Middleton panel authorizes SRF to study traffic impacts of proposed Culver's relocation, developer to pay $39,500

The Middleton Public Works Committee authorized its consultant SRF Consulting Group on Jan. 12 to proceed with a revised traffic-impact analysis for a proposed Culver's relocation, approving an eight-intersection scope and estimating the developer would pay $39,500.

The committee’s motion, made by Alder Oliver Madden and seconded by Tom, followed presentations from city staff, SRF consultants and Culver’s representatives. City staff said the city's TIA policy typically includes 19 intersections but that staff and SRF had narrowed the study to the eight intersections judged most likely to be affected. Chair called the motion and it passed.

Kyle Dumbleton, director of architecture, engineering and construction for Culver's, told the committee the project is a relocation of an existing restaurant and argued trip generation “is not going to change markedly,” adding the new site would improve on-site circulation and emergency access. Dumbleton asked the city to limit extra costs and timing risks for the developer.

City staff and SRF said the preliminary estimates were based on Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) trip-generation methods and existing counts. SRF noted the new site has additional dining and dual drive-through capacity and that preliminary figures suggested peak-hour trips could be roughly double those at the current location; SRF emphasized the figure was an initial estimate that the formal TIA would refine.

Alder Oliver Madden and other committee members stressed that the study should also examine pedestrian and bicycle movements, particularly routes to nearby schools, and asked staff to share draft findings during the TIA so the developer could address potential mitigation without unduly risking the purchase agreement. Luke Militech, city engineer, said the TIA would include pedestrian crossings and that staff would coordinate with SRF on interim updates.

The motion approved the SRF scope reduced to eight intersections and set the total estimated study cost at $39,500, to be paid by the developer. The committee directed staff to proceed with the study and return with results and recommendations that could include signalization, turn lanes or other mitigations if the TIA indicates they are needed.

Next steps: SRF will begin data collection and analysis and staff expects to share interim drafts with the developer and the committee; any required construction or cost-sharing decisions would be handled in later proceedings.