In an effort to put the brakes on reckless driving, Milwaukee County is rolling out various traffic calming demonstration activities across five communities, as mentioned on the West Allis official website. The pilot programs, which feature speed trailers, cones, and near-miss cameras, aim to test strategies that could potentially lead to improved street safety measures.
According to Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, "Reckless driving has reached crisis levels in our community," as noted by the West Allis official website. The initiative is part of the Milwaukee County Department of Transportation's (MCDOT) Complete Communities Transportation Planning Project, which seeks to increase safety for not only drivers but also pedestrians, bicyclists, and bus riders. Each locale is set to trial different approaches throughout April and May, with both local and federal funds backing the endeavor.
Municipalities are contributing roughly $55,000, which supplements a near $220,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program. For example, in Greendale, speed trailers will be employed on Loomis Road to gauge traffic counts and slow down speeders, whereas in Shorewood, temporary traffic circles and speed tables are being installed at select intersections identified for high-speed concerns.
South Milwaukee, on the other hand, is narrowing Chicago Avenue near Oak Street to better manage the flow of vehicles and safeguard an uncontrolled school crossing area. The City of Wauwatosa's mayor told the West Allis official website, "Reckless driving has no place in our neighborhoods," voicing support for the temporary measures aimed at promoting safer, calmer streets.
The demonstration activities have been informed by prior community feedback, and they're just one element of Milwaukee County's broader commitment to the Vision Zero initiative, which targets a complete elimination of traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2037. Phase Three of the Complete Communities Transportation Planning Project is already in progress, working to establish Safety Action Plans for each municipality within the county.
