[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6585933,"mediaKeyId","5576864-e7110eaf83e169d023dfb13667ed003b","parentId",5576864,"title","Madison Transportation Commission asks staff to draft test of Williamson Street peak‑hour lane removal","audioSeconds",2381,"startMs",1481000,"endMs",3862000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576864-e7110eaf83e169d023dfb13667ed003b&start=1481&end=3862","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576864-e7110eaf83e169d023dfb13667ed003b/thumbnail_1481000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6585933/Madison/Dane-County/Wisconsin/Madison-Transportation-Commission-asks-staff-to-draft-test-of-Williamson-Street-peakhour-lane-removal","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585933-b56bb44192e9a966bb080380baeb5613/orig.mp4?Expires=1770872725&Signature=QwHmpP99WXVhuXx48D65CUI11aPoE1z9dP6g94Y4cXvMyKGiVWDEU0GuDGnQwDR3ldmKPgaZF3o4IB4VN2Y13AnILOz0Ru8BMVwzIgUaTxxnhX8uY3eDKk2jazWjv2bHLH03jcG0CXqFAy-8JR672uZ2NLyKmkO5g3J5L5t6gXtnNg3topEsZxTKs9XtCwR8g4xaEvhptphPjsiWogvY0jsE2plsKBoKo5wy-3A4v0QDAf1up76Rg3rbEojBCIDiy4tvO8RoB~RqLRpjrJbqUXUJkP4lQ1Lexsub6fJBEavj-fHipx5nfxwVt~UTUWkygUAk5hekUFX6HEh4KkrRmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Madison, WI","date","2025-08-14T13:01:09Z","article","The Madison Transportation Commission voted Aug. 13 to ask city staff to return to the commission on Aug. 27 with a detailed proposal for a time‑limited test of removing peak‑hour travel lanes on Williamson Street.

The commission’s request follows months of public concern after several crashes in recent years in which motor vehicles left the roadway and struck buildings along the commercial corridor between Brearly Street and Thornton Avenue. The test would be a temporary, reversible measure to evaluate effects on traffic flow, left‑turn movements, pedestrian safety and diversion to parallel streets.

Tom Moore, traffic engineering, told the commission the crash record includes a range of causes — drunk driving, medical events and speeding — and that only the most recent crash into Motherfools coffeehouse occurred during a weekday afternoon peak. He outlined technical limits in current modeling, particularly uncertainty about left‑turn volumes and how much traffic would divert from Williamson during a test. \"All it takes is, you know, 1 cycle or 2 for it to back up and just blow up the whole street,\" Moore said, describing why the models assume long left‑turn storage lanes at intersections.

Residents and neighborhood representatives argued for a quicker, lower‑cost trial. \"The trial closure can be the study,\" said Mike Tarby, incoming co‑chair of the Marquette Neighborhood Association Transportation and Safety Committee and a member of Strong Towns Madison. Tarby told commissioners a temporary change could be made with signs and reversible enforcement steps: \"We're not committing to a multimillion dollar street reconstruction. We're asking for signs to be covered, towing to be stopped, and maybe a warning sign or 2.\" Jim Kreft, a Fitch Hatchery Road resident, and Theresa Emerling, a Jennifer Street resident and Marquette traffic committee member, also spoke in favor of a pilot.

Moore described mitigation options the city could study, including targeted curb changes, improved signal timing, police enforcement and protective street bollards at vulnerable intersections. He provided preliminary cost figures: roughly $15,000 to install three protective bollards to shield one quadrant of an intersection, and about $600,000 to install bollards at all 10 intersections on Williamson if that full approach were chosen. He estimated a full corridor study with updated counts, modeling and public outreach at roughly $100,000; by contrast, a larger corridor reconstruction (Regent Street) is running about $245,000.

Commissioners discussed tradeoffs: some said a limited internal test would be preferable to spending months and money on a consultant study, while others emphasized the staff time required to design a defensible pilot and to collect before/during data. Commissioners also raised concerns about impacts on businesses if permanent parking had to be removed at intersections and about congestion near Fire Station No. 3.

