Earlier this week, the Janesville Transit System (JTS) Transfer Center (123 S. River St.) fully reopened to the public following the facility's renovation project. The center's lobby is now available to riders looking to stay warm and dry while waiting for a bus to arrive. The facility's restrooms are also now open for public use.

The renovation project, which began last year, brought significant improvements to the Transfer Center, including:

• Adjustments along the concrete platform for ADA accessibility
• Construction of additional public restrooms
• Major facility component replacement (HVAC, plumbing, concrete paving)
• Refurbishment of the public lobby, bathrooms, and dispatch room
• Improved vandal-resistance
• Roof replacement

The work represents a $1.5 million investment in transit services in downtown Janesville. JTS appreciates the community's patience throughout this project and is excited for its riders to enjoy the improved facility.

For questions, contact JTS at (608) 755-3150.

https://www.janesvillewi.gov/Home/Components/News/News/15638/29

The program launched in March of 2022 and was conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. The pilot program received a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation.

“What we’re doing here with FlexRide Milwaukee is we brought in an entirely new form of transportation to the Milwaukee area and that is microtransit,” Steele said.

Steele explained that microtransit is a hybrid of traditional bus and on-demand services, like Uber. It is a ride that an individual can call on their phone, but the ride is shared with other riders. Riders aren’t necessarily picked up at their front door, Steele said, they might need to go a few blocks down the road to a coffee shop or hop on a city bus for a few miles to get to a collection point.

“What that encourages is shared rides, because the shared ride aspect of it is huge for the cost effectiveness of the program,” Steele said.

Riders can travel between Zone 1 or Zone 2 and the Employment Zone. Depending on where you’re traveling to or from, rides are free or $1.50 each. FlexRide Milwaukee operates only during the weekdays.

The research period of the pilot ended at the end of October 2022 and they expect to launch FlexRide Milwaukee 2.0 in April. The program received a $4.2 million grant from the state of Wisconsin to extend FlexRide Milwaukee services through 2024 and allow FlexRide to expand to other communities in the region.

Steele said this spring they hope to expand pick up zones to include both the north side and south side of the city of Milwaukee and to launch service to Franklin and New Berlin. Later in 2023, he said they are looking to potentially expand to Brookfield and Oak Creek. At this time they would consider other areas like Ozaukee County as well.

Steele reported that ridership in the program continues to grow. He added that at any given point, there are 200 individuals participating in the program, with one-third of that using it every day, twice a day and another one-third using it about four to five times a week.

Ozaukee County is holding an open house from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 7 to discuss potential Flex-Bus routes that would run on Port Washington Road from Bayshore Mall to northern Port Washington and along Cedarburg and Green Bay roads from northern Milwaukee County to Saukville.

To view a map of the routes being considered, visit www.ozaukeetransit.com/ozaukee-flex-bus. The event will take place at the Frank L. Weyenberg Library in the Tolzman Community Room, 11345 N. Cedarburg Road, Mequon. To learn more about FlexRide Milwaukee, go to www.flexridemke.com. For more information about MobiliSE, visit www.mobilisewi.org.

The RoundTrip program of the Greater Madison MPO recently announced the launch of a new online platform connecting Dane County residents and commuters with convenient alternatives to driving alone.

RoundTrip provides resources and incentives that support affordable, sustainable transportation options including carpooling, vanpooling, bicycling, and public transit.

Features of the new platform include a multimodal trip planner with easy-to-use ride-matching capabilities; personalized user dashboards; trip logging for personal stats and gamification; a RideBoard for one-time trips; and event-based trip pooling.

To celebrate, RoundTrip is sponsoring a March Madness Challenge through March 31 to reward car-free and car-lite commuters. Individuals can register at RoundTripGreaterMadison.org to connect with personalized transportation options; access the Emergency Ride Home program for car-free commuters; and participate in the March Madness Challenge and future regional reward programs.

RoundTrip encourages all residents and commuters to make transportation choices like walking, bicycling, carpooling, public transit, and telework a daily habit. With over 70% of Dane County commuters driving alone to work pre-pandemic, these choices contribute to a more affordable, sustainable, and equitable transportation system, and a higher quality of life for all as Dane County grows.

RoundTrip also encourages employers to promote transportation options at their workplace by partnering with RoundTrip. More information for employers is available on the RoundTrip website and in the Employer Commute Options Program Toolkit.

What to know about RoundTrip

• RoundTrip is a free transportation options program that connects individuals and employers in Dane County with affordable, convenient alternatives to driving alone, including carpools, bikepools, vanpools, transit and bicycle routes, and more.

• RoundTrip’s new online platform, accessible in Spanish and Hmong, connects commuters with carpool and bikepool partners, state vanpools, Metro Transit routes, Madison BCycle stations, and more. It also offers new features for one-time and event-based trip pooling.

