The City of Milwaukee's Department of Public Works is kicking off four new projects in its Rapid Implementation program to bring traffic safety improvements to more than 30 city intersections.
Work was slated to begin today on West Center Street, between 32nd and Appleton; West Mitchell Street between 6th and 13th Streets; South Cesar Chavez Drive from Walker to Greenfield; and the intersection of Lake Drive and Hartford Avenue.
The program aims to, in the words of a DPW statement, "build quick, low-cost street improvements to increase the safety and comfort of people walking, biking and driving."
Pavement markings and flexible posts will be used to create pedestrian islands and curb extensions.
“Safety is the most important consideration on any public improvement, and these rapid implementation projects will increase safety for everyone using our roadways,” said Mayor Cavalier Johnson in a statement Monday.
“Physical changes to our streets will reduce reckless driving, and that’s good news for residents all across the city.”
Two pilots were undertaken in 2020 on North 27th and South 13th Streets, and in 2021, there were two rapid implementation projects on stretches West North Avenue, plus one on West Villard Avenue and another at the intersection of Bremen and Locust in Riverwest.
“Rapid implementation provides immediate safety improvements while allowing us to test out new ideas before more permanent concrete changes are constructed,” said Interim Commissioner of Public Works Jerrel Kruschke.
“We worked closely with Business Improvement Districts to determine the most effective locations for traffic calming and look forward to continued partnership to curb reckless driving.”
Streets will remain open for the duration of construction, according to DPW, and the project isn't expected to interfere with transit, parking or walking.
For more information, visit milwaukee.gov/Rapid_Implementation.
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.
