With the influx of bars, restaurants and new residents to downtown Milwaukee in recent years, the area ­— which once resembled a ghost town after 5 p.m. — has transformed into a vibrant entertainment district. But along with the hip clubs and eateries, downtown Milwaukee’s growing nightlife scene has also presented quality-of-life issues.

In a proactive effort to improve Milwaukee’s "nighttime economy," business owners, residents and city officials banded together last year to implement several initiatives to improve the safety and attractiveness of downtown Milwaukee’s nightlife.

"Downtown Milwaukee’s nighttime economy represents more than just bars and restaurants," says Beth Nicols, executive director of the Milwaukee Downtown Business Improvement District 21. "By tapping into our after 5 potential, we can help foster a better sociable economy that adds to the tax base, creates jobs, attracts the creative class and retains students and faculty talent."

The downtown nightlife initiative grew out of a $20,000 study commissioned by Milwaukee Downtown in the fall of 2010. The study, led by Responsible Hospitality Institute, a California-based nonprofit consultant group known for helping cities manage safe and vibrant hospitality districts, focused on the East Town, Westown, Historic Third Ward and Brady Street entertainment districts.

According to Nicols, the study examined six core elements: entertainment, transportation, quality of life, public safety, multiuse sidewalks and venue safety.

The six-month assessment resulted in several proposed action steps, including:

• Creating a marketing campaign to promote existing transportation and public transit options.

• Creating transportation and food hubs to help disperse crowds when the bars close.

• Establishing a downtown neighborhood association to give residents a platform to address not only concerns of the neighborhood, but also recognize responsible businesses.

• Improving the lighting and overall atmosphere of the corridor between the Third Ward and downtown.

• Providing better training for security personnel at downtown venues.

Since Milwaukee Downtown began implementing its action plan last summer, Nicols says downtown Milwaukee has become a more sociable place for residents and visitors alike. Among the strategies put into play is Code R.E.D., a pilot police program, which puts more officers on the downtown streets on weekend nights.

"Relations among police officers, residents and business owners have vastly improved," says Nicols of the safety initiative. Police officers assigned to patrol the downtown entertainment districts also received additional training on how to deal with a younger crowd.

Another effort focused on bringing food vendors into downtown at night, enticing patrons leaving bars to stop and eat. The strategy has eased traffic congestion and helped offset the effects of alcohol consumption, says Claude Krawczyk, chairman of Downtown Neighbors Association of Milwaukee, a neighborhood association that grew out of the RHI study last summer.

"It was probably one of the best things we’ve done," Nicols says of bringing street food vendors to downtown entertainment districts like Water Street.