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  • 4 Feb 2025 11:19 AM | WIPTA Admin (Administrator)

    RACINE, WI—Racine bus riders will soon notice the addition of poetry to the city’s public transit fleets. 

    The Poetry Movement spearheaded the initiative to “build resilience and bring together the community of Racine while giving greater attention to art and creative writing.” 

    According to a news release, all of the poems, which feature writers from Racine, Milwaukee, Indiana, and England, center on mental health. 

    Ryde Racine will feature placards with mental-health themed poetry started Feb. 1. The verses are meant to inspire individuals to care for their mental health. / Screenshot from Ryde Racine

    The entire Ryde Racine public transit fleet, which includes 39 buses and nine paratransit vans, will feature two poems starting on Feb. 1. A committee of writing faculty from area colleges combed through 80 poems submitted last fall, selecting 17 to appear on buses. 

    Ryde Racine has approved the poems to be displayed on buses and will host a biannual poetry event at the transit center. Local graphic designer Amanda Gaastra handled the layout of bus signs. 

    Additional funding for the project came from the Osborne and Scekic Family Foundation and the Racine Council’s ArtSeed grant, according to the news release. 

    The Racine Literacy Council and NAMI Racine County each provided space for writing workshops prior to the contest deadline. Family Power Music donated sound engineering and equipment. 

    Nicholas Michael Ravnikar, a writer who lives in Racine, founded the Poetry Movement with Chicago poet Ivan Ramos. The movement’s goal is to highlight the literary significance of poets and poetry circulating throughout the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor.

    Ravnikar launched the Bus Poems project after he hosted an open mic and performance showcase at the transit center for his public project as Racine Writer-in-Residence for ArtRoot, a local nonprofit. ArtRoot has organized Arts Mixer networking events for the Racine creative community, alongside the Wall Poems and Writer-in-Residence projects, according to the news release. 

    https://racinecountyeye.com/2025/01/27/racine-buses-mental-health-poetry/

  • 4 Feb 2025 11:18 AM | WIPTA Admin (Administrator)

    Second BRT to be built within next five years, District 8 Alder MGR says

    by Patricia Clark

    January 30, 2025

    The 80 bus parked outside of Memorial Union. January 30, 2024.

    Mia Homan

    The 80 bus parked outside of Memorial Union. January 30, 2024.

    Metro Transit ridership has significantly increased since the release of the Bus Rapid Transit.

    The system showed a 10% increase in overall ridership and an 18% increase in ridership on the Rapid A Route in November and December of 2024 compared to the previous year, according to preliminary data released Wednesday.

    District 8 Alder MGR Govindarajan said increased ridership is a result of improved public transportation systems.

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    “The thing we see across the country is the easier you can make it to take public transit and the safer you can make it, the more people will take it,” MGR said.

    The new BRT running along Metro Rapid Route A started running August of 2024, according to previous reporting by The Badger Herald.

    While the new BRT is the main contributor to the large increase in ridership, there are other variables that factor into the system’s success, MGR said.

    “It’s smaller things where it’s much easier to take the buses than it was about a year ago,” MGR said. “Instead of playing around with a flimsy card to swipe on the bus, now you just have the tap cards that you can reload online, or students get them for free.”

    Demand for efficient public transportation calls for more BRT lines being built. The City of Madison will have an estimated population of 80,000 by the end of 2050, MGR said.

    Implementation of this new bus system was made possible by funding from a $118.1 million budget proposed in March of 2024 under the Biden Administration for the Madison area’s BTR for 2025, according to previous reporting by The Badger Herald. 

    During the fall of 2024, Metro Transit made changes to their bus systems by implementing fare collection, meaning some data has not been accounted for and official numbers will be complete by mid-2025, according to the City of Madison’s website.

    To help accommodate the large increase in population, the city is planning to build another BRT that runs from north to south in 2027 or 2028 depending on funding, MGR said.

    https://badgerherald.com/news/madison/2025/01/30/madisons-metro-transit-shows-increase-in-ridership-since-rapid-transit-update/

  • 28 Jan 2025 11:49 AM | WIPTA Admin (Administrator)

    Sean Duffy, President-elect Trump's pick for transportation secretary, testified before the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday.

