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Police chief and city engineer outline traffic-safety data and mitigation as I-94 construction reroutes drivers through West Allis
Summary
West Allis police and engineering staff presented speed-trailer and crash data, enforcement plans and near-term infrastructure measures — including rapid flashing beacons and an AI-based traffic-mitigation pilot — to address increased cut-through traffic tied to the Wisconsin DOT I-94 East–West construction project.
West Allis officials told the Public Safety Committee they are monitoring increased cut-through traffic linked to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s I-94 East–West construction and outlined short- and mid-term steps to protect pedestrians.
Police Chief Mitchell said the department deployed speed trailers at several corridor points to measure traffic behavior and that short-term crash data shows mixed results: "citywide crashes...rose from 355 crashes citywide in 2025 to 449 crashes citywide in 2026," he said, characterizing a citywide increase while noting a small-area triangle on Greenfield/National showed a modest decline in crashes. The chief presented 85th-percentile speed readings used in traffic engineering — for example, an 85th-percentile speed of about 40 mph at a measured point on 84th Street and about 33 mph at measured points on Greenfield and National avenues.
Chief Mitchell described enforcement and grant resources: the department used roughly 63 hours of DOT-funded overtime to date and reported around 380 hours remaining under the current mitigation grant. "We did deploy officers on overtime using that grant in this corridor...we have 380 hours of that overtime remaining," he said. The chief added that the grant's operational period runs through Dec. 31 of the current year and that whether the state renews similar funding for the full construction period is uncertain.
City Engineer Melinda described infrastructure and pilot projects intended to improve pedestrian safety and calm traffic. She said the city has reconstructed several stretches of National Avenue with bumpouts, high-visibility crosswalks and painted bike lanes; installed rapid flashing beacons at key crossings (including 75th, 86th and 96th streets); and deployed an AI-based traffic-mitigation system on Greenfield Avenue that is in a 90-day learning cycle. "We have reconstructed several sections and we have included bumpouts...high visibility crosswalks," Melinda said, outlining projects that are already built or in design and noting additional work funded through the capital plan and CDBG funds.
Committee members pressed staff on pedestrian safety and practical mitigation. One member asked whether the posted speed limits should be raised if engineering 85th-percentile readings are consistently higher than limits; the chief explained 85th-percentile is a planning metric and emphasized pedestrian-focused enforcement and design measures. A suggestion to deploy temporary crossing flags — modeled on a practice observed in another city — won tentative support from staff for trial use in targeted locations.
No formal committee action was taken on the I-94 discussion; staff said they will continue monitoring speeds and crashes, deploy enforcement when necessary and proceed with planned capital and pilot projects. The committee adjourned after completing the agenda.
What this means: Residents who walk or travel the Greenfield/National corridor can expect targeted infrastructure work (beacons, bumpouts, improved crosswalks) and periodic enforcement funded in part with a DOT mitigation grant; staff will return with data from the AI-mitigation pilot and enforcement reports.
