Active Streets
The City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW) is now seeking proposals for the 2023-2024 Milwaukee Active Streets program. Community-based organizations will propose an Active Street location and receive up to $9,998 for each year of the two-year program to conduct outreach and programing, install art, monitor Active Streets-related infrastructure, and provide community feedback to DPW.
The Milwaukee Active Streets program builds on the success of DPW’s 2020 partnership with Milwaukee County Parks. As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, traffic on streets was limited or prohibited in order to increase space for people to walk, bike, and be active at a safe distance from one another. A survey conducted at the conclusion of the 2020 program found that 72% of respondents supported continuing the program beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 Active Streets program shifted to a community-led effort in which local organizations proposed street locations and led programming, outreach, and art installations on their Active Street. Support continued into 2022 with some semi-permanent traffic calming installations. More information on previous Active Streets programs can be found at the bottom of this page.
The 2023-2024 Active Streets program is an official two-year program with the intent to hold programming and install temporary traffic calming measures to activate the street in the first year and install semi-permanent or permanent traffic calming infrastructure in the second year for all grantees.
Program Goals
- Slow motorists to create space for people to walk, bike, and be active, during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond
- Build trust with residents by partnering with community organizations
- Improve health outcomes for residents through increased physical activity
- Address reckless driving on neighborhood streets
- Respond quickly to traffic safety concerns using low-cost infrastructure
- Use art to reimagine streets
Note that Milwaukee Active Streets for Business is a separate program.
2023-2024 Program
Three community-based organizations (CBO's) were selected to participate in the 2023-2024 Active Streets program. These CBO's will conduct their own outreach and programming and DPW will provide temporary traffic calming infrastructure at agreed-upon locations along the Active Streets.
1. Sherman Park Community Association: N. Grant Blvd. from W. Locust St. to W. North Ave.
2. Dominican Center for Women: N. 26th St. from W. Locust St. to W. Burleigh St.
3. Layton Boulevard West Neighbors: W. Pierce St. from S. 21st St. to S. 26th St.
2021 and 2022 Active Streets Programs
The 2021 Active Streets Program transformed into a community-led initiative in response to the high support of continuing the program after the COVID-19 pandemic. Four community-based organizations were selected to conduct their own outreach and programming. Additional funding was provided to parner with Artists Working in Education to integrate art into the Active Streets locations.
While not an official two-year program at the time, all four community-based organizations chose to extend their participation into 2022. Two of the four Active Streets locations received semi-permanent or permanent traffic calming infrastructure. Below are the four selected community-based organizations and their Active Streets for the 2021 and 2022 programs:
1. Northwest Side CDC: N. 25th St. from W. Roosevelt Dr. to W. Capitol Dr.
2. Metcalfe Park Community Bridges: N. 37th St. & N. 38th St. from W. North Ave. to W. Meinecke Ave., & W. Meinecke Ave. from N. 37th St. to N. 38th St.
3. United Methodist Children's Services: W. Galena St. from N. 40th St. to N. 27th St.
4. Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers: W. Washington St. from S. 20th St. to S. 1st St.
Active Streets Locations
Find out more about each Active Street's story here.
N. 25th St. from W. Roosevelt Dr. to W. Capitol Dr.
N. 37th St. & N. 38th St. from W. North Ave. to W. Meinecke Ave., & W. Meinecke Ave. from N. 37th St. to N. 38th St.
W. Galena St. from N. 40th St. to N. 27th St. & W. Cherry St. from N. 24th Pl. to N. 20th St.
W. Washington St. from S. 20th St. to S. 1st St.
Phases 2 and 3
Each Active Street was evaluated for a potential Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the program. Phase 2 consisted of selecting a smaller portion of the Active Street and installing semi-permanent infrastructure, such as rubber speed humps, speed tables, and other easily installed devices which may be reconfigured throughout Phase 2 based on community feedback. Depending on feedback and performance, Phase 2 may last for several years. Phase 3 involved constructing permanent infrastructure as grants or budget are available. The following Active Streets have received or are receiving infrastructure improvements:
- W. Galena St.
- Butterfly Park
- Access improvements on W. Meinecke Ave. at N. 38th St. and N. 37th St.
- W. Washington St.
Previous Programs
Active Streets 2020 Survey Results
The 2020 Milwaukee Active Streets program thrived from a partnership between DPW and Milwaukee County Parks. As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, traffic on streets was limited or prohibited in order to increase space for people to walk, bike, and be active at a safe distance from one another. More information on Active Streets in 2020 can be found at milwaukee.gov/ActiveStreets.
A survey conducted at the conclusion of the 2020 program found that 72% of respondents supported continuing the program beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey was open from November to December 2020 to understand the use of and response to Active Streets in 2020. The survey. It was distributed in two ways:
- An online link promoted through email lists and social media (referred to as “Online”)
- A mailed letter to addresses within two blocks of the City’s Active Streets locations; recipients were directed to complete the survey online (referred to as “Mailed”)
The following documents summarize the close-ended and open-ended results from this survey.
Summarized Survey Results (Close-Ended)
Summarized Survey Results (Open-Ended)
2021 and 2022 Active Streets Programs
The 2021 Active Streets Program transformed into a community-led initiative in response to the high support of continuing the program after the COVID-19 pandemic. Four community-based organizations were selected to conduct their own outreach and programming. Additional funding was provided to parner with Artists Working in Education to integrate art into the Active Streets locations.
While not an official two-year program at the time, all four community-based organizations chose to extend their participation into 2022. Two of the four Active Streets locations received semi-permanent or permanent traffic calming infrastructure. Below are the four selected community-based organizations and their Active Streets for the 2021 and 2022 programs:
1. Northwest Side CDC: N. 25th St. from W. Roosevelt Dr. to W. Capitol Dr.
2. Metcalfe Park Community Bridges: N. 37th St. & N. 38th St. from W. North Ave. to W. Meinecke Ave., & W. Meinecke Ave. from N. 37th St. to N. 38th St.
3. United Methodist Children's Services: W. Galena St. from N. 40th St. to N. 27th St.
4. Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers: W. Washington St. from S. 20th St. to S. 1st St.
Active Streets Locations
Find out more about each Active Street's story here.
N. 25th St. from W. Roosevelt Dr. to W. Capitol Dr.
N. 37th St. & N. 38th St. from W. North Ave. to W. Meinecke Ave., & W. Meinecke Ave. from N. 37th St. to N. 38th St.
W. Galena St. from N. 40th St. to N. 27th St. & W. Cherry St. from N. 24th Pl. to N. 20th St.
W. Washington St. from S. 20th St. to S. 1st St.
Phases 2 and 3
Each Active Street was evaluated for a potential Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the program. Phase 2 consisted of selecting a smaller portion of the Active Street and installing semi-permanent infrastructure, such as rubber speed humps, speed tables, and other easily installed devices which may be reconfigured throughout Phase 2 based on community feedback. Depending on feedback and performance, Phase 2 may last for several years. Phase 3 involved constructing permanent infrastructure as grants or budget are available. The following Active Streets have received or are receiving infrastructure improvements:
- W. Galena St.
- Butterfly Park
- Access improvements on W. Meinecke Ave. at N. 38th St. and N. 37th St.
- W. Washington St.