Communities Desire Safer, More Connected Spaces - Walk & Roll 794 recap
- raphie093
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
This March, we had opportunities to connect with more community members in open dialogues and in first-hand experience of the corridor on our second Walk & Roll event.
Connecting with Runners
Year-round, the Buena Tierra Run Club gathers at Zócalo Food Park before starting their Wednesday running route toward the lakefront through the Third Ward. Zócalo is located just a couple blocks south of the 6th street bridge – just one of the main connection points between Walker’s Point and Downtown Milwaukee.
At the March 18th run, we set up a table and connected with both food park patrons and runners about their experiences getting around downtown, whether for a run or in their daily routine. We talked to wide range of people with varying levels of awareness and opinions on WisDOT's Lake Interchange Study and the ultimate decision WisDOT will have to make about the deteriorating infrastructure at the lake front. Some runners expressed concern about the congestion, others were eager to discuss and advocate for the boulevard (removal) alternative, but most agreed that a more inviting, safe, and well-maintained corridor should be the priority. These various perspectives we heard reflect the multitude of experiences of those running, living, and working near the corridor and contribute to our ongoing dialogue about the future of Downtown Milwaukee.
We also invited everyone to write down their thoughts on sticky notes and place them on a simple map of the Lake Interchange study area (pictured above), creating a visual representation of community input and the experiences they associate with different places along the corridor. Commenters called for streets that better support walking and biking, improved wayfinding, and fewer conflict points with highway infrastructure. Some participants also expressed ideas for potential land use if the freeway is removed and a boulevard is constructed in its place, including community centers for events and public activation, public art, green infrastructure, and workforce/affordable housing. These ideas highlight the optimism around the removal alternative in WisDOT’s Lake Interchange Study – catalyzing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create an intentionally designed boulevard that prioritizes and expands affordable housing, connects bus transit with passenger rail, pedestrian, & bicycle infrastructure, and supports long-term community stability and growth.
Walk & Roll 794 - Our second walk & roll audit
On March 31st, interested community members joined us to conduct the second walk-roll audit in our Walk & Roll series, this time focusing on the Lincoln Memorial Drive and Clybourn intersection.
Under cool and windy conditions, walk & roll participants shared their safety concerns across a range transportation modes and provided meaningful observations about the experience navigating Clybourn between Van Buren St. and Lincoln Memorial Drive. In partnership with Independence First, participants experienced crossing conditions firsthand using wheelchairs to better understand barriers to mobility and accessibility. The experiences illuminated immediate challenges, including the poor quality of pavement at crossings and very short walk phases (~10 seconds), reinforcing how existing conditions limit safety and access for many.
Some of the discussion also paralleled perspectives shared in the first walk & roll audit; The freeway structure in addition to the at-grade street design, create an uninviting environment where pedestrians are placed at a low priority in a place that has potential to become a haven for all modes, not just cars. In the first audit, this referred to the potential for the creation of a transportation hub in the area around the Intermodal Station and HOP Operations and Maintenance facility. In the second audit, the same idea was reflected in the participants expressed desire for creating an intuitive, accessible connection point for people to reach the lakefront without a vehicle. Renderings by John Everitt in 2024 reflect a similar vision and are available to view here.