[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6502367,"mediaKeyId","5456370-377153da34b0fba62b3d7f019b33eed0","parentId",5456370,"title","WisDOT presents alternatives for US 51 (South Stoughton Road); city staff signals preference for wide boulevard","audioSeconds",1204,"startMs",1391000,"endMs",2595000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5456370-377153da34b0fba62b3d7f019b33eed0&start=1391&end=2595","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5456370-377153da34b0fba62b3d7f019b33eed0/thumbnail_1391000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6502367/Madison/Dane-County/Wisconsin/WisDOT-presents-alternatives-for-US51-South-Stoughton-Road-city-staff-signals-preference-for-wide-boulevard","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502367-0d2936b2ab5624986ba6dfae76243222/orig.mp4?Expires=1770604771&Signature=ZKWDIe8Qp2KFNA-ObgH08tW8JARAdu0jrxPjyZMmY3hZ2xQHheTnwNwXbH7IQz0jtAzIDNBrOd6UkxWUs9eNvzMNlMCS2i6XBLq3EBaLez-dTAZyTRRkiuyJUQ6brcwT8xUZmfiIGcUmJJoR2Xw2YHZFjgI5THNJuii4hQ4tbL7g1UbOnoyfwSaCi9DggK7qPQ5rEEkxH0MTTO5EyljddWrL6Up6~uoxKh0LiYklBgkt3YtoImOK9mKKU2JSuObOIfkjK2HJ-GvcUT7XMYjqtrHrJp1YpJDPpNXvzFl9Zl68OTUTNqEY-oGjuCTk~HSrG9nGXuM5K-f2bbi~vDWUAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Madison, WI","date","2025-07-24T00:27:15.557Z","article","Madison — Wisconsin Department of Transportation staff on July 23 updated the Madison Transportation Commission on planning-level alternatives for the US 51 (South Stoughton Road) corridor, a 4.4-mile stretch running from Bogus Road/Terminal Drive in McFarland north to just south of Highway 30 in Madison.

The study, WisDOT said, aims to “improve safety and mobility for all modes of travel and to improve community connectivity guided by local plans and goals.” The corridor currently carries roughly 34,000–48,000 vehicles per day in different segments and includes a mix of frontage roads, interchanges and at-grade intersections.

Why it matters: US 51 is a primary north–south route on Madison’s east side that serves businesses, freight and neighborhoods. WisDOT and city staff said changes could alter whether segments function more like a city street or a higher-speed, limited-access route — with implications for safety, property access and multimodal connectivity.

Michelle Howe, major studies supervisor for WisDOT’s Southwest Region, outlined the study process and the concept alternatives under consideration. Corridor concepts presented previously range from preserving a higher-speed corridor with limited direct access to converting sections to lower-speed urban cross sections with new intersections. At the July 15 public meeting WisDOT reported more than 130 attendees; a public survey tied to the study remains open through August 15.

Alternatives and where they would be considered
- Milwaukee Street and Cottage Grove Road: each location has two high-level concepts — upgrading existing interchanges for improved acceleration/deceleration and turn lanes, or converting ramps to low-speed connector roadways that tie into signalized intersections on US 51. The hybrid connector option would add signals where ramps now merge directly onto 51.
- Buckeye Road and Flambeau/Flam Road: three options at Buckeye include expanding the at‑grade intersection or two hybrid options that lower US 51 under Buckeye and provide connector roadways and new bridges at Buckeye and Flam. The hybrids would remove some at‑grade conflict points and preserve Buckeye and Flam elevations via bridges.
- Central segment (Buckeye to Tompkins Drive): WisDOT described a “wide boulevard” concept that would remove existing frontage roads, shift the northbound and southbound lanes outward, and create a landscaped center median/green space. Under that alternative business driveways would access 51 directly rather than using frontage roads.
- Broadway and BeltLine interchange: options include an offset T or hybrid designs and, at the BeltLine, either expanding the existing interchange or converting it to a diverging diamond interchange (DDI) to improve left‑turn operations.
- Voges/Terminal Drive (south end): three concepts include intersection expansion or hybrid connector designs; WisDOT said it has coordinated options with the village of McFarland.

City staff priorities and questions
Liz Callan, representing City of Madison planning/transportation staff, said the city has been actively engaged with WisDOT and that staff emphasize safety for all users consistent with the city’s Vision Zero goals. Callan said city staff generally favor the wide boulevard in the central corridor because it would reduce the “interstate‑like” character of the road and better support bicycle, pedestrian and transit access, though she noted tradeoffs and the need to work through impacts.

A number of alderpersons and commission members raised questions about outreach to businesses and schools, traffic model assumptions, and how to reduce vehicle speeds. Michelle Howe said WisDOT used the MPO travel‑demand model and that detailed traffic, signal‑timing and level‑of‑service analyses would inform the final design alternatives. Howe also described available program funding for community sensitive design (landscaping/art) during construction and said more detailed alternatives will be presented at a fourth public meeting expected in late 2025 or early 2026.

