Whitefish Bay committee backs pursuit of federal Safe Streets grant to design Lake Drive traffic-calming

The Whitefish Bay Public Works Committee agreed to pursue a federal Safe Streets and Roads for All grant in partnership with Milwaukee County and instructed staff to seek conceptual designs for Lake Drive gateway treatments and adjacent intersection enhancements.

Staff presented the grant opportunity and said the program still has roughly $1 billion available nationally. The presenter recommended two gateway-treatment locations on Lake Drive — one between Cumberland Boulevard and Hampton Road and a second at Monrovia Avenue — citing the village’s municipal safety action plan and its bicycle and pedestrian safety study as the basis for eligibility and priority. The county is coordinating municipal applications; staff said Milwaukee County is preparing an approximately $25 million application pool and that Whitefish Bay’s initial planning placeholder could be about $2 million.

Why it matters: the committee emphasized that federal grants add regulatory requirements — historic-preservation review, contaminated-soil testing and higher engineering standards — so accurate conceptual budgets are essential before committing local matching funds. Staff recommended using a third-party engineering consultant to provide conceptual renderings and realistic budget estimates before submitting an application due May 26.

Committee members raised concerns about choosing sites that preserve bike-lane continuity. One member asked whether traffic calming at the gateway locations could unintentionally narrow or remove bike lanes; staff said consultant deliverables should include options that protect bicycle facilities, assess parking tradeoffs and test constructibility. Members also debated whether to expand the northern site to include additional intersections (several members suggested including Montlair and Oakland) to maximize grant competitiveness and impact on higher-traffic crossings.

The committee coalesced around a recommendation to authorize conceptual work for two gateway designs that also consider adjacent intersection improvements and bicycle accommodation. Staff said RA Smith (the consulting firm referenced in the meeting) quoted about $7,500 for concept work for two locations; the committee discussed giving staff flexibility and suggested a not-to-exceed authorization of $15,000 to expand consultant scope if needed. Staff stressed that the conceptual work would produce budget estimates and renderings only and that any construction would be scheduled years ahead through the village’s capital-improvement and borrowing cycles.

The committee’s recommendation is advisory and will inform the village’s application with Milwaukee County. Next steps: staff will coordinate with RA Smith and county partners, refine project boxes and conceptual budgets, and return with more detailed cost estimates and any recommended scope changes.