MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee's Department of Public Works is working to fund neighborhood efforts to slow down reckless drivers.
It’s no secret reckless driving in the City of Milwaukee is a serious issue. It’s been that way for years.
DPW is currently taking plan submissions for a grant program to help neighborhoods find ways to make their streets safer.
“I got boulders put all around the front. You can’t see it due to the snow,” said Rosetta Lane, who said her house has been hit by speeding cars numerous times.
Lane’s landscaping tells a story, from the damaged bark on her front tree, to the boulders bulging out of the snow. It's all to protect her home after five different car crashes on 48th and Capitol ended right on her property.
“After numerous times, my insurance company said you ought to just take that fence down,” Lane said.
So her fence came down and the boulders were placed.
Stories like Lane’s are exactly why the DPW has earmarked $100,000 from the city budget to help neighborhood organizations fight reckless driving through grants.
One to five thousand dollars for groups coming up with a plan, or a campaign to fight the issue.
“We’re looking for things that spread awareness. Banners, yard signs, brochures and getting creative doing social media and events out on the streets," said Mike Amsder, the Multimodal Transportation Manager for DPW.
Through Feb. 22, Milwaukee Police have issued 38 reckless driving citations. It's down significantly from 89 the year prior within the same time frame.
“We have a lot of speeding, but you have to take that away from them. Like a kid, you have to smack them on the hand,” said Pharoh, a Milwaukee resident
Alderman Michael Murphy spearheaded the effort to turn things around, hoping this, alongside other efforts, gets speeders thinking twice.
“I think people need to be mindful of what’s important in life, and it's certainly not saving a few minutes of time,” Murphy said.
Grant applications are due March. 15.
For more information, visit DPW’s website here.
