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Dozens of traffic calming projects coming to Milwaukee in 2024

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Dozens of traffic calming projects coming to Milwaukee in 2024


MILWAUKEE – Construction season will be here before you know it, and this year in the City of Milwaukee, that construction will include dozens of projects aimed at both combating reckless driving and growing a network of protected bike lanes on city streets.

Gathered at the soon-to-be Harley Park at 38th and Highland, where an already-existing stretch of PBLs will be extended west from 35th to 20th Streets, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson reiterated his goal to have a protected bike lane network of 50 miles in the city by 2026. “Milwaukee’s roads WILL be safer” Johnson said Tuesday. “Is it ambitious? Absolutely it is, but it is a cause worthy of all of our endeavors.”

A map showing the various traffic calming projects planned for the City of Milwaukee in 2024. The light blue numbers indicate projects funded by the American Rescue Plan, gold numbers indicate federal and/or state aid projects, and dark blue circles indicate city-funded projects.

While the implementation of PBLs is presented as a method to combat reckless driving, Mayor Johnson says he also hopes they serve the purpose of making the city a more attractive place to live for young professionals.

“They’ll fall in love with the city and its amenities first, before they decide to take a job or settle down or what-not” Johnson told WTMJ’s Vince Vitrano during an event held by Walker Media Agency Monday, referring to young workers. “That’s why I talk about this protected bike lane network. It’s certainly got an application in terms of reckless driving, but that’s a bonafide amenity that’s become very, very popular in cities across the United States.”

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READ MORE: Milwaukee continues to build its protected bike lane network

As you might have seen from my X thread on the unveiling yesterday, I was curious to know what the cost comparison is for the post-concrete island combination being utilized across the city versus a complete concrete separator method. City Engineer Kevin Muhs explained to me the individual posts cost between 80 to 100 dollars each, while the islands are around 6,000 dollars apiece. Muhs did not have a cost estimate for how much a concrete-separated bike lane would cost per city block, but in Denver the Colorado Department of Transportation in 2022 estimated the cost of one mile of one-way protected bike lanes to be around 300,000 dollars.

Of the projects on tap for 2024, there are 18 intended to improve access for students riding their bikes to school as part of the Safe Routes to School partnership between the Wisconsin Bike Federation and Milwaukee Public Schools. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the programs encourage children in grades K-8 to walk and bike to school by creating safer walking and biking routes.

SRTS Program Manager with the bike fed Michael Anderson tells me that warmer winters like the one we’re seeing this year encourage people to take two wheels during a window in time when biking is usually not feasible for most. “Any year, there are days in January and February where anyone can come out and ride, and even with our current infrastructure people have been riding year-round in Milwaukee” Anderson tells WTMJ. “We’re going to have more and more of these warm days, but that makes Milwaukee a more year-round climate where walking and biking to school isn’t so much of an obstacle.”

A handful of other PBL variations have been utilized across the city, perhaps most notably on North Avenue, where concrete planters have been installed by the East Side Business Improvement District. However, these planters have faced scrutiny from both cyclists and residents for the debris left behind when they are struck by cars. A post on the East Side Neighborhood Facebook page showed one stretch of North Avenue where a planter had been destroyed:

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PREVIOUS COVERAGE: A push for pedestrian safety on Milwaukee’s East Side

As for whether or not the planters will be removed, Muhs acknowledged that while they are being damaged “at a relatively high rate, planters are better than people”. Other options may be considered for the stretch of road in partnership with the B.I.D.

Some PBL projects have already been completed; the most recent on Walnut Street between 12th and 20th Streets opened late last year, and includes bike lanes separated from the main road by a grass terrace.

TOP STORIES FROM THE WTMJ NEWSROOM:

LISTEN: Decision Wisconsin – Changing the status quo in 2024 with Sherwin Hughes





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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee events happening in October

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Milwaukee events happening in October


Fall is here! And there’s plenty to see and do in the Milwaukee area this October.

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Ian Thompson from Visit Milwaukee joined FOX6 WakeUp with all the info on events happening this month.



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Community members rally to preserve Milwaukee Public Museum exhibits

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Community members rally to preserve Milwaukee Public Museum exhibits


MILWAUKEE — Ten-year-old Alma Steele, a longtime visitor of the Milwaukee Public Museum, joined a group of supporters Saturday to protest plans for the museum’s relocation.

