Sidewalks
Sun Prairie Sidewalk Policy Update
Sun Prairie's City Council made a referral to update the Sidewalk Policy and Transportation Chapter of the City's Comprehensive Plan at the September 16 Committee of the Whole Meeting (item starts at 24:42) and discussed again at the October 28 Committee of the Whole Meeting (item starts at 2:27:00). The sidewalk policy provides guidelines on where sidewalks are constructed, and other design and construction standards related to sidewalks.
Adopted Sidewalk Policy Adopted Chapter 8 - Mobility and Transportation
Proposed Changes
- Updating purpose statement to reflect policy goals of Active Transportation Plan and Vision Zero Safety Action Plan
- Updating purpose statement and policy to reflect the Public Right-of-Way Accessibility (PROWAG) Guidelines adopted in 2024 under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA)
- Increasing design flexibility to minimize impacts to existing trees when designing and constructing sidewalks
- Adding sidewalks to streets that do not have sidewalks on both sides, on only one side of the street
Find the staff memo discussing these changes and the proposed changes here:
Updating Sidewalk Policy - Staff Memo and Proposed Policy
Updating Sidewalk Policy - Staff Presentation Slides
Find an interactive map of the roadway functional classifications in Sun Prairie at the link below.
Opportunities for community input and engagement
Committee Review and Discussion
- Public Works Committee - November 11, 2025
- Recommended Approval of Staff Recommendations
- Plan Commission - November 11, 2025
- No Action Taken
- Transit Commission and Bike Subcommittee - November 19, 2025
- Recommended Approval of Staff Recommendations
- Recommended against changing to a one-sided policy
Committee Recommended Policy Update
Public Hearing for Amendment to
Comprehensive Plan - Chapter 8 Mobility and Transportation: Sidewalk Policy
- Plan Commission - December 9
City Council Consideration, Discussion, and Possible action on Amendment to
Comprehensive Plan - Chapter 8 Mobility and Transportation: Sidewalk Policy
- City Council - January TBD
Contact Staff, Mayor, or City Council Members
Provide comments directly to the Mayor, City Council Members. Click here for contact information
Provide comments directly to Transportation Coordinator - David Salmon dsalmon@cityofsunprairie.com (608) 825-0859
Background
What are the purposes of sidewalks?
Sidewalks are pathways for use by a person traveling by foot or using a wheelchair. A well-designed sidewalk improves the safety and mobility of pedestrians. According to the Federal Highway Administration, pedestrians walking along roadways with sidewalks are 65-89% less likely to be involved in a crash.
A well-designed sidewalk network provides direct and connected walking routes to desired destination without gaps or abrupt changes. Sun Prairie has several neighborhoods that were constructed without sidewalks creating a "first mile" gap between many resident's homes and the rest of the sidewalk network.
Who are sidewalks designed for?
Sidewalks are designed for people with mobility issues, such as those using a wheelchair, walker, or white cane, as well as children, families, dog walkers, and seniors. The U.S. Access Board Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) were adopted in 2024 and provide detailed guidelines on how to design sidewalks that are "readily accessible to and usable by pedestrians with disabilities". All newly constructed, and repaired sidewalks must comply with PROWAG/ADA standards.
Leading national groups see safety, accessibility, and equity benefits from sidewalks.
Check out the links below for more information:
Livable Communities Fact Sheet - Sidewalks | AARP
Safe Routes to School Guide: Sidewalks | Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center
Proven Safety Countermeasures - Walkways | Federal Highway Administration
Pedestrian Safety Guide - Sidewalks | US Department of Transportation
Urban Street Design Guide - Sidewalk Design | National Association of City Transportation Officials
History of Sun Prairie's Sidewalk Policy
Sun Prairie became a city in 1958 and for the first forty years designed the public right-of-way almost exclusively for automobiles. Starting in 1999, Sun Prairie's City Council committed to providing safe, comfortable, and accessible pedestrian pathways within the public right-of-way, marking the beginning of a commitment to including pedestrians as a core element of transportation policy and infrastructure that continues to this day.
"The City previously adopted sidewalk policies by resolution in 1999 and 2003, and as part of the Comprehensive Plan in 2009*. The 2003 and 2009 policies included commitments to codify the same language into City ordinance, but that did not occur. The sidewalk policy has been noncontroversial when applied to new development, resulting in sidewalks on both sides of all new streets. The requirement to install sidewalks on both sides of all reconstructed streets has sometimes been opposed by residential property owners. Exemptions have been approved in certain cases, either at staff recommendation due to unusual conditions (typically steep slopes and driveways), or as a Council decision in response to property owner objections." - Excerpt from City of Sun Prairie Comprehensive Plan - Transportation Chapter
*Since 2005, Sun Prairie has constructed sidewalks on both sides of reconstructed streets.
What is the purpose of Sun Prairie's sidewalk policy?
The purpose of this policy is to help the City meet the transportation needs of current and future residents. The long-term objective is a complete, continuous, and connected walkway network that provides safe, convenient, and accessible facilities for all current and future residents, including the non-driving population which includes aging adults, students, low-income individuals, those with physical, mental or intellectual/developmental disabilities, and those who prefer not to drive. Implementing this policy helps to increase walking and biking, improve safety, and promote equity so that Sun Prairie has safe walking, biking, and rolling paths that connect all residents to the places they want and need to go.
Since adopting this policy as part of the 2019 Comprehensive Plan, Sun Prairie's City Council has taken additional steps to plan for and provide policy guidance around accessibility. The City has adopted:
Sun Prairie in Motion - Active Transportation Plan (Adopted in 2023) – This plan primarily focuses on providing safe facilities for children traveling to and from school and activities and also seeks to use an equity lens to ensure that pedestrian facilities are distributed across the community and are designed to be inclusive of all users.
Vision Zero Safety Action Plan (Adopted in 2025) – This plan primarily focuses on the “Safe Systems Approach” which seeks to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities on roads in Sun Prairie through systematically reducing risk factors associated with the transportation network. This includes designing safer streets for safer speeds and ensuring that all transportation users (including drivers and non-drivers alike) are provided safer facilities.