    Sean Duffy, President-elect Trump's pick for transportation secretary, testified before the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday.

    Samuel Corum/Getty Images

    We're following the confirmation hearings for the incoming Trump administration. See our full politics coverage, and follow NPR's Trump's Terms podcast or sign up for our Politics newsletter to stay up to date.

    Who: Sean Duffy

    Nominated for: secretary of transportation


    WASHINGTON — When Republican Sean Duffy was in Congress, he worked with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to replace an 80-year-old bridge across the St. Croix River between his home state of Wisconsin and Minnesota.

    President-Elect Donald Trump has chosen former Wisconsin congressman Sean Duffy, seen here speaking at a rally in 2018, to be secretary of the Department of Transportation.

    Trump taps Sean Duffy, Fox host and former congressman, for transportation secretary

    More than a decade later, the St. Croix Crossing — and the relationships that the new bridge helped forge — came up several times Wednesday during Duffy's confirmation hearing to lead the Department of Transportation.

    "When I fly into Minneapolis and drive up to Hayward, where I was born and raised, I go across that bridge," Duffy said during the hearing. "I'm proud every single time for the bipartisan work that we did together, and I would like to continue that kind of work should I be confirmed."

    That project required action by Congress to grant an exemption from the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Duffy's work to make that happen helped endear him to several Democrats in the Senate, including Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin.

    "Our efforts show that when we work together, we get important things done. And we haven't always agreed," Baldwin said in remarks introducing Duffy to the committee. "But at the end of the day, I am confident that Sean is the right person for this job in this upcoming administration."

    Where did the workers go? Construction jobs are plentiful, but workers are scarce

    While some of President-elect Trump's cabinet nominees faced sharp questioning from Democrats on Capitol Hill this week, Duffy received an overwhelmingly friendly welcome from Baldwin and other members of the Senate Commerce Committee.

    Duffy has a long record in public service, representing a district in northern Wisconsin in the House of Representatives for more than eight years. But beyond the St. Croix Crossing, he has relatively little direct experience in transportation — or leading a large organization like the DOT, which has a budget of more than $100 billion.

    Sponsor Message

    At the confirmation hearing, Duffy committed to prioritizing safety on the roadways and in the air, and said he would "work to reduce the red tape that slows critical infrastructure projects, ensuring funds are spent efficiently." He pledged to bring "tough love" to Boeing as regulators work to restore confidence in the struggling airplane maker. And Duffy said he would address the shortage of air traffic controllers, while hiring only "the best and the brightest" for those jobs.

    After leaving Congress in 2019, Duffy worked as a lobbyist and as a contributor at Fox News. In announcing his pick, President-elect Trump praised Duffy as a "respected voice and communicator" in a post on Truth Social in November.

    Trump has looked to the ranks of Fox News for many of his cabinet nominees. But few have as much experience on camera as Duffy, who starred on MTV's "The Real World: Boston" in 1997. He met his future wife Rachel Campos-Duffy, a fellow Fox News contributor, when they both starred on another MTV reality show. Campos-Duffy was on hand at Wednesday's hearing, along with eight of the couple's nine children.

    Biden signs the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill into law

    Biden signs the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill into law

    Duffy noted that roadway safety "hits close to home for me, because my wife survived a deadly head-on car crash, which has profoundly reshaped her life."

    The outgoing Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also had little direct experience in transportation before taking the reins. Under Buttigieg, the department has handed out billions of dollars from the bipartisan infrastructure law to build roads and bridges, dig tunnels, modernize airports and more.

    Duffy was asked several times on Wednesday whether funding for those projects would continue to flow.

    Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) asked specifically about funding for the Gateway Program, a multi-billion dollar project to replace a series of crumbling rail tunnels and bridges connecting northern New Jersey to Manhattan.

    Sponsor Message

    "I want to look at what funding has gone out," Duffy said. "But I imagine those good projects that are underway, we would continue."

    'Cozy' relationship between Boeing and the U.S. draws scrutiny amid 737 Max 9 mess

    The Department of Transportation includes the Federal Aviation Administration, which is in charge of the nation's airspace, as well as agencies that regulate the nation's railroads, and set safety standards for passenger cars, trucks and commercial vehicles.

