Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Plans to implement small permit fee increases over a six-year span to ensure future funding of its transportation services. The Transportation Services program has had to tap into its reserves to continue funding its services.

Due to budgetary concerns and to make the program sustainable, the employee bus pass will no longer be free starting next academic year. The pass will cost $24 annually.

Campus groups are supporting a new city ordinance that allows private cabs more area access. The move follows a student committee's vote to end the SAFEcab program last year due to expense and low usage.

In part due to a compromise to pay for part of the costs requested by University of Wisconsin Transportation Services and partly because of a projected increase in the cost of renting services from Madison Metro.

Madison Metro presented to University of Wisconsin, Madison students some proposed bus route improvements, including more frequency and accessibility for students with disabilities.

Changes were made because of a budget deficit of $1 million and campus area construction have resulted in fewer routes and longer wait times.

The service, which offered each student six free late-night cab rides per semester within the campus area, was funded entirely through mandatory student segregated fees.

A 2010 survey conducted by the university’s Transportation Services department showed that 20% of UW–Madison employees live between 11 and 25 miles from campus, and 9% live 26 or more miles away.

Campus officials say that five proposed changes are needed in some combination to decrease the structural deficit of $1 million on which UW Transportation Services is currently operating.

The Madison Metro Transit Planning Department, university transportation planning officials and students have been meeting since late fall to redraw the routes.