“We used to go every Saturday morning. My favorite is the butterfly exhibit,” Steele smiled.

This Saturday’s visit was different; she was there to voice her support for keeping the museum in its current building at 800 W. Wells St.

Alma was among more than a dozen individuals expressing their love for the museum and its exhibits, like the Streets of Old Milwaukee and European Village.

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The group is called Preserve Milwaukee, and it aims to advocate for the preservation of beloved exhibits and the character of the current building.

“A lot of these exhibits and displays are endearing to us. These are works of art and should not be destroyed,” Scott Bush, a member of the Board of Directors for the group, said.

The group formed in response to news that the museum is planning to move to a new location, slated to open in 2027, at West McKinley Avenue and North Sixth Street.

“They can build a new museum; it’s a good thing, but we don’t have to destroy this one,” Justin Gaver, another board member, said.

Some exhibits, particularly those integral to the museum’s structure, cannot be relocated to the new site, according to a post on X by the museum.

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Rebecca Ehlers, Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Visitor Experience for the Milwaukee Public Museum stressed that the current building is roughly $100 million behind on maintenance, which poses a risk to the four million artifacts housed within.

“The building we have is not sustainable for the future,” she said. “All of the items that are the heart will come with us.”

TMJ4 reported in 2022 that there were cracks in the ceiling and walls, along with interior gutters and hanging buckets to catch leaking water.

As construction is underway at the new site, the fate of the current museum will ultimately be decided by Milwaukee County.

Preserve Milwaukee’s members said they will continue working on their campaign to save the building.

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Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff Advocates for Kamala Harris’s Economic Vision at Milwaukee Event – Milwaukee Courier Weekly Newspaper

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Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff Advocates for Kamala Harris’s Economic Vision at Milwaukee Event – Milwaukee Courier Weekly Newspaper


Second Gentlemen Doug Emhoff (Photo/Karen Stokes)

By Karen Stokes

An Economic Opportunity Event featuring Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff took place on Tuesday at Diamond Discs International located on Milwaukee’s northwest side.

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The Second Gentleman began his speech by addressing the escalating situation in Israel and the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in the southern states of North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. He noted that governors in the affected states have indicated that the administration is working hand in hand with them to ensure they have the necessary resources. He emphasized that the President and Vice President are dedicated to supporting these communities well beyond the immediate emergency response phase.

“Everywhere we go, it’s the same thing. People are ready for Kamala to be president of the United States. They’re ready for somebody who understands them, somebody who understands the economy, somebody who actually cares about you and brings real solutions to the table,” Emhoff said.

“She’s taking the fight directly to Donald Trump right to his face. It’s no surprise he’s ducking a second debate because she kicked his ass at the first debate because we need a president whose toughness is actually real — not just this reality TV fake tough guy routine.”

“Kamala Harris is a capitalist,” Emhoff said. “She’s pro-growth, she’s pro-innovation, pro-technology, she’s pro-business but also supports workers. All these things can work at the same time.”

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Even though Kamala Harris’ economic plan does overlap with aspects of Bidenomics, there are also key differences.

Emhoff highlighted Harris’ economic plan as having three tiers.

“First, she aims to lower costs, providing over $100 million in tax cuts. This includes a $6,000 child tax credit for the first year of a child’s life, crucial for families just starting out.

She has a plan to combat price gouging, balancing support for businesses with accountability. Her proposal extends insulin price caps for seniors to all Americans and includes a plan for affordable housing, targeting the construction of three million new homes and offering $25,000 in down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers.”

“The second pillar focuses on investing in innovation and entrepreneurship, with a goal of creating 25 million new businesses in her first term. She plans to allocate one-third of contract dollars to small businesses. The third pillar emphasizes ensuring that America leads in future industries,” he said.

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“More than 90 CEOs have endorsed Kamala. Mark Cuban has made a great case for why Kamala is the right choice for the economy. She’s going to create an economy that works for all of us, it’s forward looking, and it’s going to invest in technology, and innovation. She also knows we have to come together,” Emhoff said. “She knows we have so much more in common than what divides us. This is the most important election of our lifetime. Every single vote is going to matter here in Wisconsin.”

Emhoff referenced Michelle Obama’s quote about the importance of voting in such large numbers that it leaves no doubt and counters any attempts at suppression. “We need to win, and we need to win big,” he stated.

Harris will be in Wisconsin, a critical swing state on Thursday in the Fox Valley.





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