Middleton planners roll out draft active‑transportation plan; commissioners press for clearer priorities, better maps and winter maintenance funding

City staff presented a draft 2026–2036 Active Transportation Plan to the Middleton Plan Commission on May 12 and sought feedback ahead of public open houses and a public survey. The plan, developed with the Ped/Bike/Transit Committee and multiple city departments, maps future bicycle and pedestrian facilities and compiles institutional knowledge for staff, elected officials and the public.

Scott, a city staff member who led the presentation, said the plan “refers to ways of getting around that prioritize walking, biking, rolling, and other human‑powered travel” and was intended to be an accessible single repository of projects and policies for both staff and the public. He noted the plan updates the city’s last bike and pedestrian plan, from 2009, and includes a new bike network, pedestrian crossing proposals, a maintenance program draft for paved paths, and appendices listing best practices and potential funding sources. Staff announced the first public open house for May 31, coinciding with a community bike ride, and additional engagement events in June.

Commissioners and members of the Ped/Bike/Transit Committee generally praised the document but raised several specific concerns. Alder Schaeffer said multiple maps used colors that were hard to distinguish and urged staff to improve legibility for older viewers. “There are a couple of maps where you use nearly the same color for two different things,” Schaeffer said, asking staff to choose more distinct palettes.

Other commissioners asked the plan to make clearer who the primary users are and how the document will be used operationally. Scott responded that the plan is intended both as a public reference and as a way to retain institutional knowledge across departments, and he said staff would add explanatory text to clarify intended audiences and uses.

Commissioners also pressed staff to clarify prioritization. Staff explained the plan’s “tier” labels are meant to distinguish higher‑priority segments (tier 1) for near‑term maintenance and implementation from secondary segments, and agreed to replace or explain the tier language so readers understand it indicates priority rather than an abstract classification.

On technical points, the commission debated design standards in the draft. One commissioner questioned a table calling for a 2‑foot minimum between a tree and sidewalk and a 5‑foot separation between driveway apron and tree; the commissioner suggested increasing the setback to 10 feet for larger tree species where roots can damage sidewalks. Staff said many guidelines are carried forward from chapter 20 and PASER‑style condition ratings and that they would review the numerical standards and cite their sources more clearly.

Several speakers emphasized transit and pedestrian safety concerns in specific corridors. A public commenter and commissioners discussed bus frequency on some Madison Metro routes serving Middleton (noting some routes run only once an hour) and asked staff to identify areas the city considers underserved by transit. Commissioners also flagged safety on Century Avenue — citing narrow sidewalks, glare and recent pedestrian crashes — and asked that pedestrian safety be treated as a top priority in any future redesign of that corridor.

On the Pheasant Branch corridor, staff said the Ped/Bike/Transit Committee recommended treating a proposed shared‑use path as a standalone initiative because it requires additional partnership work and has been contentious in the past; staff said that approach would allow more time to build consensus with Conservancy Lands and other partners.

Staff agreed to a number of edits requested by commissioners, including clearer map legends and color contrasts, explicit statements about which paths are paved (and which use different condition‑rating systems), more explicit links to the Century Avenue road diet and Vision Zero goals in the comprehensive plan, and converting some long bulleted strategy lists into numbered actions for easier cross‑reference.

What’s next: staff will host the first open house on May 31 during the community bike ride, publish a public survey and return to the commission with revised wording, clarified priorities and improved map design before final adoption steps. “We’re going to try to get open houses on the calendar as quick as possible so we can get promotions out for them,” Scott said.