Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and other distinguished speakers broke ground on the East-West Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. HNTB has worked with Milwaukee County and Milwaukee County Transit System on the project since 2015, providing the feasibility study, preliminary and final design, and now construction management.

The nine-mile BRT route — a first in Wisconsin — will connect major employment, education, and tourist destinations through downtown Milwaukee, Milwaukee’s Near West Side, Marquette University Wauwatosa, and the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center.

“Breaking ground on the East-West BRT line is an important milestone in transit for Milwaukee County and the state of Wisconsin,” said Ashley Booth, PE, HNTB Wisconsin office leader. “The route will enhance transit access along the region’s most vital, most traveled, and most congested east-west corridor, and will play a critical role in advancing the region’s multimodal transportation system in a cost-effective, inclusive and equitable manner that will support economic development and access to jobs.”

Currently, HNTB, is the prime consultant providing construction management services on the project. Construction is expected to last two construction seasons (spring 2021 to fall 2022).

The East-West BRT will average more than 9,500 weekday riders by 2035 and increase overall transit ridership in the corridor by 17%. Ridership will be fueled by activity generators within the half-mile station area around the preferred route including nine colleges and universities, 47,000 residents and 120,000 jobs.