Public comments and positions
Two registered participants summarized public perspectives: Nicholas Davies (resident/registrant) said he opposes capacity expansion and condemnation, urged options that would allow future conversion to a city street, and favored hybrid intersections and a direct‑access boulevard or wide boulevard. Gabriel Hill (resident/registrant) urged shifting through traffic to I‑90 where feasible, designing for safer crossings, and using boulevard and signal‑timing solutions rather than adding lanes.

Clarifying details from the presentation and discussion
- Study corridor length: 4.4 miles (Bogus Road/Terminal Drive in McFarland to just south of Highway 30 in Madison).
- Reported existing daily volumes: roughly 34,000–48,000 vehicles per day depending on segment.
- Existing posted speeds vary along the corridor; WisDOT presented concepts that assume 35–45 mph design speeds in lower‑speed alternatives (current segments near Buckeye/Flam approach 55 mph in places).
- Public meeting attendance: WisDOT reported over 130 participants at the July public information meeting.
- Public survey: available via WisDOT project website through August 15; WisDOT encouraged distribution.
- Process timing: detailed alternatives in a public meeting late 2025/early 2026; environmental document anticipated late 2026; study completion anticipated in 2027; earliest construction of a preferred alternative anticipated in the early 2030s, contingent on funding and FHWA approvals.

What wasn’t decided
No final alignment or preferred alternative was adopted at the July 23 meeting. WisDOT and city staff said feedback from the recent public meeting, comments from the Transportation Commission and additional committee input (technical advisory, local officials, citizens advisory) will inform the set of detailed alternatives to be studied next.

Next steps
WisDOT will combine corridor concepts from prior November outreach with the intersection alternatives presented in July, narrow the feasible options, publish detailed alternatives at the next public meeting (late 2025/early 2026) and then identify a preferred alternative after environmental review and public hearing.

Ending
Commission members and several alderpersons thanked WisDOT and city staff for the update and emphasized continued outreach to businesses, schools and residents as the detailed alternatives are developed.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Transportation Commission: Meeting of July 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Madison — Wisconsin Department of Transportation staff on July 23 updated the Madison Transportation Commission on planning-level alternatives for the US 51 (South Stoughton Road) corridor, a 4.4-mile stretch running from Bogus Road/Terminal Drive in McFarland north to just south of Highway 30 in Madison.","taxTitle","Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin","taxId",2852,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6502361,"At a glance: actions and votes from the July 23 Madison Transportation Commission meeting",7918,1020000,8938000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5456370-377153da34b0fba62b3d7f019b33eed0&start=1020&end=8938","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5456370-377153da34b0fba62b3d7f019b33eed0/thumbnail_1020000.jpg","/articles/6502361/Madison/Dane-County/Wisconsin/At-a-glance-actions-and-votes-from-the-July-23-Madison-Transportation-Commission-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502361-89e4590403b94f811c82fa37ab6a7030/orig.mp4?Expires=1770604771&Signature=IWonyQFFUQ2V0MFtkMa84DzKY5MUCtK9nuZeCOBoXBAdMU9Jpv0bzR4CJzSgYCGDZnXAm7XIHXZtm9xC00AzCJzG5KF9ZogmOhT4BwGPvDlsO46lqGWDP1gIU38BAONoj-PsVA05LcgChivN7G1M~a2Oc313MJa6dzk9i4GvgSiTW5~5BYUi38bxgtL4U3M9zeuV7WILWddTUr3EwU4eJ9UKZ4MkCbs6YdL74D40QZG2XcDgU6UNv-GLiHdD55mZfjtnukLN-lMlYzEQF0ToP5gr5amc7bUl9rzP-XTua9ywQJPz8MeFZe~5G0nEP8VMQKJKeML0iyK8CqGOE~1ZhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Madison — At its July 23 meeting the Madison Transportation Commission recorded two formal actions relevant to the commission’s consent and project‑review duties.

Minutes approved (previous meeting)
A motion to approve the minutes from the prior Transportation Commission meeting was moved and seconded; Commissioner Denise Jess abstained, noting she was on vacation during the prior meeting. The motion carried.

University Avenue/Babcock Drive roadway geometry and railroad crossing realignment — approved
After a presentation from city staff and discussion, Commissioner Chris McHale moved approval of the proposed roadway geometry and the consolidation/realignment of pedestrian and bicycle railroad crossings near University Avenue and Babcock Drive (the project is related to BRT improvements and a required order from the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads). The motion was seconded and the chair called for unanimous consent; no members raised objections. The motion carried.

Context and next steps
City staff said the Babcock crossing work supports the westbound BRT lane extension and will advance to final design and construction bid in 2025. Staff noted the crossing near University Avenue will be closed and the north–south Babcock crossing upgraded and made ADA accessible; final design will include traffic and curb adjustments described during the presentation.

Recorded votes and procedural notes
- Minutes approval: mover — Chris McHale; seconder — Pepe Barros; Denise Jess recorded an abstention; outcome: approved.
- University Avenue/Babcock realignment: mover — Chris McHale; seconder — not specified in the record; outcome: approved by unanimous consent; no roll‑call tally was recorded in the transcript.

