Safe Routes

DPW Infrastructure’s Multimodal Unit administers three Safe Routes programs, each designed to increase accessibility to public resources. 

Safe Routes to School 

Safe Routes to School uses programming and infrastructure to encourage children to walk and bike to school.   

The long-term vision of Milwaukee’s program is to create an environment where more students and families walk and bike to school. DPW works in coordination with Milwaukee Public Schools and the Wisconsin Bike Fed on this program to use a holistic set of strategies to create safer, more convenient environments for children to walk and bike to school. 

The program is guided by a Strategic Plan developed in June 2021, and executes on this plan through: 

1. Implementation Projects: In 2020, DPW received a federal grant to create street improvements for eight local schools experiencing significant safety concerns for children walking and biking to school. Moving forward, the City will continue to improve streets in school neighborhoods by locally funding its own Safe Routes to School program. Each year, the City will work with the community at one local school to design new street improvements to make walking to school safer for its students. 
2. Education & Encouragement Programs: The Wisconsin Bike Fed works with Milwaukee Public Schools to offer bike and pedestrian safety programs. If you would like to request bike and pedestrian education at your school, contract Michael Anderson at Wisconsin Bike Fed.

Safe Routes to Transit 

Safe Routes to Transit works to improve pedestrian safety and access along high-frequency transit corridors in the city. 

The purpose of the project is to improve safety, accessibility, and comfort for people walking and using transit to shift trips currently made by automobile to walking and transit. The proposed project also aims to improve transit operations and frequency along routes and at transfer hubs.

The first phase of the program includes improving pedestrian and transit accommodations along two corridors identified on the Pedestrian High Injury Network in the 2019 Milwaukee Pedestrian Plan. The projects are in the final design phase and will go to construction in 2024. 

1. W. Burleigh Street - Burleigh Street is home to many residents, shops, community services, parks, and schools. The street is also a major corridor with high frequency Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) Routes. However, the corridor has some of the highest rates of severe and fatal crashes involving pedestrians.
   • Most Recent Project Update
   • Project Overview
   • Public Meeting Presentation
2. S. Cesar Chavez Drive - Cesar Chavez Drive is home to many residents, shops, community services, parks, and schools. Cesar Chavez Drive is also a major corridor with high frequency Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) Routes. However, the corridor has some of the highest rates of severe and fatal crashes involving pedestrians.
   • Most Recent Project Update
   • Project Overview - English
   • Descripción general del proyecto - Español
   • Public Meeting Boards/Información de la reunión pública - English/Español

Safe Routes to Parks 

State Routes to Parks develops pedestrian, bicycle and motor vehicle focused street improvements adjacent to or near parks.  

Currently, the program is in the design phase for two projects, aiming for construction in 2024. 

1. King Park - This project will feature a mixture of detached curb extensions, buffered bike lanes, bus bulbs, accessible curb ramps, attached curb extensions. The 17th Street corridor will be a protected bike lane with several concrete curb extensions, buffered bike lanes, and bus bulbs. Click to view the project map.  
2. Tiefenthaler Park - This project will feature a mixture of accessible curb lamps, bus bulbs, attached and detached curb extensions, speed humps, and traffic circles. Click to view the project map.