Madison Area

[The Ghostbuster]

I am a strong proponent of one-way streets. Unlike two-way streets, if one is crossing a one-way street on foot, they only have to look in one direction before crossing. Personally, I think converting one-way streets back to two-way lowers traffic speeds and increases congestion (not something I think that should be encouraged), making pedestrian and bicycle usage along the roadways more hazardous.

[TheCatalyst31]

I am a strong proponent of one-way streets. Unlike two-way streets, if one is crossing a one-way street on foot, they only have to look in one direction before crossing. Personally, I think converting one-way streets back to two-way lowers traffic speeds and increases congestion (not something I think that should be encouraged), making pedestrian and bicycle usage along the roadways more hazardous.

Typically lower traffic speeds make pedestrians and bicyclists safer, because if they do get hit by a car their injuries will be less severe.

[SEWIGuy]

I am a strong proponent of one-way streets. Unlike two-way streets, if one is crossing a one-way street on foot, they only have to look in one direction before crossing. Personally, I think converting one-way streets back to two-way lowers traffic speeds and increases congestion (not something I think that should be encouraged), making pedestrian and bicycle usage along the roadways more hazardous.

Typically lower traffic speeds make pedestrians and bicyclists safer, because if they do get hit by a car their injuries will be less severe.

Yeah it increases conflict points but greatly decreases the potential severity of those conflicts.

[thspfc]

I am a strong proponent of one-way streets. Unlike two-way streets, if one is crossing a one-way street on foot, they only have to look in one direction before crossing. Personally, I think converting one-way streets back to two-way lowers traffic speeds and increases congestion (not something I think that should be encouraged), making pedestrian and bicycle usage along the roadways more hazardous.

Typically lower traffic speeds make pedestrians and bicyclists safer, because if they do get hit by a car their injuries will be less severe.

As a pedestrian I would rather cross a 40 MPH one way than a 30 MPH two way with the same traffic volume. I live a block away from a very busy 3-lane one way with a typical traffic speed of 35-45. Jaywalking is a breeze because red lights cause complete breaks in traffic.

[mrose]

After observing the massive positive change in downtown Janesville from the city removing its one-way streets, there's no way I would ever advocate going back to one-way pairs.

When I first moved here, the 3-lane one-way Court St and Milwaukee St through downtown was like the damn Interstate, and drivers drove it that way. Converting the streets to two-way pairs and removing several stoplights for 4-way Stop signs made a huge difference. It dramatically calmed traffic. It's much easier to cross streets downtown now. The folks who were frustrated by how much longer it took to drive through downtown (which, honestly, might be 1-2 minutes) redirected themselves onto Centerway and other streets. Those folks drive around downtown now instead of through it. The traffic that's left in downtown now is there to BE downtown.

Madison has geographic features that make it hard to get away from one-way streets altogether, but they can be more strategic about it. They also have excellent reason to push use of the bus system instead of encouraging more car traffic.

Does that mean The Circuit doesn't exist anymore?

[JREwing78]

Does that mean The Circuit doesn't exist anymore?

Milton Ave has taken on that role now, and has been for at least the past couple decades.

[peterj920]

Midvale Avenue is going to be resurfaced this year. Madison needs to have a more aggressive arterial street resurfacing program. So many busy streets are extremely rough. Regent Street, S. Park St, Atwood Ave, Milwaukee St, and E Main St are all in really bad shape.

[The Ghostbuster]

On March 18th, the DOT held a PIM for the Stoughton Rd. North Study: https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/us51-corridor/northstudy.aspx. This is the presentation they gave: https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/projects/by-region/sw/us51-corridor/0325northpresentation.pdf. One notable change to the corridor plan was to the E. Washington Ave./N. Stoughton Rd. intersection. Previously, the recommended alternative was to build a jug-handle connection within the southwest corner of the intersection: https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/projects/by-region/sw/us51-corridor/0424jughandle.pdf. Now, however, they have amended that to retaining the existing signaled at-grade intersection: https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/projects/by-region/sw/us51-corridor/0325north151eastwash.pdf. This disappointed me, since while I could have supported the jug-handle interchange, the alternative I really wanted for the intersection was the tight diamond interchange alternative: https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/projects/by-region/sw/us51-corridor/tdsept23.pdf.

[SEWIGuy]

Both of those options were just too expensive with the properties that needed to be acquired.

[mgk920]

Also, a decade or so ago, WisDOT was toying around with the idea of a multi (three) - lane roundabout there, but that one went nowhere.

Mike

[silverback1065]

displaced lefts have become a popular option over interchanges in tight urban areas.

[dvferyance]

Also, a decade or so ago, WisDOT was toying around with the idea of a multi (three) - lane roundabout there, but that one went nowhere.

Mike

I beleive Wisdot said years ago they would no longer build roundabouts with more than 2 lanes.

[mgk920]

Also, a decade or so ago, WisDOT was toying around with the idea of a multi (three) - lane roundabout there, but that one went nowhere.

Mike

I beleive Wisdot said years ago they would no longer build roundabouts with more than 2 lanes.

At least until the 'Driver's Ed' issue has worked its course.  I can see holding off with a three-laner at Stoughton/Washington in Madison, but the two-laners here in the Appleton area are All working well and at a very high level of safety.

Mike

[The Ghostbuster]

I don't think a roundabout intersection would work at any intersection along US 51 or US 151 in the City of Madison. There is probably too much traffic on both US Highways to justify building one, whether two lanes or three lanes.

[SEWIGuy]

I don't think a roundabout intersection would work at any intersection along US 51 or US 151 in the City of Madison. There is probably too much traffic on both US Highways to justify building one, whether two lanes or three lanes.

Yeah I think that would be terrible. An upgraded intersection is fine.

[SSOWorld]

I don't think a roundabout intersection would work at any intersection along US 51 or US 151 in the City of Madison. There is probably too much traffic on both US Highways to justify building one, whether two lanes or three lanes.

It works at the Arc in Paris.

[midwesternroadguy]

I don't think a roundabout intersection would work at any intersection along US 51 or US 151 in the City of Madison. There is probably too much traffic on both US Highways to justify building one, whether two lanes or three lanes.

It works at the Arc in Paris.

It works in Paris because you don't have American drivers.  I would take driving in Italy, France, Spain, Scandinavia, etc. any day over the US.  People pay attention there and aren't on their phones. 

[SEWIGuy]

I don't think a roundabout intersection would work at any intersection along US 51 or US 151 in the City of Madison. There is probably too much traffic on both US Highways to justify building one, whether two lanes or three lanes.

It works at the Arc in Paris.

It works in Paris because you don't have American drivers.  I would take driving in Italy, France, Spain, Scandinavia, etc. any day over the US.  People pay attention there and aren't on their phones. 

🙄🙄🙄

[The Ghostbuster]

Portion of N. Randall Avenue to close through late August: https://www.wmtv15news.com/2025/05/07/portion-n-randall-avenue-close-through-late-august/.