    There are several areas where the department's broad mandate intersects with the business interests of Elon Musk, the world's richest person, who poured more than a quarter of a billion dollars into President-elect Trump's 2024 election campaign.

    Now safety advocates worry that Musk may try to influence the federal agencies that regulate his businesses. His rocket company SpaceX has sometimes clashed with regulators at the FAA over its launch practices.

    Federal regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, part of the DOT, are investigating crashes involving Tesla's advanced driver-assistance systems. And safety advocates fear the Trump administration could move to end those investigations, along with a crash reporting requirement that Tesla opposes.

    Exit interview: DOT Sec. Buttigieg on infrastructure act and the road ahead

    Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) pressed Duffy on whether he would allow traffic safety investigators to "follow the evidence and operate objectively as part of their investigations?"

    "Yes, I commit to this committee and to you that I will let NHTSA do their investigation," Duffy responded.

    The nominee was asked several times about his level of commitment to Amtrak — not only by Democratic senators from New Jersey and Delaware, but also by Republicans from Kansas and Mississippi.

    Duffy acknowledged voting against Amtrak funding when he was a member of Congress from rural Wisconsin. But he said "this committee has spoken loudly about Amtrak and rail in their home communities."

    If he's confirmed, as appears likely, Duffy said his first trip as transportation secretary would be to the Appalachian mountain regions of Tennessee and North Carolina, where flooding from Hurricane Helene damaged major interstate highways along with countless smaller roads and bridges.

    Sponsor Message

    "This is an emergency," Duffy said. "I'll do everything in the power of the Department for Transportation to move the process forward as quickly as possible so these communities get access and roads that are functional again."


  • 28 Jan 2025 11:48 AM | WIPTA Admin (Administrator)

    Planning bus routes for 2025

    What we know:

    Riders are encouraged to provide input on how MCTS can adapt its services to better meet their changing needs. 

    MCTS wants to hear from riders directly. Feedback can be submitted through an online survey, visiting RideMCTS.com/MOVE to comment on interactive maps, or by attending one of five public meetings across the county. Riders have until Feb. 10 to weigh in.

    Public Meeting dates

    Timeline:

    1. Jan. 14 — 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Milwaukee Public Library East Branch (2320 N. Cramer St., Milwaukee) - complete
    2. Jan. 16 — 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Oak Creek City Hall (8040 S. 6th St., Oak Creek)
    3. Jan. 22 — 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Silver Spring Neighborhood Center (5460 N. 64th St., Milwaukee)
    4. Jan. 25 — 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at West Milwaukee Community Center (1345 S. 47th St., West Milwaukee)
    5. Feb. 4 — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at MCTS Administration Building (1942 N. 17th St., Milwaukee)

    What's next:

    • March – May 2025: MCTS transit planners review feedback and develop a draft plan for additional comment from riders, bus drivers and the general public. Planners prepare a final recommended plan that will be presented to the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors will review and request approval.
    • June – August 2025: If the recommended plan is approved, MCTS promotes public awareness of the fall service changes.
    • Late August 2025: The changes go live.


  • 28 Jan 2025 11:45 AM | WIPTA Admin (Administrator)

    For those who live in cities served by public transit, this is the perfect time to make a commuting habit that could save you money and improve your health.

    Morning commuters wait for the MARC and Amtrak trains in New Carrollton, Maryland.

    Morning commuters wait for the MARC and Amtrak trains in New Carrollton, Maryland.

    Photographer: Linda Davidson / The Washington Post via Getty Images

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    Before it’s here, it’s on the Bloomberg Terminal

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    By Kendra Pierre-Louis

    January 1, 2025 at 7:00 AM CST

    New Year's resolutions tend to take on a certain flavor: Pay off debts, eat healthier, exercise more. But this year, city residents might consider mixing things up and embarking on a habit that would be better for the planet’s health as well as your own. It might even be more convenient. This New Year’s, consider pledging to take public transit.

    Only 3.1% of US adults use public transportation to get to work, according to 2022 data from the Census Bureau, down from 5% in 2019. That year, almost 76% of Americans said they drove alone to work, a number that fell to 68.7% in 2022 as more people reported working from home. Among those who take transit, 70% were located in one of seven metropolitan areas — Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, DC.

