bicycle transportation

The Greater Madison MPO – An MPO is pleased to present the Bicycle Transportation Plan for the Madison Metropolitan Area and Dane County.

Bicycle Transportation Plan Executive Summary

Bicycle Transportation Plan Full Report

Selected Maps

What is the Bicycle Transportation Plan for the Madison Metropolitan Area and Dane County?

The Bicycle Transportation Plan for the Madison Metropolitan Area and Dane County is a comprehensive bicycle plan to serve as a blueprint for continuing to improve bicycling conditions and increase bicycling levels throughout Dane County. The planning horizon is 2050. It provides a framework for cooperation between state agencies, Dane County, and local governments in planning for and developing bicycle facilities and programs. It is intended to educate citizens and policy makers on bicycle transportation issues and the needs of bicyclists as well as present resources for planning, designing, and maintaining bicycle facilities. The plan is a component of the MPO's regional transportation plan.

For questions about the Bicycle Transportation Plan, please email Bill Holloway.

Defining the Madison Area Low-Stress Bicycle Network and Using it to Build a Better Regional Network

Level of Traffic Stress (LTS) is an objective, data-driven approach to evaluating traffic-related stress on bicycle routes based on roadway design, traffic volumes, traffic speeds, and other factors. This report details the methodology behind the LTS rating system and how it is being used to provide better biking directions, measure accessibility, and identify gaps and barriers in the low-stress bike network.

Low-Stress Bicycle Network Report

Updated LTS Segment Scoring Methodology (2023)

Bicycle and Pedestrian Crash Study

This study identifies the common features of bicycle and pedestrian crashes to guide safety improvement efforts, measure the change in bicycle safety since the City of Madison’s 1992 bicycle crash study, and set a benchmark for future safety performance measurement in the Madison metropolitan area and Dane County.

Executive Summary

Full Report

Maps for Bicyclists

Click here for a list of bicycle maps and resources, including the Dane County Bicycle Map.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Facility Requirements

The Pedestrian and Bicycle Facility Requirements, Policies, and Street Standards report details locally-adopted bicycle and pedestrian facility requirements along with national recommendations and best practices to help local planning and engineering staff and elected officials make informed decisions regarding development and design standards, and to give them tools to make roadways safer for all users.

The October, 2021 Addendum to this report includes new references and recommendations from FHWA, NACTO, and the Global Designing Cities Initiative, as well as information on the new Complete Streets Toolkit.

FUNDING FOR NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS AND SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAMS

The FHWA STBG Transportation Alternatives Set Aside Program (TA or TAP) is the primary federal funding program for non-motorized transportation infrastructure and Safe Routes to School programs. WisDOT solicits and selects projects for TA funding available statewide. Project solicitation is typically conducted biennially. In addition, one-half of the available statewide TA funding is allocated directly to large MPOs such as Greater Madison MPO. Greater Madison MPO selects projects for funding with that allocation. Madison area projects are still able to compete for the statewide funding. Greater Madison MPO updated its TA program policies and project scoring criteria in 2013-2014, and again in December 2019. The Madison area received a sub-allocation of $1.99 million for the FY 2016-2020 program cycle and $847,000 for the FY 2018-2022 cycle. The FY 2020-2024 cycle will be conducted during the winter of 2019-2020.

The eligible project categories under the TA program per federal law and Greater Madison MPO policy are:

• Provision of on- and off-street facilities for pedestrians and bicycles;

• Provision of infrastructure and systems that provide safe routes for non-drivers;

• Conversion and use of abandoned rail corridors for trails; and

• Safe routes to school program activities.

TA application materials and project screening and scoring criteria for projects within the Madison urban area are on the Transportation Improvement Program page.