• RoundTrip users can download the CommuteTracker mobile app by RideAmigos for Android or iOS, to access trip planning features and passive trip logging for incentive programs.

• Users can track trips to participate in reward programs like the March Madness Challenge, and to see their cost savings, calories burned, and CO2 reductions over time compared to driving alone.

• Employers can contact RoundTrip to set up networks that make it easier for employees to form pools and access incentives. Current workplace networks in the RoundTrip platform include the City of Madison, Dane County, UW-Madison, the City of Sun Prairie, Madison College, and more.

The RoundTrip platform is powered by RideAmigos, and made possible in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation RIDESHARE program and the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission CommuteWISE program.

RoundTrip is a program of the Greater Madison MPO (metropolitan planning organization), that connects individuals and employers in the Madison region with convenient alternatives to driving alone. Local funding partners include Dane County, the City of Madison, Metro Transit, and UW-Madison.

https://www.hngnews.com/sun_prairie_star/news/local/greater-madison-mpo-offers-new-transportation-roundtrip-platform/article_9551d560-b840-11ed-9ca8-9f49744f34cb.html

Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) invites riders to attend community education meetings in March to learn more about the new CONNECT 1 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line which starts service June 4.

Transit planners plan to explain adjustments to other routes in the MCTS system that will intersect with the CONNECT 1 BRT. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions related to navigating these new services.

Riders have three meetings to choose from: One virtual lunch hour meeting and two in-person meetings in March.

Virtual Meeting

• Thursday, March 9, Virtual Meeting @ 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. (click here to register)

In-Person Meetings

• Tuesday, March 14 @ 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Mitchell Street Library located at 906 W Historic Mitchell St, Milwaukee, WI 53204 (click here to register)
• Saturday, March 18 @ 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. at MCTS Administration Building located at 1942 N 17th St, Milwaukee, WI 53205 (click here to register)

The start of CONNECT 1 BRT also presents an opportunity to improve the reliability of service on adjacent routes and make them easier to understand: 

• GoldLine – The CONNECT 1 BRT will replace GoldLine (Wisconsin Avenue) service along Wisconsin Avenue and Bluemound Road between downtown and the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center (MRMC). In addition, Route 30 (Sherman – Wisconsin) will replace GoldLine service from downtown to UWM. Finally, GoldLine service from the MRMC to Brookfield Square will be replaced with an extension of Waukesha Metro Route 1 (Brookfield – Waukesha). The GoldLine name itself will be retired.
• Route 14 (Forest Home – Humboldt) – Route 14 will be modified into two separate routes to improve reliability and on time performance. New Route 14 (Humboldt Blvd) will primarily serve Humboldt Boulevard between Bayshore and downtown. New Route 24 (Forest Home Avenue) will primarily serve Forest Home Avenue between Southridge and the MCTS Administration Building on 17th & Fond du Lac. Both routes will serve stations on the CONNECT 1 BRT line.
• BlueLine (Fond du Lac Avenue) – The BlueLine will be shortened to end at Marquette University (16th Street & Wisconsin Avenue) instead of the downtown Intermodal Station. Riders will continue to enjoy high frequency service.
• Route 21 (North Avenue) – Route 21 service will be expanded so buses run year-round on Downer Avenue between North Avenue and UWM. Route 21 will continue to provide riders with high-frequency service.

View the BRT routes with an interactive map.

https://www.fox6now.com/news/milwaukee-county-bus-rapid-transit-riders

Milwaukee County buses in April will launch a new fare collection program modeled after those in cities like London and Portland that is designed to level out pricing regardless of whether riders have a monthly pass.

https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2023/02/13/milwaukee-county-cap-bus-fares.html

Construction on Madison's bus rapid transit system is officially set to begin in March ahead of its planned launch in late 2024.

City leaders officially broke ground in December on Madison's east-west bus rapid transit route, which will connect East Towne and West Towne malls, Madison College, the Capitol Square, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Hilldale shopping center, among other locations.

The system is designed to improve travel times while connecting key parts of the city and major employers. It will feature all-electric articulated buses that run roughly every 15 minutes on most weekdays; it will also offer some weekend service.

RELATED: Madison, state leaders break ground on city’s bus rapid transit system

Work will begin on the city's west side and generally move east from there, city transportation planner Mike Cechvala told News 3 Now in an email Tuesday.

In a tweet, the city said work still start next week in the Mineral Point Road, Whitney Way and University Avenue areas.

Some early work to remove bump-outs and update traffic signals began last year along East Washington Avenue; that phase of construction is set to wrap up in June.

The city's north-south bus rapid transit route is still being developed.

A public meeting about the work on the west side is scheduled for 6 p.m. on March 14. For more information, click or tap here.

If you're a bus rider in Eau Claire and live near campus, you'll soon have more options and more time to get where you need to go.

Officials with Eau Claire Transit told News 18 a new route is being added. It will go from UWEC's upper campus to lower campus and downtown every half an hour from 6 p.m. to 11:40 p.m.

