Is Milwaukee A Really Dark City? (Waukesha, Cedarburg: houses, neighborhood, college)

[Milwaukee City]

This is going to sound like a rant more than a question. Why are more than 50% of the Milwaukee area freeway lights out every night? and also the same thing for Milwaukee city streets? I go down to Chicago a lot, like every other weekend and during the week a lot for work also. I never notice hardly any of their freeway lights or city street lights are ever out! I pay taxes for this service. A couple of years ago some college buddies of mine noticed the same thing and there from out of town, so we did a little experiment. We drove the whole Milwaukee area freeway system and we found over 50% of the lights were out and the same was true for sections in Waukesha, Washington counties as well. City streets aren't as bad but just look around next time your driving on the freeway. I think we need more lights and maybe with new technology we probably could upgrade to brighter lights and lights that maybe better for the environment as well. Walker's Point has to be one of the darkest sections of the city with the tall warehouses and buildings the street lights don't do much. Try to complain to the city and the say " were working on it sir". Bunch of BS but if Chicago's freeways are always lit why cant we do the same? Just drive the Hoan Bridge, it seems like every other night the whole bridge is out!!!



What do you think?

[Milwaukee Ronnie]

Several friends of mine who have moved from Milwaukee to other major cities have also commented on this. It seems like it's not just an issue of street lights being burned out, but an overall smaller number of street lights. On my block we have maybe 5 or 6 street lights. There's one right in front of my house that illuminates pretty much my entire part of my block -- an area covering about 6 or 7 houses. In other cities there would be more than one street light covering such a wide area.

I actually find the City quite responsive when I alert them to street lights burning out. But I live in Alderman Murphy's district, the longest-serving Alderman on the council and an all-around great guy. Alderman Murphy gets things done in a timely manner and is very responsive. Not every member of the Common Council is like this.

My advice would be to get to know your Alderman, get on his case, make it known you want more street lights and better service. Walkers Point has a new business improvement district that in coming years will make infrastructure improvements to 1st and 2nd streets. Get to know the players involved and make your voice heard for more and better street lights. Get involved with your neighborhood association. If none exists, start one!

[karfar]

I haven't really noticed the light issue. What I have noticed though, is that Milwaukee seems to have a problem putting up street signs. I don't know how many times I go out serving & have no idea what street I'm on or what a cross street is because there's no street sign. Most annoying thing ever.

[Iburytheliving]

Originally Posted by karfar

I haven't really noticed the light issue. What I have noticed though, is that Milwaukee seems to have a problem putting up street signs. I don't know how many times I go out serving & have no idea what street I'm on or what a cross street is because there's no street sign. Most annoying thing ever.

True dat...that pisses me off bad some times. I live on Downer/Locust and it's freakin dark there too...

[pirate_lafitte]

MKE having the lights burn out will just make the place look even scarier. It is already a violent city. I love the place. It's my father's hometown, but I will call it as I see it. I feel very scared giong down dark streets. It makes for dangerous driving and it makes it easier for the muggers and murderers to committ their dirty work if you know what I mean.

[Ron Burgundy]

This is about freeways, not streets. Darkness on the highways does not increase the propensity for mugging or murder, and in fact, most freeways outside of major metropolitan areas lack any sort of lighting. There aren't any lights on I-43 north of Good Hope Road. That gets pretty dark, pretty quickly, but by design.

I thought this issue would be addressed once it was brought up in the J-S. Are the lights still not changed?

[Milwaukee City]

No not changed at all!!!

[dodger15]

I've noticed that as well. Seems to me there should be ample lighting all the time, not just every now and then. I-43 between North Ave. and Capitol has been dark before and that's a major part of the city. It's dangerous because that's heavily traveled.

I also agree about no street signs. What's up with that? And it's not like it's isolated, it's very widespread all over town. That's nerve-wracking. We're not just talking side streets but big intersections. Makes absolutely no sense at all.

[yeah!]

When it comes to road lighting Milwaukee is heaven in comparison with that beeping Ozaukee county. Take the North 76th Street all the way down to Cedarburg and you will quickly learn to appreciate Milwaukee County!

[claudelle]

I guess it just depends on what you are used to. When my daughter was in college in Vermont, I was always complaining about the lack of lighting. Milwaukee is lit up like a Christmas tree if you are comparing it to most of New England.

Ozaukee County maintains its rural character by limiting lighting, and zoning in many communities prohibits lights that throw off light in any direction but down.

I suspect with the coming environmental changes, we will all be seeing less public lighting in the future, rather than more, brighter lights.