FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 29, 2026
Contact: Cassie Steiner, cassandra.steiner@sierraclub.org
ICYMI: City of Madison Joins Opposition to Beltline Expansion
MADISON, Wis. – On Tuesday, the Madison City Council passed, without objection, a resolution opposing the expansion of the beltline (US 12/14/18/151) within the City of Madison.
The resolution laid out concerns about the project, including increased congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, noise, air quality, and safety impacts.
The resolution called on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation prioritize evaluation and investments that improve local and regional connectivity without inducing additional traffic, including enhanced local street connections, transit priority, and safe, direct bicycle and pedestrian crossings across and around the Beltline
This resolution joins an outpouring of opposition to the Beltline, including:
- The City of Fitchburg unanimously passed a similar resolution opposing the expansion and calling for a focus on a multi-modal strategy instead
- Opposition to the beltline expansion includes organizations ranging from the AARP to Healthy Climate Wisconsin to Wisconsin Bike Fed to the Sierra Club.
At the 2024 public input meeting, it was reported that “the main themes that were heard include to focus on multimodal components, and adding additional mainline or general purpose lanes to the Beltline was generally not favored throughout the corridor.”
Cassie Steiner, Senior Campaign Coordinator of Sierra Club Wisconsin, released the following statement:
“We applaud the City of Madison formally joining the opposition to the expansion of the Beltline. Expanding the Beltline would result in more, not less, traffic and the air, climate, and water pollution that will come with the increased congestion. Our communities deserve transportation solutions that improve safety, cut pollution, and prioritize people over cars. A better beltline corridor does not require additional general-purpose lanes, which only encourage more driving, worsen congestion long-term, and deepen our climate crisis. We support smarter investments in safer road design, walking, biking, and transit options instead, ”
About the Sierra Club Wisconsin Chapter
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. The Wisconsin Chapter of the Sierra Club represents more than 15,000 members in the state. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org/wisconsin.