Brady Street is not only a major business center in Milwaukee, it is the core of a lively and historic neighborhood. Residents and visitors alike deserve a safe, inclusive, and comfortable place to shop, dine, and enjoy life. Brady Street has struggled with dangerous driving for decades and has caused multiple injuries and several deaths. By focusing on safety and neighborhood access over car throughput and speed, we can create a more inclusive environment with greater independence and freedom for everyone, especially kids and our most vulnerable neighbors. We aren't affiliated with the Brady Street BID -- we're residents, visitors and workers who love Brady Street, and want to make sure everyone can enjoy it like we do.
The Brady Street Business Improvement District (BID), City of Milwaukee, The Kubala Washatko Architects (TKWA) and GRAEF are studying options to refocus Brady Street's design to better serve neighbors and businesses in the area rather than those driving through to other areas of the city. The initial report includes four options, two of which consider closing part of Brady Street to private vehicles and maintaining access for buses and deliveries. The project has a few key goals:
While Brady Street does support business traffic, it also frequently acts as a through-street for trips that create congestion and donβt add value to the community. Most cut-through trips are better served by Ogden Avenue or North Avenue, which both have sufficient capacity to accommodate current Brady Street traffic.
The City of Milwaukee's Neighborhood Traffic Management Program also offers subsidized traffic-calming improvements on residential streets which can be installed independently of any changes to Brady Street.
Street access may be opened for delivery vehicles prior to peak business hours and any design choices will not restrict deliveries on weekends.
All bus routes will continue to operate on Brady Street. The Green Line bus, which connects Bayshore, the airport, and tons of key hubs in between, will remain open going through Brady. Reducing congestion on Brady Street will improve bus service on this important corridor.
Emergency vehicles will maintain access to Brady Street. Reducing vehicle congestion on the street makes for for more reliable emergency vehicle service.
Brady Street contains 66 metered parking stalls and 12 loading stalls between Humboldt to Farwell. Loading stall access for businesses will be maintained.
Existing off-street public parking is currently underutilized. The municipal lot at 1720 N Arlington Place has 48 parking stalls, and is conveniently connects to Arlington. Nearby street parking allows for easy handicapped access.
Design considerations will need to be taken to allow continued access to existing private surface lots.
Additionally, a new parking garage with public access is planned on Farwell near Brady Street, and drivers from the east can be guided to park there.
Past pedestrian efforts have failed in Milwaukee, and Mitchell Street in the 1970s is one such example. We have learned a lot about what can make pedestrianization succeed and what to avoid. Unfortunately, Mitchell Street's pedestrian mall started by removing many of the businesses and homes that made it worth visiting in the first place. The plan for Brady Street is different. No homes or businesses are being demolished, and there will be short-term pilots and opportunities for feedback prior to any permanent changes. The goal is to make the street safer and create more opportunities for people to visit and enjoy all that Brady Street has to offer.