Ending
Commission members confirmed the item will proceed to final design for bidding and thanked staff for bringing the late agenda item.

","The commission approved minutes from the previous meeting (one abstention) and approved roadway geometry and railroad crossing realignment at University Avenue and Babcock Drive; no other formal actions were recorded.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6502364,"City staff outline curb‑management program; $500,000 WisDOT grant to fund consultant and action plan",1415,5839000,7254000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5456370-377153da34b0fba62b3d7f019b33eed0&start=5839&end=7254","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5456370-377153da34b0fba62b3d7f019b33eed0/thumbnail_5839000.jpg","/articles/6502364/Madison/Dane-County/Wisconsin/City-staff-outline-curbmanagement-program-500000-WisDOT-grant-to-fund-consultant-and-action-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502364-d5aebac16087996ebf449bbac326f041/orig.mp4?Expires=1770604771&Signature=HJkres8hzuFqm5kGXz33ODhB7bVUXhJATncMpHFyOp8Yg30WoFaDIxnLgAvrbpvKJ6Dc8NjqivD6zgoE2C8NFSabex7YZ~90~0uOd4EbGxiMIB7JW43vbcBUeOslgVbdvby0C0c5w0PuXMGlaN4FPJ5uhkng1O7-7YYv2mwVR39L0B9lf9ALhWELE7fplPa23cj8xind4~ov-lJcNMLwCQBrYQne9DiH633lc30l9uP4SuB99TeDThd2ySPWlzmnJg4HGRKCSWVR5DNwOaHQnUrE99A19cscDFfudssLa8umaZCXkpBjA-JThzPQmOGuoSC8UDc4KtVvZdmtVzYFig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Madison — City transportation staff on July 23 presented an overview of a proposed curb‑management program intended to coordinate parking, loading, ride‑hail, transit stops, bike parking and pedestrian space at the curb.

Trent Schultz, the city’s transportation demand management coordinator, told the Transportation Commission the effort will develop a curb‑management framework, hire consultant support using a $500,000 WisDOT carbon reduction planning grant, produce an action plan and run pilot experiments and spot treatments through 2027.

Why it matters: As Madison grows, curb space must serve more functions than traditional vehicle storage. Staff said better curb management can improve transit and bike access, reduce double parking and blocked bike/transit lanes, increase parking turnover for local businesses and provide clearer pick‑up/drop‑off areas for ride‑hail and accessibility needs.

What staff presented
Schultz described a downtown curb inventory and initial analysis: roughly half of downtown curb functions support mobility (through travel lanes, curbside travelways); the remaining 50% serve non‑mobility functions (vehicle storage, loading, transit stops, terraces). Of the non‑mobility curb supply, staff said about half is residential permit (RP3) parking and roughly 10% of downtown curb parking supply is unmetered. Staff identified opportunities to reassign curb space based on land use and turnover needs.

Staff showed examples of curb treatments used elsewhere — bus bulbs, curb extensions, timed loading zones, designated ride‑hail zones and dynamic meter pricing — and said a curb‑management office or coordinator could streamline coordination across departments (parking, traffic engineering, planning, events).

Planned process and next steps
- Draft a curb‑management framework for internal review and public input (staff aim to return with a draft in the fall).
- Issue an RFP for consultant support using the $500,000 WisDOT carbon reduction planning grant to prepare a curb‑management action plan.
- Implement pilot experiments, policy changes (including ordinance updates) and technology pilots; staff anticipate experiments and policy actions through 2027.

Topics raised in discussion
Commissioners and alders asked about: outreach to businesses, school engagement, how curb management would address ride‑hail/taxi and accessibility, residential parking permit limits and car‑share accommodation, and enforcement of delivery vehicles blocking bike lanes. Staff said they will use the citizen advisory committee, technical advisory committee, local officials committee and direct business meetings for outreach, and said signage and ordinance updates will be evaluated.

Notable details
- Grant funding: $500,000 WisDOT carbon reduction planning grant to support consultant work on a curb‑management action plan.
- Advisory group: a city internal advisory group of subject matter experts has been convened to guide initial work.
- No decisions yet: staff emphasized the work is at an early stage and the framework will guide more targeted pilots and ordinance changes after public engagement.

Ending
Commissioners welcomed the proposal and emphasized engagement with business owners, disability advocates and neighborhood stakeholders before the city advances specific changes.","Madison staff briefed the Transportation Commission on a proposed curb‑management framework on July 23, describing downtown curb uses, preliminary data and a plan to hire a consultant with a $500,000 carbon‑reduction planning grant to develop an action plan and pilot experiments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

WisDOT presents alternatives for US 51 (South Stoughton Road); city staff signals preference for wide boulevard

At a glance: actions and votes from the July 23 Madison Transportation Commission meeting

City staff outline curb‑management program; $500,000 WisDOT grant to fund consultant and action plan