    This heavy reliance on private vehicles comes with a steep cost — both personally and to the environment (not to mention the fiscal health of your local transit agency). The average US household spends $13,174 per year on transportation, more than 85% of which go to car payments, gas and other automotive expenses. Driving costs help make transportation the second-largest expenditure for Americans after housing, representing roughly 17% of household income. In the European Union, it’s only 11%.

    Transportation also accounts for 28% of US greenhouse gas emissions, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, with nearly 60% coming from cars, SUVs and pickup trucks. And while electric vehicles can help reduce that figure, research from the California Air Resources Board and others have found that switching to battery-power alone is not enough. To stave off the worst effects of climate change, fewer people need to be driving.

    And yet getting more people in the US out of their cars has been difficult. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, transit ridership was falling in most US cities, with success stories such as Seattle’s expanding bus ridership standing out as a rare exception. Even nudges such as offering free fares have not substantially moved people from behind the steering wheel and onto trains, buses and light rail.

    A big part of that problem is structural — lots of US communities simply don’t have good enough transit service. But even in cities with bus and train networks that are adequate for commuting, many people still opt to drive. For some of them, driving to work is just a habit, and habits are hard to break. Research has found that people will only change their commuting habits “when they’re starting a new job or when they’re moving,” says Ariella Kristal, a behavioral scientist and postdoctoral researcher at Columbia University. “But they’re not just going to, in the middle of daily life, change an entrenched habit.”

    This is bad news not just for transit agencies, but for commuters themselves. One study led by Rababe Saadaoui, a doctoral candidate at Arizona State University, found that when people relied on cars for more than 50% of their daily activities, their life satisfaction declined.

    “When you use your car, it provides benefits but up to a certain point,” said Saadaoui. “When you reach over-reliance on cars, we see a negative application between car dependence and their life satisfaction.” In other words, car usage has something of a Goldilocks effect — too much or too little and we’re left wanting.

    Similarly, a transit commute might be some people’s best option — they just don’t know it. That’s because people rarely experiment with how they get around, due to a concept called “satisficing.” The word, a portmanteau of the words “satisfy” and “suffice,” was coined by the Nobel Prize-winning economist Herbert Simon. Simon’s work suggests that people often filter through every possible option and rapidly settle on one that is “good enough.” But many commutes could benefit from some experimentation, not least because of the digital navigation tools that are widely relied on to get around. The problem, notes Shaun Larcom, a lecturer in environmental economics and policy at the University of Cambridge, is these tools “often don’t take into account many of the elements associated with a good or pleasant journey.” They just prioritize speed.

    When we plug a trip into our GPS, it might automatically pick the driving route as the fastest option, but it doesn’t consider how long it would take to find parking, for example, or how much that would cost. It also doesn’t weigh how we plan to spend our commuting time. Transit riders are free to read, nap, catch up on email, or do all manner of screen-based diversions and chores (plus, walking or cycling to stations provides some much-needed exercise). For those sitting behind the wheel, listening to music, podcasts or audiobooks is just about the only safe option, as attention and eyes need to be focused on the road.

    In a recent Slate article, New York City teacher Jacqueline LeKachman confessed to loving her three-hour round-trip subway commute for giving her the space to not only decompress from work before entering a home full of roommates, but to also get writing done. She managed to pick up some editing work on the side that she only completes on the train — all things she’d struggled to do with a shorter commute.

    None of this is an argument in favor of longer commutes — research has shown that typically longer commutes, especially by car, are associated with increased risks of everything from hypertension and diabetes to depression (although the risk seems to decline with non-driving commutes). It is, however, an argument in favor of transport experimentation, something that Larcom saw first-hand in a study that he co-authored looking at the impact of a February 2014 transit strike in London.

    That year, workers on the London Underground went on strike for two days, shutting down some but not all Tube stations. The interruption forced residents to find creative ways to get to work, school and other destinations. It also enabled researchers to see how the strike shifted people’s routines. When the strike ended, while many people resumed their old routes, a sizable minority shifted their commutes — permanently.

    “People didn't stick to their original routes because they found better ways to get to work,” said Larcom.

    The trick was getting them to try a different route in the first place. Something like a New Year’s resolution might help with that.

