MADISON, Wis. — Madison celebrated a significant change on Wednesday, as a prime strip of State Street — from the 400 to 600 block — was converted into a pedestrian-friendly zone.
City leaders held a “ribbon-tying” ceremony, “Flock to State Street,” to mark the occasion and express their excitement about the experiment.
“It’s important; what we’re doing is we’re welcoming people down to State Street ... and it’s important that that be a welcome to everyone,” Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said.
The move will halt traffic after 3 p.m. on weekdays and after 10 a.m. on weekends.
However, while many businesses said they predict this will boost tourism and traffic, others worried it could create a logistical nightmare.
In fact, the new pedestrian-friendly initiative, marked by painted polka dots on the street, has sparked mixed reactions among locals who said they need to get through.
Tuesday through Thursday, Tory Strother, who has been delivering beer in the area for nearly a decade, hoists pallets from his parked truck onto a waiting dolly into State Street bars.
“Don’t need any gym membership or anything like that,” he said about now having to park and walk longer distances to make deliveries after 3 p.m.
But he said he will remain hopeful that the city can come to happy medium and work with delivery drivers.
“We will see how well it works for all the people involved,” Strother said.
Brian Adams, a Ryan Signs installer, also voiced his concerns.
“I’m confused on how deliveries are going to be made, services going to be done,” Strother said. “It’s almost impossible to shut it down during the day with contractors and deliveries, and I’m not opposed to it closing down, but I think there have to be rules about when we can get in.”
The city announced plans to survey businesses to determine if the “experiment” is translating into higher sales and will also survey residents to understand their likes and dislikes about the pedestrian-friendly zone.