Other buses will also run later. Monday through Friday, buses will now be out an extra hour at night, until 11:30 p.m.

The Saturday mall route will also now run until 11 p.m. And the Pablo route will run from noon until 11:35 p.m. on Saturdays.

Valley Transit is bringing back its successful hiring bonus incentive program.

The next five qualified candidates with a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) will receive a $5,000 sign-on bonus for full-time new hires and $2,500 will be offered for part-time positions.

Last year when the company offered the incentive, they say it worked.

“We've seen an increase in applications because of the bonus and several positions have been filled. While we are pleased with the progress we've made, we are still actively seeking five more candidates with a valid CDL to join our team and continue the positive momentum,” said Valley Transit general manager, Ron McDonald.

The reinstated hiring bonus now includes part-time maintenance utility workers in addition to full-time and part-time bus drivers because these positions require a valid Class A or Class B CDL with a passenger endorsement and no air brake restriction.

Working for Valley Transit provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package that includes enrollment in the Wisconsin Retirement System and the opportunity to work for an organization that is supportive, inclusive, and making a positive impact on its community.

• Click here to apply

Those interested in bus driver or maintenance utility roles are not required to have their CDL to apply but will need to be able to acquire and maintain one along with a federal medical card as a condition of employment.

https://fox11online.com/news/local/valley-transit-reinstating-bonus-incentive-program-to-hire-more-drivers-bus-transportation-employment-jobs-cdl-commerical-drivers-license

The Wisconsin Public Transportation Association (WIPTA) commends Governor Evers for his executive budget proposal, particularly as it relates to statewide transit funding.

Due to the pandemic, public transportation networks were severely impacted with greatly reduced ridership and significantly reduced fare box revenue. Federal relief dollars were a vital lifeline for every system during those times. As Wisconsin continues to work to address employee shortages and the needs of the business community, the need for adequate public transportation funding is more pronounced than ever.

We thank Governor Evers for the proposed 4% increase to state mass transit aids. As our entire state and country grapples with inflation, transit systems are facing many of the same familiar challenges, including increased gas prices. Meanwhile, state funding for mass transit aids is 4% lower – in real dollars - than it was in 2012. This long-term trend has resulted in increased costs to local government, reduced services, and the inability for our statewide transit systems to keep up with the needs and demands of their communities. Local businesses especially feel the impacts as over half of the rides provided by our bus systems are to get employees back and forth to work.

In addition, the Governor proposed 4% increases to paratransit and elderly and disabled (specialized) transportation aids. These services are incredibly important to our most vulnerable residents but are extremely expensive to provide. Increases are desperately needed.

WIPTA also strongly supports Governor Evers’ creation of a much-needed statewide transit capital assistance program. Bus systems continue to lack the resources needed to replace inefficient buses that have passed their useful lives and other unmet capital needs. This program and funding would be an enormous help.

Finally, WIPTA appreciates the inclusion of language that would allow local units of government to choose to finance public transportation via a regional transit authority.

We look forward to working closely with the Legislature to turn the corner on providing the services our local businesses and communities so strongly desire and rely on.

In June of last year, two electric buses joined the Municipal Transit Utility fleet to help get the La Crosse community around the city.

Last night, the La Crosse Common Council approved additional funds for the project so the transit department could purchase two charging stations and the necessary infrastructure upgrades.

In 2019, the council first approved the purchase of the vehicles and charging stations with $1,250,000 from a federal grant and $312,500 from city funds.

However, due to increased costs, responsible planning for future growth of the electrical fleet and an upgrade to the original charger size, the new project cost is $1,573,000, the resolution stated.

On Thursday night, the council approved using an additional $10,500 from the Capital Improvement Project budget, bringing the total city funding to $323,000 for the project. The funds will come from the monies allocated for new transit capital equipment.

Due to delays in manufacturing and waiting on improved technology for the charges, Lorentz said the department used temporary chargers to get the buses in service last summer.

Lorentz also said that when updating the infrastructure to install the electric chargers, the team added a third conduit for another charger in the future. He said it is very costly to make those infrastructure upgrades, so preparing for more chargers now will save time and money in the future.

“If we were to add buses in the future — which is our plan — we’d have to go back and redo the process,” Lorentz said.

Additionally, the city is using a battery leasing program for the buses. Every six years, the bus batteries will be replaced and recycled.

“Anybody who knows technology knows that batteries continually get better and better,” Lorentz said. “Basically, we’re going to have a new bus in six years with the cost that we’re already paying.”

The cost of each bus is $649,066, each charging station is priced at $68,050 and the electrical infrastructure updates cost $138,769.

https://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/city-council-approves-additional-funds-for-ev-chargers-for-electric-buses/article_bb4c3f98-a964-11ed-b6b7-cfbcf2a4e020.html