Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Street Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Neighbors urge action on repeated crashes, speeding on Williamson and Jennifer Streets
Summary
Residents and neighborhood association representatives told the Transportation Commission they want updated traffic modeling and traffic‑calming measures after repeated crashes and a resident speed study showing high rates of speeding.
Residents of the Marquette neighborhood told the Transportation Commission on June 25 that repeated crashes and widespread speeding on Williamson and Jennifer Streets are creating an urgent safety problem.
Mike Tarby, a resident of the 900 block of Williamson Street and member of the Marquette Neighborhood Association and Strong Towns Madison, said safety should be the commission’s top priority. “Safety should be our top priority followed by cost,” Tarby said, asking commissioners to weigh speed, safety, volume and cost when they evaluate changes.
Bridal Novinskallois, representing the Marquette Neighborhood Association, told commissioners Williamson Street recorded “122 crashes between 2020 and 2024” and said a neighborhood speed study showed “84% of vehicles on Jennifer Street … were speeding.” She asked the commission to require updated traffic modeling for Williamson and Jennifer before the John Nolan reconstruction and to reconsider trials that removed rush‑hour turn lanes as recommended by the city’s Vision Zero action plan. She urged implementation of curb bump‑outs, raised intersections and protected planters to create safer crossings for pedestrians, cyclists and transit users.
Commission members thanked the speakers and confirmed staff would follow up. Chair Anne (last name on file) said staff will meet with Tom Moore, traffic engineering, to review the neighborhood letter and the city’s recent contacts with residents, and return to the Transportation Commission with recommended next steps.
The remarks were part of the meeting’s public comment period; no vote or binding action was taken at the June 25 meeting. Commissioners noted specific concerns the community raised — the crash count, the resident speed study, missing sidewalks and bus shelters — and asked staff to prepare follow‑up information for a future agenda.
Commissioner Lynn Olsen and others said they appreciated the materials and would work with staff to schedule a follow up that includes traffic engineering analysis and possible trial traffic‑calming measures.
The commission did not set a timetable during the June 25 meeting; staff said they will confer with Tom Moore and bring an update to a future Transportation Commission meeting.
