Council raises safety concerns over Memorial Drive project striping and pedestrian signals

City officials and council members on July 21 criticized the recent Wisconsin Department of Transportation work on Memorial Drive, saying final striping does not align with project plans and that the finished pavement profile reduced curb height to 1–2 inches in some places, which could make it easier for vehicles to mount the sidewalk.

City Manager Greg Buckley and council members said the city had widened sidewalks to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety, but that the state’s final pavement profile undermined some of those improvements. Buckley said the result is a wider sidewalk but reduced curb height, a condition he called potentially unsafe because it could allow vehicles to accidentally mount the sidewalk more easily.

Council and staff also noted a change in how pedestrian‑activated crossings may be treated on higher‑speed approaches. The city had been advised that pedestrian‑activated flashing yellow beacons (RRFBs) would be acceptable at locations such as Madison and Twelfth/Lake Street. DOT staff have since indicated that on some approaches with a posted speed of 45 mph or higher, a device that transitions from flashing yellow to a red signal creating a full stop condition may be required. That raises questions about whether the city can keep solar‑only devices or will be required to install wired systems beneath the pavement, potentially increasing cost and delaying installation.

Council members asked the city to continue pressing DOT for clarification and help with any necessary upgrades and to follow up on the striping misalignment. Buckley said the city will pursue answers and expects DOT to contribute to resolution if project specifications changed midstream.

The council did not take a formal vote on the matter; staff will pursue follow‑up with DOT and report back.