WisDOT Beltline Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Discussion

The Madison Department of Transportation presented an overview of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's (WisDOT) Beltline Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study, which covers the USH 14 to CTH N segment. This PEL study is the initial federal step to identify transportation issues, define project purpose, and evaluate alternatives before the NEPA process. The City's role is to provide comments to WisDOT, and the Common Council may adopt a resolution. Public comments to WisDOT were due by January 15, 2026.

WisDOT's draft preferred strategy package includes:

• General Purpose and/or Flex Lane Extensions
• Five sets of weave structures to reduce conflicts and improve merging, but with potential impacts such as 13 residential and 1 commercial relocation near Old Sauk/Mineral Point, 13 residential and 5 commercial relocations near Whitney Way/Midvale, and 6 commercial relocations near Fish Hatchery Rd/Park Street.
• Reconfiguring 5 interchanges/ramps and conventional expansion at all interchanges. The Verona Road Interchange redesign alone has four options under consideration for NEPA evaluation, with potential significant property impacts, including up to 21 business and 33 household relocations.
• Five new roadway connections that would include bike/ped facilities, such as the West Towne Mall Underpass and Perry Street/West of Park St.
• Eight new bike/ped crossings, including connections near Old Sauk Rd, West of Gammon Rd, Forward Drive, West of Whitney Way, and linking the West Towne Path to the Southwest Commuter Path.
• Transit priority on roadways crossing the Beltline and four new Park & Ride facilities.

Public feedback overwhelmingly opposes the addition of general purpose lanes due to concerns about "induced demand," which suggests highway expansions only offer short-term congestion relief before traffic worsens. Other major concerns include negative impacts on public health (air quality, asthma), climate goals (carbon emissions, Vehicle Miles Traveled), water quality (runoff, salt use), affordability, safety, and the division of neighborhoods. Many residents and organizations advocate for prioritizing multimodal transportation options like improved mass transit, bike paths, and pedestrian connections, and urge the city to formally oppose highway expansion.

This study could lead to major changes to the Beltline corridor, potentially involving significant property impacts and relocations for residents and businesses, especially near interchanges like Verona Road. While new bike/pedestrian crossings and transit improvements are proposed, the controversial expansion of general purpose lanes could increase traffic, worsen air and water quality, and negatively impact local green spaces like the Arboretum and Yahara River, despite evidence of "induced demand" leading to long-term congestion.

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