 9:11PM on page 12

My Idea

I can't seem to delete or reply to a comment so I'll say I misread this line, "serious and fatal" I get 20/year in this timeframe. I apologize for adding a comment that resulted from my misunderstanding.

Mary Apr 26 2026 at 8:58PM on page 12

Question

I'm confused. Is this just saying "it will go up"? Why isn't there a concrete number? I also realize that "trips to work" is easily measurable from census data, but work trips are not even the vast majority of trips. It seems like this is the MOST important measurement--it is the actual outcome of all the other goals and targets. If there are fewer crashes, fewer gaps, increased walkability, etc, walking trips will increase.

Dave Stecher 3 Apr 26 2026 at 8:53PM on page 35

Suggestion

Please coordinate the proposed crossing distances with the proposed housing density in the TOD overlay of the Area Plans and allocate space for crossings in advance of development. Even if it's impractical to implement today, the standard should apply uniformly throughout the city, so that when development happens, it can be applied.

Paul Apr 26 2026 at 8:52PM on page 23

Needs Attention

I'm somewhat surprised to read this when the city just proposed the opposite on Regent. Consider aligning actual plans with these documents or the documents with actual plans.

Paul Apr 26 2026 at 8:50PM on page 23

Suggestion

Is there a document explaining emergency vehicle procurement distinct from this document? It seems like more intentionality there would make sense there.

Dave Stecher 2 Apr 26 2026 at 8:42PM on page 34

Things I Love

Yes updating standards is a great idea! How quickly can this be implemented?

Tiffany Patton Apr 26 2026 at 8:37PM on page 47

Needs Attention

This is a dangerous pedestrian and bike crossing

Paul Apr 26 2026 at 8:37PM on page 12

Needs Attention

You could meet this only by increasing this type of crash outside of NPAs. Maybe focus just on decreasing them in NPAs?

Tiffany Patton Apr 26 2026 at 8:36PM on page 48

Suggestion

While this is unfinished on one side, the other side dead ends into a private driveway. It is also the location of several 100+ old trees, of which cutting them down would be not in the city's most recent master arborist plan (in order to make a sidewalk into a dead end). It is also the location of a community kids swing. The bigger problem on this street is speeding.

Paul Apr 26 2026 at 8:33PM on page 12

Needs Attention

The estimate in the linked document is 6.6% walked. 7.6% is for used transportation. You grabbed the wrong row.

Benjamin Wolma Apr 26 2026 at 8:28PM on page 14

Suggestion

Sherman Ave would benefit from raised crossing at all existing crosswalks, as well as more traffic calming measures.

Paul Apr 26 2026 at 8:25PM on page 12

Question

Looking at DT4000, there is not a single year with as many as 20 pedestrian fatalities in Madison. did you filter the geography correctly? Alternatively, it may make sense to share your methodology here.

This data is also constantly updated. It would make sense to include through 2025. It's really, really easy to do this.

Benjamin Wolma Apr 26 2026 at 8:25PM on page 14

Needs Attention

Vehicle access to and from Warner Dr at Harbort Dr. should be cut off. This access makes this already offset intersection excessively stressful for all modes and only saves vehicles several feet of driving distance and a slower turn or two.

Jeremiah Cahill Apr 26 2026 at 7:55PM on page 8

Needs Attention

Please consider adding a crosswalk where Stockton Court meets Monroe Street. It is an increasingly busy intersection, with the new Chabad Jewish Center, Madison Friends Meeting, Creando Preschool and Trader Joe's nearby. Friends Meeting attendees often use the parking lot at Monroe Library on Sundays and for after-hours events, and there is often a lot of foot traffic crossing Monroe. The nearest crosswalk is near Garield, but lots of us dash across at Stockton. Another walk would boost safety.

Paul Apr 26 2026 at 7:51PM on page 15

Suggestion

I think the Regent redesign has shown the meaning of Figure 4 is somewhat ambiguous. can you explain, in detail, the meaning of the figure. In the context of this document, the role of the top level an its relationship to other levels seems most important and would ideally be explained here.

I have noticed people respond to this figure and you are including it, so it is clearly important. More text about it I think would make a lot of sense.

Paul Apr 26 2026 at 7:50PM on page 15

Suggestion

Can you include the Vision Zero planed deaths by month and actual to show program performance?

in reply to ga 1's comment

ga 1 Apr 26 2026 at 7:37PM on page 15

Maybe a more constructive piece of input to this document would be: as part of implementation to have each of these stakeholders sign off on projects.

in reply to Valerie's comment

ga 1 Apr 26 2026 at 7:33PM on page 61

Agreed. With walking and biking numbers trending down despite the past investments, an increase in needs in other areas of city services and the already high level of satisfaction and safety rankings; we need to concentrate our scarce dollars on the areas of highest need/most dangerous and the low hanging fruit projects.

ga 1 Apr 26 2026 at 7:25PM on page 55

This seems to indicate moving biking to the more pleasant, non major but parallel roads would benefit the bike riders and address the concerns walkers have expressed about bikers on the sidewalks/pathways.

ga 1 Apr 26 2026 at 4:31PM on page 15

Needs Attention

Is North Segoe Road on this list? A wheelchair bound person driving, or traveling in a car, is unable to park on North Segoe Road and exit the vehicle with out traveling in the driving lane. The other option is to attempt to exit on to a narrow concrete strip go down a curb and either travel in the bike lane or attempt to go over another curb on to the grass before getting to the sidewalk.

ga 1 Apr 26 2026 at 4:20PM on page 11

Suggestion

Additional objectives could include: 1) Solutions will be built with flexibility for change. As usage, technology and the environment changes so too must the infrastructure. 2) Solutions will be environmentally sound. Solutions shouldn't increases the amount of hard surface. Solutions should not increase the number of idling vehicles - decreasing air quality and negatively impacting the health of walkers, rollers and bikers.

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