Wauwatosa committee extends parking trial near Tosa West High after neighborhood safety debate

The Wauwatosa City Transportation Affairs Committee voted 5-2 on Jan. 21 to continue a 90-day trial that removes two-hour parking limits on several streets near Tosa West High School, after hours of testimony from residents, alderpersons and staff about student parking, neighborhood safety and traffic flow.

Committee chair Mike Morgan said engineering staff recommended eliminating two-hour restrictions on the west side of 113th Street (Center to Clark), the west side of 114th Street (about 190 feet south of Center to Clark), and the east side of 115th Street (about 195 feet south of Center to Clark) following the trial. Engineering staff reported mixed results from field counts: 113th saw negligible change (an average of about one car before the trial to zero during), while 114th and 115th rose from roughly three-to-four cars before the trial to about 15 cars each during the trial; parking on 116th, which was already open, decreased by roughly eight spaces. Staff also reported about 30–35 percent of signed student parking spaces in the school lot appeared unused at observation times.

"What we are recommending is to remove the two-hour parking restrictions in the area shown in blue," engineering staff member Mr. May told the committee, while proposing that the first roughly 200 feet from the Center Street intersections be retained for turnover to preserve quick drop-off and pick-up capability.

Residents who called into the meeting offered contrasting views. Rita Wisniewski of West Ruby Avenue, who said she regularly drives students to school, opposed the blanket removal and said parked cars force students into the street and create visibility problems at intersections. "When there's snow, having cars parked there and there's no sidewalk, the kids are walking in the middle of the street… I'm really afraid for the kids," Wisniewski said.

Alder Wilke, whose remarks represented neighbors and students in the area, urged the committee to approve the 90‑day trial as originally put in place, citing the need for students to park closer to school. "Our students need to be able to park on the public streets and walk closest to the school," Wilke said.

Other alderpersons sought compromise. Alder Brannen and Alder Foley both expressed the need to preserve some turnover spots for drop-off and pick-up and asked staff to study alternatives such as restricting the first 190–200 feet near intersections to short-term stopping, encouraging use of underutilized streets (for example, the east side of 113th) and improving school outreach.

A motion to continue the 90-day trial with staff recommendations, and to direct staff to return with additional mitigation options and outreach results, passed 5-2. Committee members Alder Dolan and Alder Gustafson voted no. The committee instructed staff to confirm whether the high school parking permit program is fully allocated, to report back on what communications the school distributed to students and families (staff said a letter was forwarded to principals), and to invite a school representative to the next committee meeting to discuss parking permit use and outreach.

The committee also discussed longer-term street improvements: staff said a Center Street realignment and raised median near the campus is scheduled to begin in May and be complete by the first day of school; that project is intended to improve driveway and intersection traffic flow.

The committee paused further action on permanent changes pending the requested follow-up information and additional outreach; the 90‑day trial will continue under the terms discussed and be revisited after the additional data and school engagement are provided.

The decision preserves the trial for the current school term while directing staff to return with precise recommendations aimed at balancing student parking needs and neighborhood safety.