Discussion at City of Madison Transportation Commission on potential traffic safety adjustments for Willy Street
City of Madison Considering Traffic Safety Measures for Williamson Street
The City of Madison Transportation Commission is deliberating on several traffic safety changes for Williamson Street, also known as Willy Street, following a car crash at Mother Fool's Coffeehouse and concerns raised by the Marquette Neighborhood Association.
From Monday to Friday, between 4 and 5:30 p.m., the parking lane on Williamson Street becomes a 'rush hour' lane, allowing more vehicles on the road. Interestingly, the crash at Mother Fool's Coffeehouse occurred during this period.
The Transportation Commission has not made any decisions yet, but staff have been asked to prepare a proposal for a study into Williamson Street traffic patterns and possible safety measures for the Commission's next meeting on August 27th.
One of the proposed changes is closing the 'rush hour' lane, which could limit traffic on Willy Street and encourage drivers to go slower, making things safer for pedestrians. Another idea is adding bollards near intersections to protect pedestrians.
Bicyclists on Williamson Street have a protected corridor for biking, but pedestrians do not have a similar option. This lack of protection has been a concern, with over 100 car crashes on Williamson Street in Madison over the last five years.
Mother Fool's Coffeehouse is not the only business or building on Williamson Street that has been hit by cars. In fact, many crashes on Williamson Street have happened during rush hour, according to Marlisa Kopenski Condon, president of the Marquette Neighborhood Association. She stated that the number of crashes on Williamson Street is higher than on Monroe Street, despite Monroe Street having way fewer crashes.
The speed limit on Williamson Street remains at 25 mph, while nearby Jennifer Street’s limit was recently lowered to 20 mph. There is current discussion about whether reducing speed limits on Williamson would help improve safety.
Other proposals include rerouting car traffic to other streets such as East Washington Avenue, to reduce congestion and potential conflicts on Williamson Street during peak times.
Stephanie Rearick, co-owner of Mother Fool's Coffeehouse, expressed happiness that the city is discussing traffic safety changes on Williamson Street, but will be happier when the changes are implemented.
The City of Madison Traffic Engineering staff have presented various pros and cons regarding safety improvements along Williamson Street in recent city meetings, though specific final measures have not been fully decided yet. Final plans are still under review in the city’s transportation and traffic engineering discussions.
[1] Discussion about reducing speed limits on Williamson Street: https://madison.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3811141&GUID=32F60E37-F238-43B6-B2F5-91309C326B38&Options=&Search= [2] Proposal to reroute car traffic: https://madison.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3811141&GUID=32F60E37-F238-43B6-B2F5-91309C326B38&Options=&Search= [3] Pros and cons of safety improvements along Williamson Street: https://madison.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3811141&GUID=32F60E37-F238-43B6-B2F5-91309C326B38&Options=&Search= [4] Past closures on John Nolen Drive: https://madison.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3811141&GUID=32F60E37-F238-43B6-B2F5-91309C326B38&Options=&Search= [5] Discussion about closing portions of Williamson Street: https://madison.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3811141&GUID=32F60E37-F238-43B6-B2F5-91309C326B38&Options=&Search=
[1] The Transportation Commission's discussion on traffic safety measures for Williamson Street has also included the possibility of reducing speed limits, an initiative that some believe might help improve safety within the finance and industry sectors, considering the heavy traffic on Williamson Street.
[2] In line with efforts to mitigate traffic congestion and enhance transportation efficiency, a proposal has been brought forward to reroute car traffic from Williamson Street to other roads such as East Washington Avenue, a move that could have implications for the local transportation and finance industries.