    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-01/for-a-healthier-happier-2025-try-commuting-on-public-transit

  • 21 Jan 2025 11:42 AM | WIPTA Admin (Administrator)

    See the attached flyer for more information!

    2025 Transit Equity Days

  • 21 Jan 2025 11:40 AM | WIPTA Admin (Administrator)

    In a Facebook post, Eau Claire Transit announced that from January 21-22, bus fares are waived due to the extreme cold. 

    The post also highlighted that all of the busses are accessible, with the ability to "kneel" so that entrances are level with the curb. 

    For more information about routes and schedules, click here


  • 17 Jan 2025 9:21 AM | WIPTA Admin (Administrator)

    OCTA zero-emission bus.Transit ridership in the U.S. continues to rise, growing by more than 17 percent from 2022 to 2023, according to a recent report from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on transit trends.  

    The report notes transit agencies provided 6.9 billion trips in 2023, an increase of 17.3 percent from 2022. Those same transit agencies moved passengers 35 billion miles, an increase of almost 17 percent from 2022. According to the report, with that year-over-year-growth, public transportation grew nearly twice as fast as domestic air travel between 2022 and 2023.  

    "Our nation's public transportation systems continue to punch above their weight, providing billions of trips covering billions of miles for millions of people all across our nation," said FTA Deputy Administrator Veronica Vanterpool. "This report shows an upward trend in people using transit, which provides many benefits, including less time wasted in traffic, fewer carbon emissions and better air quality." 

    The report notes public transportation is also a jobs generator, as in the past year, 10,000 new workers have entered the transit industry, and salaries have increased more than $1 billion. At the end of 2023, more than 388,000 people worked in public transportation, filling jobs in operations, maintenance and administration. 

    According to the report, the growth rate for jobs in the transit industry exceeds other occupations. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of transit jobs grew by four percent while growth in all occupations across the country was two percent for the same period. 

    FTA says the 2023 National Transit Summary and Trends report provides an annual snapshot of public transportation based on data submitted by 3,000 transit agencies to the National Transit Database (NTD). Reporting comes from federally supported transit systems, which report metrics regularly during the year for the report that comes out each fall.  

    Congress established the NTD in 1974 to support local and state planning efforts. According to FTA, the transit data offers a window into travel trends, workforce data and transit system conditions. 

    FTA notes the 3,000 transit providers operate all over the country, from large metropolitan regions to small urban places and rural areas. The report says that while most transit trips occur in large urban regions where transit helps manage traffic congestion and supports walkable communities, nearly a third of transit trips (28 percent) are taken in smaller urban and rural areas. 

    According to the report, high-capacity transit systems like light rail and bus rapid transit (BRT) increased substantially between 2013 and 2023. Transit rail miles increased by 12 percent and miles traveled via BRT increased by 44 percent, the largest increase among transit modes, reflecting the introduction of several new BRT systems. 

    The report notes that while transit is already an environmentally friendly way to travel, many of the U.S. transit providers are transitioning to greener propulsion systems, particularly for buses. The report, which also analyzes trends over the last decade, found that between 2013 and 2023, the number of zero-emission buses increased four-fold. 

    The report also shows a significant increase in improving accessibility for people with disabilities. In 2023, nearly 84 percent of the U.S.’s transit stations were considered fully accessible per the Americans with Disabilities Act, which includes stations that feature modifications such as platforms for level boarding and ramps. The 84 percent is an increase of 4.6 percent during the past decade. 

    https://www.masstransitmag.com/management/press-release/55259857/federal-transit-administration-fta-new-fta-report-shows-us-transit-ridership-on-the-rise

  • 7 Jan 2025 11:45 AM | WIPTA Admin (Administrator)

    The Eau Claire Transit system will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, and with that milestone, the city is looking forward to expanding and improving the system during the next year.

    By Angela Curio

    Source The Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, Wis. (TNS)

      The Eau Claire Transit system will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, and with that milestone, the city is looking forward to expanding and improving the system during the next year.

      Eau Claire Transit Manager Ty Fadness said that, while the current bus system was bought out by the Eau Claire Transportation Company in 1975, the city has some interesting history regarding public transit.