Alder Martinez Rutherford moved and Denise Jess seconded a motion asking staff to return at the commission’s next meeting with a proposal for a test, including alternatives and timelines. The commission carried the motion by unanimous consent.

The commission asked staff to clarify scope for a test that could include: temporary signage and enforcement, a schedule for data collection (including travel times and queue links), camera monitoring if feasible, options for temporary left‑turn management, and an estimate of staffing and equipment needs. Moore told commissioners staff could prepare materials for the Aug. 27 meeting but warned doing the work internally would require reallocating existing staff time.

Commissioners also discussed potential funding sources for bollards and related capital work, including the city’s Safe Streets for All federal grant program. Moore said small, targeted bollard installations or localized protective measures could likely be pursued under Safe Streets funding, but a corridor‑wide bollard program would probably require larger capital funding or a grant application.

The commission’s direction does not authorize physical changes; it asks staff to return with a proposal that lays out options, likely costs, data collection plans and a recommended timeline.

The commission’s next meeting is Aug. 27, when staff are expected to present the test proposal and alternatives.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Transportation Commission: Meeting of August 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Madison Transportation Commission voted Aug. 13 to ask city staff to return to its Aug. 27 meeting with a detailed proposal for a time‑limited test of removing peak‑hour travel lanes on Williamson Street.","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},6585920,"Transportation Commission recommends council approve update to Madison snow‑emergency zone ordinance with staff follow‑up on website link",74,406000,480000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576864-e7110eaf83e169d023dfb13667ed003b&start=406&end=480","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576864-e7110eaf83e169d023dfb13667ed003b/thumbnail_406000.jpg","/articles/6585920/Madison/Dane-County/Wisconsin/Transportation-Commission-recommends-council-approve-update-to-Madison-snowemergency-zone-ordinance-with-staff-followup-on-website-link","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585920-5fb7db3d8494506fb028243e815c5d5c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770872725&Signature=kU0z1gZwnzp9TDIOjFfrTkVcGZuemAjXid8TlI9GOeE51StHZT1wEs1bZnlDAQxamVZtufDCbv1AwUiwnRq-JoedLIJ-JY6v08EiOZ~QNGn6XcX8ugySmQIjwp-8RUMUPwr0a7Xrb3--ZAxiGx9pll~Bl-G3aLIs8vvhxGQOaLRjknili3aykGtWDnsIHpOST-eDy-KVzaWqPclZfwkX6U4q6pREuLSpUIw032tMWW1aDuQmEiz4gvM6T5b60T4W-OI0GalAe3kyfOoiG9TWanaRGp4ZTbGIs4vtmyA4Egvk4xe5PwzXTQ9Mv-YUWCCNWk~ZD6yen00exlOXTtrLBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Transportation Commission recommended approval Aug. 13 of a consent‑agenda ordinance repealing and recreating Madison General Ordinances subsection 12.13352 to update the city’s no‑emergency zone description.

Harold (Commissioner Harold Cleems) asked staff to check a web link embedded in the ordinance language: the existing URL pointed to the former city website and currently redirects to the new site. He asked that the ordinance reference the current snow emergency zone map URL. \"So while we're updating ordinances, I guess, maybe staff can consider updating that link to the snow emergency website on the new website,\" Harold said.

Staff said they would follow up. Eric (staff) said he would \"make a note of that and follow‑up with legislative staff.\" The commission then moved and seconded the consent recommendation (motion by Harold; second by Pepe Barrows) and approved the item by unanimous consent.

