Federally Assisted Transit Projects for Milwaukee in 2013
The Transportation, Public Works & Transit Committee of the Milwaukee County Board met today and discussed several federally assisted transit projects, including:
- Software for an upcoming Real Time Passenger Information system that will provide real-time bus arrival times to riders.
- An expansion of driver shields. Transit system officials have the goal of every bus having a shield by the end of 2013. The new buses coming to Milwaukee streets this year will come with shields equipped. These shields are different from the all clear plexiglas one we are used to, they will have a metal lower portion and a plexiglas upper.
- About $15 million in bus maintenance, $12 million of which will come from the Feds.
To see a list of all the Federally-assisted transit projects for 2013, click here.
Civil Rights Policies
Also discussed by the Committee today was how the Milwaukee County Transit System will implement new civil rights policies mandated by the Federal government.
These new requirements are great for us, the riders. Among other things they push for more public involvement in decision making on routes and fares.
The Feds are requiring the bus system to create a formal Public Participation Plan. According to the informational report presented at today’s meeting, the bus system hopes to have had two meetings by fall of this year.
We will keep you posted on the dates, times and locations of these meetings as we get the information. These meetings will be a good opportunity for average bus riders to be heard. We hope that these meetings will be held at locations and times of the day that work for most bus riders, particularly people of color and people with limited English proficiency who we believe need more inclusion into the planning process.