Board recommends council approve roadway functional classification updates for Monroe

The Board of Public Works voted to recommend that the common council approve updates to the city’s roadway functional classifications as proposed by the state.

The Director of Public Works said the state reviews street classifications roughly every ten years and had recommended changes including for 4th Street and 22nd Avenue near the hospital and a proposed downgrading of portions of 6th Street. “Every 10 years, the state, reviews the classification of all of our streets,” the director said, adding that classifications influence the city’s share of construction revenue and eligibility for state and federal grants.

Board members asked how classifications are determined and whether a forthcoming high school would affect the rating; staff responded that the state performs traffic counts on certain streets regularly and that previous pushback led to retaining a higher classification for a critical segment. A committee member moved to forward a resolution approving updates to the roadway functional classifications for the City of Monroe; the roll-call vote recorded four ayes and the motion passed.

The board did not take public comment on this item; the recommendation will next be considered by the common council.