Crowley Signs Street Safety Plan

Holton Street Bridge at intersection of N. Van Buren St. and E. Brady St.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley signed off on a comprehensive plan to improve street safety Monday.

The plan was developed by the Milwaukee County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) over the past three years, with significant public input collected at nearly two-dozen public meetings in 2023. It identifies 25 transportation corridors and more than 500 potential traffic safety infrastructure projects across all 19 municipalities in the county.

The plan is the end result of a multi-step program to design traffic safety interventions that are eligible for federal funding under the Safe Streets and Roads For All program. The program was created through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. President Donald Trump sought to block further implementation of the law through an executive order shortly after taking office, setting up a legal challenge that is currently working through the courts.

Finishing and signing off on the plan is an “important milestone” for transportation safety, Crowley said in a statement released after the signing.

“Moving forward, my administration will implement a unified strategy for Milwaukee County and our municipal partners to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries, while improving overall health outcomes for our residents,” the county executive said.

The need to address transportation safety is underscored by the fact that fatal crashes have been increasing in Milwaukee County at rate faster than the national average, though the number of fatal crashes annually remains below the national average, according to crash data compiled as part of the planning process. The majority of crashes also occur on a small minority of roadways, giving planners a good idea of where to target safety projects, which could involve a number of different interventions, from reducing the size of a roadway to improving street lighting.

“I’m looking forward to working with our municipal partners in the months ahead as we develop plans at the local level,” MCDOT Director Donna Brown-Martin said. “This work moves us closer to our goal of zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2037.”

One step in the project was adoption of a Vision Zero policy, which is a formal commitment to working toward zero transportation-related deaths. The county executive signed the county’s Vision Zero policy in August last year.

The next step in the project is implementation. Later this week, MCDOT will begin working with local municipalities to identify projects for implementation, according to the agency. Many project areas are found along municipally owned right-of-ways and will require involvement from local governments.

“Collaboration and partnership are key to increasing multimodal safety and reducing reckless driving, and I want to thank all who have worked with us to support safer neighborhoods, enhance the quality of life for working families, and save lives in Milwaukee County,” Crowley said.