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Commission recommends Option B, reclassifies Apartment Terrace as "neighborhood yield" street
Summary
After staff presented three street-design alternatives for Apartment Terrace (Odana Road to the cul-de-sac), the commission voted unanimously to recommend reclassifying the street as a "neighborhood yield" street and to approve Option B, asking staff to consider placing parking on the same side as the sidewalk.
Madison’s Transportation Commission on July 15 recommended approval of a staff-preferred design alternative for a small residential reconstruction on Apartment Terrace and asked staff to consider moving on-street parking to the same side as the new sidewalk.
Ashley, a city engineering presenter, described three alternatives for the block from Odana Road to the cul-de-sac: Design A (narrow travelway with a 3-foot terrace and a sidewalk), Design B (20-foot curb-to-curb with a 6-foot sidewalk on one side and parking on one side), and Design C (a street-level sidewalk with an alley-style curb). "Design C is gonna be our staff city staff recommendation for tonight," Ashley said during the presentation.
Public commenters and commissioners pushed back on aspects of the staff recommendation. Nicholas Davies and Gabriel Hill both said Option C (a street-level sidewalk) would set a poor precedent and raised concerns about accessibility, snow clearance, and the visual distinction between pedestrian and vehicle space. "A sidewalk that cars can conveniently drive and park on is not a sidewalk," Nicholas said.
Staff answered technical questions about curb geometry, the "flow line" (the gutter where water collects), and plowing operations; they said the design team had consulted with the pedestrian/bicycle administrator and operations about maintenance and plowing logistics. Commissioners asked whether the design could close sidewalk gaps elsewhere (Modena) and whether the proposed cross-section matches the project limits driven by sewer and water work.
After discussion, a commissioner moved that the commission recommend reclassifying the street type to "neighborhood yield street," approve Option B, and ask staff to consider placing parking on the same side as the sidewalk to provide a buffer. The motion was seconded and carried by unanimous consent.
What this means: Option B preserves some on-street parking while adding a sidewalk and better traffic calming than existing conditions, according to staff and the motion’s supporters. Staff said they will carry the commission’s guidance into final design, refine parking placement, and prepare project documents for the next steps in design and bidding.
Next steps: staff will incorporate the commission’s recommendation in final plans and return with any required follow-ups; the commission flagged the issue for future review of adjacent sidewalk gaps.
