Madison in the Morning

Madison in the Morning

Madison in the Morning, keeping Madison informed weekday mornings on 1310 WIBAFull Bio

 

Madison's new bus rapid transit line set to start in September

MADISON (WKOW) -- Metro Transit’s East-West bus rapid transit line is scheduled to start on Sept. 22, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway announced Monday.

Rhodes-Conway said the line represents "a new area of public transportation."

"The launch of bus rapid transit is a culmination of Mayor Rhodes-Conway's MetroForward initiative kicked off in 2019 to address the transportation needs of our growing city," a press release from the city of Madison stated.

“I want to thank the Biden-Harris administration for recognizing that Madison needed a historic investment in our transportation infrastructure. We received nearly $140 million in federal funds to make this possible,” said Rhodes-Conway in a statement. “The launch of the East-West BRT route is a monumental step forward for our community, and our transit system. I’m proud to say we are well on our way to integrating a North-South BRT line as well. September 22 will be a big day for Madison and it’s just the beginning.”

The new Rapid Route A will run on the East-West Rapid Corridor with service running approximately every 15 minutes throughout most of the day. Routes B and F will also operate using the buses, stations, and lanes of BRT but will branch off to serve local stops.

"The increased frequency of service will be a game-changing development for commuters, young people, and residents seeking efficient transit options," the press release stated.

Metro’s Rapid Route A, and local Routes B and F will be served by 60-foot, articulated all-electric buses with dual-side boarding options. These new, bigger buses can carry double the number of passengers and will cut through traffic thanks to dedicated bus lanes and priority traffic signals.

The 43 new boarding stations along the East-West Rapid Corridor are in the final stages of construction and most will have automated ticket machines. The new BRT buses also have enhanced features that will make Metro more accessible to all members of our community.

Metro General Manager Justin Stuehrenberg said all of the recent changes at Metro Transit are aimed at alleviating passenger overcrowding, speeding up travel times, and simplifying the system.

"Our team has worked tirelessly for years to bring this transformative BRT project to completion, and I'm thrilled to announce the opening date," said Stuehrenberg in a statement. "I'm confident it will bring significant mobility and economic benefits to the Madison region, while also serving as a national model to be emulated by others."

Additionally, Metro is also launching its Fast Fare system in September in preparation for the launch of the East-West Rapid Corridor routes. A new Bus Tracker system, intended to be more user-friendly, is already being rolled out. These new technologies should make riding the bus faster and more convenient, according to a press release.

Later this month and in early September, Metro will be hosting opening houses at several BRT stations around the city.

More at WKOW 27 News


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content