Milwaukee to receive $4.4 million for safer streets

By Lynn Sommers Last updated Feb 2, 2023

The federal government awarded the city of Milwaukee $4.4 million on Wednesday to improve traffic safety. The Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant from the US Department of Transportation totals $5.5 million, with $4.4 million from the federal government and $1.1 million from the city, and will increase the number of traffic calming projects in the city will improve five stretches of streets deemed dangerous and underserved. The five major streets identified include: Capitol Drive, from Roosevelt Drive to 15th Street Atkinson Avenue, from Capitol Drive to MLK Cesar Chavez Drive and 16th Street, from Pierce Street to Forest Home Avenue Greenfield Avenue, from Cesar Chavez to 6th Street• Forest Home Avenue, from 16th Street to Lincoln Avenue “Safe streets are vital to our quality of life. This federal resource will lead to greater safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, scooter riders and stroller pushers throughout these neighborhoods,” Mayor Cavalier Johnson said . The improvements are focused on bringing the intersections up to Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and include enhancing traffic signal equipment, realigning skewed intersections, and installing high-visibility pedestrian markings. Manny Rivera is a barber at Studio on 6th Street. It is located on one of the 26 intersections set to receive improvements.”It’s urgent we definitely need it. It would benefit this area,” Rivera said.Rivera told WISN 12 News he has witnessed how dangerous the street just outside the shop can get “Right here when people sort of want to cross more eastbound, people bend this corner kind of quick and it’s definitely unsafe for the pedestrian, for sure,” Rivera said. Larry Rauch walks along Greenfield Avenue often. He said it is dangerous for a pedestrian.”You stand here a minute, you’ll see cars turning this way all crazy, going that way all crazy, stuff like that,” Rauch said.”All of these locations are within the city’s pedestrian high-injury network. This funding is a major step forward as we work toward safer streets for all modes of travel,” Commissioner of Public Works Jerrel Kruschke said. Rauch told WISN 12 News reporter Kendall Keys that he has been hit by a car while walking twice.”When I tried to cross, he ran me over from my foot, all the way to my kneecaps. That’s the first one. and the second one happened on the east side. Same thing,” Rauch said.Rauch and Rivera said they are glad their neighborhoods are getting attention.”I’m no expert, but I do know that something needs to be done,” Rivera said.Top Stories:Franklin man accused of killing South American girlfriend, putting body in suitcaseJury finds Mark Jensen guilty of first-degree intentional homicideScientists are reincarnating the woolly mammoth to return in 4 years

MILWAUKEE —

The federal government awarded the city of Milwaukee $4.4 million on Wednesday to improve traffic safety.

The Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant from the US Department of Transportation totals $5.5 million, with $4.4 million from the federal government and $1.1 million from the city, and will increase the number of traffic calming projects in the city.

The federal traffic safety grant will improve five stretches of streets deemed dangerous and underserved. The five major streets identified include:

• Capitol Drive, from Roosevelt Drive to 15th Street

• Atkinson Avenue, from Capitol Drive to MLK

• Cesar Chavez Drive and 16th Street, from Pierce Street to Forest Home Avenue

• Greenfield Avenue, from Cesar Chavez to 6th Street

• Forest Home Avenue, from 16th Street to Lincoln Avenue

“Safe streets are vital to our quality of life. This federal resource will lead to greater safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, scooter riders and stroller pushers throughout these neighborhoods,” Mayor Cavalier Johnson said.

The improvements are focused on bringing the intersections up to Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and include enhancing traffic signal equipment, realigning skewed intersections, and installing high-visibility pedestrian markings.

Manny Rivera is a barber at Studio on 6th Street. It is located on one of the 26 intersections set to receive improvements.

“It’s urgent we definitely need it. It would benefit this area,” Rivera said.

Rivera told WISN 12 News he has witnessed how dangerous the street just outside the shop can get.

“Right here when people sort of want to cross more eastbound, people bend this corner kind of quick and it’s definitely unsafe for the pedestrian, for sure,” Rivera said.

Larry Rauch walks along Greenfield Avenue often. He said it is dangerous for a pedestrian.

“You stand here a minute, you’ll see cars turning this way all crazy, going that way all crazy, stuff like that,” Rauch said.

“All of these locations are within the city’s pedestrian high-injury network. This funding is a major step forward as we work toward safer streets for all modes of travel,” Commissioner of Public Works Jerrel Kruschke said.

Rauch told WISN 12 News reporter Kendall Keys that he has been hit by a car while walking twice.

“When I tried to cross, he ran me over from my foot, all the way to my kneecaps. That’s the first one. and the second one happened on the east side. Same thing,” Rauch said.

Rauch and Rivera said they are glad their neighborhoods are getting attention.

“I’m no expert, but I do know that something needs to be done,” Rivera said.