Wauwatosa will receive $1 million in grant funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to improve the crossing at Walnut Road. The most significant outcome of the project would be the elimination of the at-grade crossing and total elimination of any train-vehicle conflict.

The funds will be used to conduct preliminary engineering and other design work to determine the detailed estimates of risks, costs, benefits, and impacts of the grade separation. For example, the construction of a new underpass could eliminate the risk of collisions between trains and roadway users and prevent blocked crossings — which delays drivers and emergency responders alike — greatly enhancing safety, mobility, and connectivity.

“Eliminating the at-grade crossing and extending Walnut Road to the west would not only remove a significant safety concern but also provide direct access to the United States Postal Office, the commercial corridor, and bus stops along WIS 100 for residents and senior living apartments west of 113th Street,” said Michael May, Senior Civil Engineer.

The existing crossing is heavily used by residents, vendors, and city workers to access the Department of Public Works. This includes personal vehicles, City vehicles (such as snowplows, dump trucks, garbage trucks, and service vehicles), and all city maintenance equipment. During regular business hours, residents use the crossing to access the municipal recycling center and, while not a through public street, as a shortcut from WIS 100 to the west.

Quick Facts:

• Since 1988, there have been five vehicle-train crashes at the Walnut Road private crossing: one fatal crash on 11/4/88 and four other property-damage-only crashes on 2/7/88, 1/9/99, 11/01/07, and 4/24/23.
• The increased mobility in the east-west direction in the area will save approximately 1.4 miles in travel. (Currently, you'd have to drive around to North Avenue or Watertown Plank to access the west.) 
• If constructed, the estimated daily volume on extended Walnut Road is 3,200 vehicles per day.