Wauwatosa committee approves stop signs and a 90‑day parking trial near high school

The Wauwatosa Transportation Affairs Committee on Thursday approved multiple localized traffic controls and a temporary parking change intended to address visibility and congestion near neighborhood intersections and a high school.

City engineering staff recommended installing two‑way stop control on the Garfield Avenue approaches to 118th Street after officials found houses at all four corners obstructed sight lines. "There are visual obstructions that block the line of sight," said Mr. May, city engineering staff, who recommended a resolution to install stop control. Alder Gustafson moved approval and Alder Brunette seconded; the chair announced the motion passed 8 to 0.

Separately, staff reported on a 90‑day test of parking changes north of North Avenue near Joy's Ice Cream after video and field checks showed conflicts between parked vehicles and turning traffic. Mr. May said the trial "helped" by reducing interference with turning vehicles and recommended advancing the parking changes; the committee approved the adjustment by unanimous voice vote. Mr. May told the committee that future reports will include the recommended parking edits alongside ordinance language so council members see the proposed language and maps together.

The committee also approved drafting a resolution to install two‑way stop control on Clark Street approaches to 117th Street after staff identified an angle and hill that contributed to at least one reported crash in the last three years. Alder Brandon moved approval; the motion passed 8 to 0.

On a longer agenda item, Alder Wilkie presented a memo about a long‑running shortage of street parking adjacent to the high school and proposed removing 2‑hour parking restrictions on specific blocks (13th–15th/113th–115th blocks referenced in committee discussion) for a 90‑day trial. Engineering cautioned that the streets are about 30 feet wide and two‑sided parking could reduce available travel width to roughly 14 feet, creating problems for two‑way traffic during peak surges. "If you're looking for my opinion, I would recommend perhaps starting with just one side of the street being anytime and the other side keeping as it currently is posted," Mr. May said. The committee approved the amended 90‑day trial, directed staff to notify affected residents and school principals, and asked staff to return with follow‑up data after the trial.

What happens next: staff will draft the required resolutions and ordinance edits for council consideration, notify residents on the affected blocks and coordinate outreach with local schools, and begin the 90‑day trial for the school‑area parking changes. The stop‑control and parking ordinance language will be presented to the Common Council as part of the normal legislative process.