      “Eau Claire was one of the first cities to adapt horse drawn trolleys,” he said. “It was actually the first to have heated trolleys using electricity in the entire nation. That was developed because of our climate. In the twenties, the trolley system started to decline and [was] replaced by car lines. Buses slowly came after that.”

      In 1985, the city built what was supposed to be a temporary transfer center downtown which lasted until it was torn down to build the new transfer center, scheduled to open up this summer.

      “So it’s kind of an exciting time not just because it’s the fiftieth anniversary but also because the new transfer center is opening which has been a long time coming,” said Fadness.

      When the bus system was first put into place, it was operated using a flag system where people would call to have the bus pick them up at a specific location. Now the bus route has 550 stops and the city is looking to expand it by starting a year-long micro transfer pilot program.

      “That is where there are smaller vehicles that will pick people up at their door and bring them anywhere within that zone or to the transfer center,” said Fadness.

      He added that this service will be limited to a certain new zone in the city not currently easily accessible by the public transit system.

      “The geography is interesting in that it’s relatively low in population density, but the people there are interested in transit,” he said. “There’s lots of zero- and one-car households and we think those people would use public transportation.”

      Currently a fixed route wouldn’t optimally serve the people in that area of the city. Over time, he said, the hope is that they’ll learn to make things more efficient and see if this pilot program is something the city will continue to pursue in the long term.

      Fares for this new program will be the same as other transit fare prices.

      In the meantime, the city is also hoping to find ways to provide free fares for K through 12th grade students and Veterans.

      Other efforts are underway to help discover ways to improve the system and increase ridership.

      “We’re going to be doing community meetings this spring to meet with [different] groups and tell them the story of transit and why it’s important to the community,” he said. “We want to make sure that the community shapes what the transit development plan is. [We’re hoping to] recommend service alternative for fixed routs, making it more efficient and trying to serve more people.”

      He concluded that 2025 offers a lot of promise for the public transit system, being the safest and most fuel efficient option there is in the city.

      “There’s all these positives,” he said. “We want to get people on the bus, so we want to make and create a system that meets the needs of the community, and we’re looking forward to another 50 years.”


    • 7 Jan 2025 11:43 AM | WIPTA Admin (Administrator)

      People get off a bus at Baldwin Street and Washington Avenue in Madison on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. The newly-constructed bus shelter is part of a nascent bus rapid transit system. Sarah Lehr/WPR

      Bus rapid transit was introduced in Madison in the fall, following a complete redesign of the system’s routes. About three months in, transit officials say the transition is going well and more changes are coming next year. 

      The new system includes buses riders can board from any door, new stations and a new fare payment system. A new bus rapid transit route, or BRT, was launched in September

      Metro Transit chief development officer Mick Rusch said it’s the biggest overhaul to the system since the ’90s.

      “We redesigned all of our service last summer to get ready for bus rapid transit, and then we got all the routes ready, and we implemented all the infrastructure this year, and we also rolled out all of our electric buses, our new fare technology, all of that all at once,” he said. 

      Of all the changes, Rusch said the new payment system “has taken us the longest to get people acclimated to.” 

      Before the overhaul, buses used magnetic stripe swipe cards. They stopped selling those in September, Rusch said, replacing them with pre-loadable, tap-to-pay fare cards.

      But overall, Rusch said the new system is working well. While they don’t yet have official ridership data, they are anecdotally seeing “full buses.” 

      “We’re seeing a lot of people riding during the week, we’re just seeing a lot of people tapping their cards,” Rusch said. 

      Getting ready to board the BRT on University Ave., Terry Richardson said he mostly likes the new system. But, he said there is a downside to the rapid service. 

      “It moves fast, so that’s a good thing,” he said. “But if you’re not there, if you’re not right there, then it’s gonna leave you.” 

      Rusch said more changes are coming in 2025, including a system where riders will be able to tap a credit card or phone to pay on any bus, which will be implemented in April or May. 

      “You don’t even have to mess around with getting a fare card,” he said. “You can just use your credit card to board the bus.”

      Rusch said Metro will also introduce hourly service to the city of Monona in March on route 38. And, they’ll also start doing outreach on adding a north-south BRT route. While they haven’t yet secured funding for that project, they hope it will come to fruition in two or three years. 

      Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2025, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.


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