Between the recent creation of a plaza on Ivanhoe Place on the East Side, talk of tearing down a section of I-794 through Downtown and ongoing efforts to create safer bike lanes, Milwaukee is focusing on safer streets.
On Brady Street, this is a discussion that’s been ongoing for many years. Recently, a push to pedestrianize the street has become more vocal, leading to a study.
On Tuesday morning, the Brady Street BID released a report – called “Prioritizing People on Brady | Brady Street Pedestrianization Study” – based on the study, offering potential options for making the stretch safer for pedestrians. These run the gamut from basic street improvements to near-total pedestrianization.
The BID and its Pedestrian Subcommittee partnered with urban planning, design and engineering experts GRAEF and Kubala Washatko Architects, as well as with UW-Milwaukee professor Robert Schneider and a student class, who researched previous projects and comparable pedestrianized streets in cities with climates similar to Milwaukee’s.
The options are for the eastern half of Brady Street, between Humboldt and Farwell Avenues.
According to the BID, “While people who walk were strongly considered, the study analyzed all modes of transportation including general vehicular traffic, transit, emergency vehicles, loading vehicles, bicycles and micromobility. Brady Street is imagined to be ‘pedestrian-first,’ while carefully accommodating these other modes.”
Here are the four options, with descriptions from the report:
Option 1 – Slow & Safe: Enhanced Intersections (Full Access for All Users)
Speed tables at three intersections with Brady Street, Franklin Place, Arlington Place and Warren Avenue would serve to reduce speeding and reckless driving within the “core” of the Brady Street commercial district. Each intersection would elevate motorists to the level of pedestrians, creating a noticeable change and signaling to motorists they have entered a different type of space.
The speed tables are designed to extend north and south partially along side streets. Each of these extensions serves the dual purpose of placemaking in addition to speed reduction. The extensions of the speed tables create plaza-like spaces along each side street that can be closed for events.
Traffic, transit and access would not change in this alternative. Full access for all vehicles is permitted. Minimal on-street parking spaces would be removed at intersections.
Option 2 – Slow & Safe: Enhanced Corridor (Full Access for All Users)
Transforming the entire stretch of Brady Street between Humboldt Avenue and Farwell Avenue creates a four-block curbless (or low curb) environment. Entry into the space from all directions includes a “speed table” element that transitions the roadway into a shared street. Redesigned parking and curb extensions would serve to constrain the roadway, further reducing travel speeds and reckless driving and expanding the amount of space entirely dedicated to pedestrians.
The curbless street is designed to extend north and south partially along side streets. Each of these extensions serves the dual purpose of placemaking in addition to speed reduction. The extensions create plaza-like spaces along each side street that can be closed for events.
Traffic, transit and access would not change in this alternative. Full access for all vehicles is permitted. Up to 50 percent of on-street parking spaces would be removed along corridor.
Option 3 – People Only: Enhanced Corridor (Two-Block Limited Access)
Limiting access along a two-block stretch of Brady Street from Franklin Place to Warren Avenue would transform the “core” of the commercial district into a holistic public place. The roadway is narrowed to the minimal space needed to provide access to transit and essential vehicles accessing properties on Brady Street nearly doubling the amount of space available to pedestrians within the “core” and nearly eliminating all potential conflicts with pedestrians and personal vehicles.
The two blocks of Brady Street east and west of the “core” would maintain access to through traffic but include redesigned parking to expand the available pedestrian space and enhance the corridor.
Transit, loading and emergency vehicle access would not change in this alternative.
Option 4 – People Only: Hilltop to Lakefront (Four-Block Limited Access)
Limiting access along a four-block stretch of Brady Street from Humboldt Avenue to Cambridge Avenue would transform this stretch of the commercial district into a holistic public place. The roadway is narrowed to the minimal space needed to provide access to transit and essential vehicles accessing properties on Brady Street nearly doubling the amount of space available to pedestrians and nearly eliminating all potential conflicts with pedestrians and personal vehicles.
The intersecting streets of Humboldt Avenue, Franklin Place, and Cambridge Avenue would remain open to cross traffic to provide access for people to be dropped off within walking distance of the core.
Transit, loading and emergency vehicle access would not change in this alternative.
Part of the ongoing discussion of these options will include weighting the benefits and drawbacks of retractable versus permanent anti-vehicle barriers to control access to a pedestrianized Brady Street, should one of those pedestrian-only options be selected.
"I am thrilled to release this report," said BID Executive Director Rachel Taylor. "This is a pivotal moment in our collective pursuit of a better Brady Street. The study showcases the careful research, analysis and dedication of our team.
“We will continue to work hand-in-hand with local businesses, residents, and organizations to shape this cherished community.”
The plan now is for the BID to gather feedback this summer on the four options from area residents, business owners and other stakeholders – including Milwaukee County Transit System, emergency services and others – to help fuel discussion between the various interests about, “priorities, preferences and trade-offs between the various benefits presented in each alternative.”
The first of these efforts is slated for Tuesday, June 27 from 5:30 until 7 p.m. at St. Hedwig, 1702 N. Humboldt Ave.
After that, the BID will partner with the City of Milwaukee to create a final design for the street.
"Brady Street is a bustling and vibrant area, and it is essential we make our streets safe for all people,” said Ald. Jonathan Brostoff. “We are proud to have collaborated with experts to develop a study that will increase safety for our community.”
“The study imagines a transformed Brady Street, a place filled with people comfortably and safely enjoying one of Milwaukee’s great neighborhoods” said GRAEF Planning + Urban Design Practice Team Leader Craig Huebner.
For more information and to see the detailed report, go to bradystreet.org/pedestrian-first-study.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
