Wauwatosa committee approves multiple parking changes and moves to codify 25 mph zone on Ludington

The Wauwatosa Transportation Affairs Committee on May 13 approved five transportation actions, including 90-day trials of short-term parking restrictions at two addresses, permanent no-parking on the east side of 60th Street after a trial, adjustments to parking near Wauwatosa West/Whitman/Eisenhower to help school pickup and drop-off, and a directive for staff to prepare an ordinance to adopt a 25 mph posted speed limit on Ludington Avenue between Milwaukee and North avenues.

Committee members said the changes are intended to improve safety and turnover for residents, students and nearby businesses. Mike May, of the city engineering division, described the proposals and staff findings for each item during the meeting and answered questions from aldermen and residents.

The first measure authorized a 90-day trial of a 15-minute parking zone on the east side of North 70th Street fronting 2154 N. 70th St. May told the committee the request came from a resident whose relative needs nearer access to a vehicle because the property layout leaves no room for a wheelchair between retaining walls and the driveway. May said a formal accessible parking space would require a 13-foot zone and removal of a terrace and tree, so the 15-minute trial was proposed as a less invasive interim accommodation. Alder Gustafson moved approval and Alder Champine seconded; the committee approved the trial unanimously.

The committee next moved to make permanent a no-parking restriction on the east side of 60th Street from Wisconsin Avenue to the south city limit following a roughly 60-day trial. May said staff received no complaints during the trial and had previously heard public support for the restriction tied to event-related shuttle and stadium traffic. Alder Lewis moved approval; Alder Foley seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

A longer discussion focused on parking near Wauwatosa West, Whitman Middle School and Eisenhower. May summarized a 90-day trial that opened parking on the west sides of 113th and 114th streets and the east side of 115th Street (with an exception for the first roughly 90 feet at Center Street). Staff recommended removing the two-hour restriction on 115th (east side) to allow full parking, while preserving a two-hour zone for about the first 90 feet of 114th Street so parents could use that space for middle-school pickup and drop-off. Residents called attention to congestion, lack of sidewalks on several blocks, and pedestrian safety where students and parents walk between cars and traffic. Greg Rohte, a 2300-block resident of 114th Street, said: "This is the first time we've run across this situation…it's awfully dangerous for the kids." The committee discussed upcoming construction — May said the driveway intersection at 116th will be reconstructed this summer and a median will be added on 115th to create safer pedestrian refuges — and emphasized the possibility of revisiting the controls as surrounding projects and school configurations change. Alder Brannan moved approval of the staff recommendation; Alder Gustafson seconded. The committee approved the staff recommendation unanimously.

On North Avenue near 70th Street, staff proposed a 90-day trial of 15-minute parking on the east side of 70th from North Avenue to the alley south of North Avenue after Wingstop opened at the southeast corner and staff observed high turnover, double parking and blocking of crosswalks and driveways. Several nearby residents described regular illegal or hazardous parking and limited visibility for drivers exiting side streets. Carrie Summers, who lives on North 70th, said: "Drivers on North Avenue do not respect pedestrians. That is an intersection…it's an accident waiting to happen." Jim Spotts, who lives on the 2250–2254 block of North 70th, asked staff to trial a 15-minute zone on both sides of the block to increase turnover. Alder Gersten moved approval and Alder Brunson seconded; the motion passed unanimously. Staff indicated they would monitor enforcement and could request citation data from the police department at the end of the trial.

Finally, the committee unanimously directed staff to prepare an ordinance to adopt a 25 mph posted speed limit on Ludington Avenue between Milwaukee and North avenues. May explained that signage in the field already showed 25 mph in one location and 30 mph in another while the municipal code language remained inconsistent. The city attorney advised cleaning the code language because the statutory posted speed default and the signs should match. A committee member who said they were struck by a vehicle at Ludington years ago supported the cleaner, consistent lower speed limit as a safety measure.

Committee members and staff stressed next steps and follow-up: some changes are immediate if approved by the full council, staff will monitor trial areas and enforcement, and communication to neighbors and businesses is planned so affected parties understand the changes and that the city may revisit controls as projects (curb ramp reconstruction, medians, driveway work) and school configurations evolve. May told the committee the staff could implement some signage and curb changes within about a week after council approval and that more permanent curb work is scheduled for the summer.

Votes at a glance

- 90-day trial, 15-minute parking, east side of North 70th Street fronting 2154 N. 70th St. — Motion to approve moved by Alder Gustafson; seconded by Alder Champine; outcome: approved unanimously (6–0).

- Prohibit parking, east side of 60th Street from Wisconsin Ave to south city limit (following 60-day trial) — Mover: Alder Lewis; second: Alder Foley; outcome: approved unanimously (6–0).

- Parking adjustments near Wauwatosa West/Whitman/Eisenhower: open parking on west side of 113th and 114th (subject to limited two‑hour retention near 114th for ~90 feet) and open parking on east side of 115th except the first ~90 feet; retain 2‑hour zone on the first ~90 feet of 114th for pickup/drop-off — Mover: Alder Brannan; second: Alder Gustafson; outcome: approved unanimously (6–0).

- 90-day trial, 15-minute parking, east side of 70th Street from North Ave to the alley south of North Ave (near Wingstop) — Mover: Alder Gersten; second: Alder Brunson; outcome: approved unanimously (6–0).

- Direct staff to prepare ordinance to adopt posted 25 mph speed limit on Ludington Ave between Milwaukee and North avenues — Mover: not specified in transcript; second: Alder Gustafson; outcome: approved unanimously (6–0).

What happens next

The committee directed staff to prepare the Ludington ordinance for council consideration. Staff said signage and some short-term parking changes could be implemented quickly after council approval, while curb reconstruction and median work are scheduled for the summer. Staff also said they will monitor compliance and enforcement in the trial areas and provide citation data to the committee if requested.