The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Common Council for final action; staff will correct the website link in the ordinance materials before council transmittal.","The commission recommended that the Common Council adopt an ordinance repealing and recreating Madison General Ordinance subsection 12.13352 to update the city’s no‑emergency zone description. Commissioners approved the consent item unanimously after a member asked staff to correct a link that currently redirects to the new website.",{"_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},6585925,"Madison police report two second‑quarter traffic fatalities, grant funding adjustments and high speeds in enforcement stops",1078,7382000,8460000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576864-e7110eaf83e169d023dfb13667ed003b&start=7382&end=8460","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576864-e7110eaf83e169d023dfb13667ed003b/thumbnail_7382000.jpg","/articles/6585925/Madison/Dane-County/Wisconsin/Madison-police-report-two-secondquarter-traffic-fatalities-grant-funding-adjustments-and-high-speeds-in-enforcement-stops","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585925-978c03e8d05dd574b80cabbc91c2f106/orig.mp4?Expires=1770872725&Signature=UlVUNB856q73--0ntZh-rGHZRc5jUCSMPuJabPH2mpVS5tbmBxX7LuaSu42qdNU6jiJfwqSg6-9Z94oO7auWybvApGYW5WtXSgsJAco2S1yBdOEaJmaUlEKXHMfzCciQYr5eL9GUjl9EDGlzhIEQEZpqCAR6mkcr05YwxTOXBvDfW2ZhlkR0OM5bZYskq-2XZ0uBEsQ~NDI3BgUNnnfHY876KxNsq41Tt8au5mjV7fsk8vguE801shQuvNjS8KvYtYf~oOCbzTolEuG1CvKc2c~CfFK2BzkiAFh9zipU3TQFqI90hEN39NxJHG4NkQmzc4WbF68BjNUdlx6WqZw0Mw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Madison Police reported two traffic fatalities in the second quarter of 2025 and described changes in federal grant funding that affected enforcement deployments during the period.

Lt. Hannah presented the department’s second‑quarter traffic report to the Transportation Commission on Aug. 13. The two fatal crashes included a May intersection crash on Northport Drive at Kennedy Road — a motor vehicle‑pedestrian collision later shown on apartment video to be a red‑light violation by the driver — and a fatal motorcycle crash on the Beltline in which the rider was ejected after what the department described as an aggressive lane change and road‑rage incident. Both crashes occurred on dry, clear days.

Lt. Hannah said the Northport crash involved a driver who initially told officers he had a green light, but video showed the driver ran a red light while the pedestrian had a walk signal. Testing showed the driver was over the legal blood‑alcohol limit. The department said the motorcycle rider was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

The report also described uncertainty in federal grant funding in early 2025: the Wisconsin DOT temporarily reduced several grant awards the department planned to use for speed and seat‑belt enforcement and for pedestrian and bicycle enforcement, then reinstated funding for the speed and seat‑belt programs on June 1 but not the Pedestrian/Bicycle grant. Lt. Hannah said the department ran fewer enforcement deployments in the second quarter while the funding was uncertain but planned additional grant activity to expend available dollars before the grant year ends.

Enforcement statistics highlighted very high speeds observed during some operations: officers recorded drivers traveling at 101–105 mph in targeted enforcement operations on corridors such as the Beltline and Stoughton Road, and speeds of 46 mph on a 25‑mph segment of East Washington Avenue. \"We get a lot of good feedback on some of these grants... Neighbors come out to just tell us how grateful they are that the officers are over there,\" Lt. Hannah said, while noting the prevalence of extreme speeding.

Commissioners discussed thresholds for traffic stops and automated enforcement. Lt. Hannah said officers typically focus on the most egregious speeding and that enforcement thresholds consider perception and the likelihood of judicial acceptance; automated approaches and thresholds are subject to program design and public buy‑in.

