Key Takeaways
- Madison is planning to connect two major bike routes, the Cannonball and Wingra Creek Paths, on the city’s south side
- The connection will be made by creating a median-separated lane along Fish Hatchery Road, increasing bike safety on a road with 30,000 cars per day
- The project aims to complete the Cannonball Path corridor, which will connect to the Wingra Creek Path and the Capital City State Trail
- The connection is expected to increase bike traffic and encourage more people to travel on two wheels
- The plan needs to be approved by the city’s Transportation Commission, Board of Public Works, and Common Council before construction can begin
Introduction to Madison’s Bike-Friendly City
Madison is well known for being a bike-friendly city, and it’s set to get even friendlier with a new plan to connect two major bike routes on the city’s south side. The plan aims to link the Cannonball and Wingra Creek Paths, which will not only increase bike safety but also provide a more comprehensive network of bike paths for residents and visitors. The city’s engineer, Aaron Canton, has been working on the project and is excited to see it come to fruition. According to Canton, connecting the two paths has been a longstanding goal, and it’s finally happening.
The Connection Plan
The proposed connection will be made by creating a median-separated lane along Fish Hatchery Road, which sees about 30,000 cars per day. This will provide a safer route for bikers, who currently have to navigate a busy road to get from one path to the other. The connection will also complete the Cannonball Path corridor, which starts as an extension of the Military Ridge State Trail and will now connect to the Wingra Creek Path. The Wingra Creek Path also connects to the Capital City State Trail, making the reach go even farther. In 2024, the Wingra path and Cap City Trail combined saw roughly 612,000 bikers, demonstrating the popularity of the bike paths in the city.
Benefits of the Connection
The connection of the two paths is expected to increase bike traffic and encourage more people to travel on two wheels. Recent path improvements at Cottage Grove Road and Dempsey Road, including a new bike signal, have already led to a 208 percent increase in bike traffic. This is a welcome change for self-described "crazy bike commuter" Angela Kita, who commutes four miles each way to work, rain or shine, snow or ice. Kita loves the bike paths in Madison and is excited about the potential for more people to feel comfortable and safe biking. She believes that biking connects riders to the world around them and hopes that the path improvements will encourage more people to give it a try.
Challenges and Previous Attempts
The plan to connect the paths is not without its challenges. The city’s original plan was to run the path along a railroad track through a wooded area between Fish Hatchery and Park Street. However, the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad contested the plan, and it was ultimately scrapped. The state Office of the Commissioner sided with the railroad and denied the crossing request. Although the new plan is underway, the city isn’t completely abandoning its original plan. Canton noted that the potential for the other route to come in the future, if changes happen with the railroad track or redevelopment, is still on the table.
Next Steps
The plan needs to be approved by the city’s Transportation Commission, Board of Public Works, and Common Council before construction can begin. Canton expects those votes to go through early this year, with hope to begin construction in the summer. If approved, the project will provide a safer and more comprehensive network of bike paths for residents and visitors, further solidifying Madison’s reputation as a bike-friendly city. With the connection of the Cannonball and Wingra Creek Paths, Madison will take another step towards becoming an even more bike-friendly city, encouraging more people to travel on two wheels and enjoy the benefits of biking.