Congresswoman Gwen Moore Announces $25 Million in Federal Investments for National Avenue Project

Today, Congresswoman Gwen Moore announced a $25 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to benefit Milwaukee. This funding will support the reconstruction of National Avenue from 1st Street to 39th Street to make improvements, including separated raised bike lanes, raised crosswalks, a raised intersection, transit platforms, and improved sidewalks to support all residents whether they drive, bus, bike, or walk.

“Making our communities safer remains my priority. I wrote a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, championing Wisconsin’s Department of Transportation (WisDOT) grant application, to redesign this corridor and make needed enhancements that advance safety and equity. I am so excited to see funds poured into such a culturally and commercially thriving part of Milwaukee’s Near South side area. These much-needed improvements, such as replacing deteriorating pavement, making curb ramps ADA compliant, creating separated bike lanes, improved street lighting, and raised crosswalks, will make this corridor safer for commuters, pedestrians, and bikers. I thank the Biden-Harris administration and Evers administration for supporting this important project, which my constituents will benefit from throughout their everyday lives,” said Congresswoman Moore.

“Here in Wisconsin, we’ve gotten to work fixing the darn roads and ensuring our state’s infrastructure is ready for a 21st-century workforce and economy, but we know our work continues,” said Gov. Evers. “Thanks to Sen. Baldwin’s leadership in securing millions of dollars through the federal RAISE program, we are continuing our work to bring better, safer roads, highways, bike lanes, and railways to communities across our state, all while moving forward toward building a more sustainable future for all.”

“Whether you’re taking a bus, driving, biking, or walking, every Wisconsinite deserves to feel safe on our roads,” said Senator Baldwin. “I was proud to support this project that will make National Avenue safer for Wisconsin families and support businesses up and down this critical corridor on Milwaukee’s South Side.”

On January 29^th 2024, Congresswoman Gwen Moore sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, in support of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s grant application for the National Avenue Complete Street Project. In the letter, she notes that:

“The Project will reshape West National Avenue (WIS 59) between South 1st Street and South 39th Street, a 2.6-mile corridor that is the social, commercial, and cultural heart of Milwaukee’s “Near South Side” area and located in the 4th Congressional District. Advanced deterioration of the present infrastructure necessitates action, providing an opportunity to reimagine National Avenue as a modern, community-oriented commercial corridor. The entirety of the Project corridor falls within census tracts identified as both Historically Disadvantaged Communities and Areas of Persistent Poverty, as defined by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Justice40 Initiative. All Project funds will be expended in the historically underserved neighborhoods along National Avenue.”

Her letter also highlights that, “According to WisDOT, National Avenue is listed in the Milwaukee Crash Analysis Report (2023) as part of Milwaukee’s High Injury Network (HIN) for all analyzed travel modes. HIN corridors are those across the city where most fatal and serious injury crashes occur and are expected to occur if no changes are made to the street design. The segment of National Avenue from South 1st Street to South 25th Street is identified for a full street transformation based on crash data and the report’s prioritization criteria.

The Project would deliver a transformed National Avenue to target well-documented pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorist crashes through a modern urban roadway design that includes innovative traffic-calming methods such as raised crosswalks across side streets throughout the corridor and a pedestrian friendly raised intersection at South 4th Street. Complete Street improvements proposed along the corridor will also incentivize non-automobile travel by fostering a street environment that is safe for those walking, biking, and taking transit.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.