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Perry Street Connection Study finds no immediate build recommendation; staff presents long‑term BeltLine reconnection ideas
Summary
A federally funded feasibility study considered four alternatives to bridge the BeltLine near Perry Street. Staff carried forward a ped/bike bridge and an angled multimodal bridge for analysis but recommended no build at this time; long‑term conceptual options to reconfigure the BeltLine interchange were presented for future discussion with WisDOT.
City planning staff presented findings from a Perry Street Connection Study funded by a federal Reconnecting Communities grant that analyzed options to reconnect neighborhoods divided by the BeltLine.
Jose Navarro summarized the study area and benefits: the northern portion consists mostly of housing (about 900 households) while the southern area is industrial with roughly 3,700 jobs; a direct connection could cut a bicycle trip from about 17 minutes to about 8 minutes and reduce emergency response travel time in a model from about six minutes to three. The study evaluated four high‑level alternatives — a straight multimodal bridge, a tunnel, a ped/bike bridge and an angled multimodal bridge — and carried forward the ped/bike and angled bridge for further study. Staff emphasized there is currently no funding to build any of the alternatives.
Christophe framed a longer‑term option for discussion: a conceptual reconfiguration of parts of the BeltLine and adjacent freeway interchange to restore surface‑street continuity, potentially using roundabouts or signalized connections, which could provide more transformative citywide benefits but would require coordination and funding with WisDOT.
Why it matters: The study documents a clear north‑south connectivity gap affecting pedestrian, bicycle and emergency access; staff did not recommend advancing a construction project now but provided analysis and conceptual ideas that could inform future WisDOT projects or bundled funding opportunities.
