Hundreds of people share thoughts about Water Street redevelopment options at first of several town halls

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- One of the busiest and most popular streets in downtown Milwaukee is set to get a makeover that will significantly change how people use it.

An eight-block stretch of Water Street will be redesigned to prioritize pedestrian, bike, and bus safety.

Car lanes, bike lanes, and bus lanes will be moved around so the street is safer for everyone.

The construction phase is still a ways off, but Thursday, Nov. 14, was the first chance for the community to weigh in on some of the proposed designs.

Aaron Moriak supports the Water Street redevelopment. He told us, "I'm very happy with all three alternatives."

Hundreds of people shared notes and ideas Thursday at the first of several public meetings to discuss three proposals to transform Water Street downtown.

The north end is residential, civic buildings are to the south, and there are businesses in between.

City engineers want to know who is using the street and how, so the end product serves the maximum number of people.

Chief Engineer Chad Chrisbaum told us, "You're going to probably see a street that's revisioned with transit and bikes and peds as the primary driving force behind the design."

There are a lot of modes of transportation on the busy eight block stretch of Water Street. There's a pedestrian sidewalk, lane for parking, a bike lane, and cars and buses share two driving lanes.

All three proposals would cut the driving lanes down to one, protect the bike lanes, and create a dedicated bus lane.

Moriak said, "Center running bus lanes are really efficient for buses and help transit riders in the best way possible."

With five bus routes along the corridor, Moriak told us he's leaning toward option #2, but he likes all of them.

But not everyone at the town hall wants to see change.

T. Y. Madlock is opposed to the redevelopment, saying, "There was no focus on people who actually drive downtown and have to frequent businesses and establishments downtown."

Madlock said she drives down Water Street five days a week and wants to keep two lanes for cars. "I frequent a lot of establishments down here, so I like to spend money downtown."

But change will come.

Still, city officials say they're very sensitive to construction disruptions. Their goal is safer streets that can economically support everything around them.

They're still early in the process but hope to share their vision with all the stakeholders over the next several meetings.

Chrisbaum said, "Transformative change, like what we're proposing here, is well worth the wait."

The city hopes to have a final design by mid- to late next year.

Then they'll gather more input to finalize the plan, before pricing the project and looking for funding from grants, and state and federal aid.

All told, the project may take a couple of years.