MILWAUKEE — The City of Milwaukee saw various recent street projects reduced speeds and greater bicycle usage in its 2021 Complete Streets Health and Equity Report.

The report, released Wednesday, tracks implementation of the City’s Complete Streets policy, which was signed into law in 2018. The policy ensures city streets will serve everyone, no matter their age or ability, or how they choose to move around.

“Streets are not just for cars but for everyone,” Mayor Cavalier Johnson said in a statement. “Implementing Complete Streets through a health equity lens is an essential part of increasing the quality of life for all Milwaukeeans and adding vitality to our city.”

Milwaukee officials worked with businesses, community members and more to increase the safety and usability of city streets.

“With some of our traffic calming initiatives now in their third year, we are starting to get data as to their effectiveness,” Commissioner of Public Works Jerrel Kruschke said. “Reducing speeds and preventing dangerous driver behavior are key to safer streets.”

According to the report, the intersection of North Teutonia Avenue and West Villard Avenue showed an increase in people biking during 12-hour observation periods between 2020 and 2021. West Villard Avenue received an implementation improvement and new bike lanes in 2021, which the city said contributed to this increase.

Additionally, North Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Drive between West Meinecke Avenue and West Garfield Avenue saw an 82.5% decrease in the percentage of people driving more than 10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit of 30. This street received a road diet in 2021, which reduced the number of driving lanes from four to two and added a center turn lane and bicycle lanes.

To read the 2021 Complete Streets Health and Equity Report, click here.