The department asked the commission to note the trends and to support targeted enforcement as resources allow. The commission did not take formal action on the report.","The Madison Police Department reported two traffic fatalities in the city's second quarter and described grant funding changes and enforcement results, including recorded speeds well above posted limits during targeted operations.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6585929,"Commission accepts Metro Transit’s 2024 audited financial statements; auditors issue unmodified opinion",779,655000,1434000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576864-e7110eaf83e169d023dfb13667ed003b&start=655&end=1434","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576864-e7110eaf83e169d023dfb13667ed003b/thumbnail_655000.jpg","/articles/6585929/Madison/Dane-County/Wisconsin/Commission-accepts-Metro-Transits-2024-audited-financial-statements-auditors-issue-unmodified-opinion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585929-c56c7a710ed292ae9451de835f22dc50/orig.mp4?Expires=1770872725&Signature=WfGt77WTZdmQKhMIN7AywIVym6m3gvyYe61RydZ9IH8g94CJskIktJcms~Q-genGt18G0SUL8eFrg3GKJlhLuW57ZZ13bvN23Jx6ASewNOT0lxqmD2HHh5BfQt-etLRKVMr5MxRFWAkbFuU4fACinnurrqlTEq4JEVOLPIHgT~kOUvJsRSkxz6yWzIgi-YMB5Nq9rlCskdp~CqHmL6u726XVtCNEvlll6llSI~JE7PmjsopA2RpiG2RMEi~w4P87V5rJLIi2Yaeg4oNYfKdlbM4c1xGe24-kH23d~-gwn-eC14yB~WCcyH9xmTtpmkWTfVekx~GVPojxRpaeDcnUpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Baker Tilly presented the 2024 audit of Metro Transit’s financial statements to the Madison Transportation Commission Aug. 13 and the commission voted unanimously to accept the audit report.

Jody Dobson, the audit principal for Baker Tilly, told the commission the audit work examined internal controls, revenues, disbursements, payroll and grants. After testing and discussions with management, the firm issued an unmodified — commonly called a clean — opinion that the financial statements fairly present Metro Transit’s financial position and results of operations for 2024.

Dobson said the audit process identified restatements to the 2023 transit financial statements that management corrected. The two principal prior‑year corrections involved assets that had been retired but not removed from the books (largely fully depreciated) and the recognition of local versus federal revenue in 2023 so that amounts due from partner municipalities were correctly presented. \"There were no audit adjustments identified as part of the audit process. The adjustments that were identified... were adjustments to restate the prior year,\" Dobson said. She added the adjustments did not affect the firm’s clean opinion.

Dobson noted the impact of recent staffing turnover and thanked Wayne Black — a former Metro Transit finance director who returned in a consulting role — for helping prepare reconciliations and supporting documentation during the audit. She also described a new GASB accounting standard related to compensated absences that required a conceptual change in how liabilities were assessed for benefits like sick leave; the change had only a small impact on balances.

The audit included single‑audit testing for federal and state grants; Baker Tilly reported no compliance issues for the transit grant testing this year. Dobson encouraged readers to consult the management discussion and analysis (pages 4–17 in the final document) for a plain‑English summary of the results.

Alder O'Brien moved to accept the audit report; Alder Martinez Rutherford seconded the motion. The commission carried the motion by unanimous consent.

Documents submitted with the audit show five‑year trends of operating revenues and expenses. Baker Tilly reported that COVID‑era funding affected 2020 and 2023 results and that 2023–24 saw increases in revenues and expenses as federal grant patterns normalized and local partner contributions rose. The presentation identified salaries and benefits as the largest operating expense.

No disagreements with management, no compliance issues and no unresolved matters were reported by the auditors.

The commission’s acceptance places the audit on record and authorizes staff to transmit the documents as appropriate to council and other stakeholders.","Baker Tilly presented Metro Transit’s 2024 audited financial statements and reported an unmodified (clean) opinion after management‑led restatements to 2023. The Transportation Commission accepted the audit report unanimously Aug. 13.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Madison Transportation Commission asks staff to draft test of Williamson Street peak‑hour lane removal

Transportation Commission recommends council approve update to Madison snow‑emergency zone ordinance with staff follow‑up on website link

Madison police report two second‑quarter traffic fatalities, grant funding adjustments and high speeds in enforcement stops

Commission accepts Metro Transit’s 2024 audited financial statements; auditors issue unmodified opinion