Buses in the Milwaukee County Transit System now reach 1,300 fewer employers than it did in 2001 thanks to state budget cuts.
"Despite growing numbers of jobs located outside of Milwaukee’s central city, many neighborhood residents continue to be unable to reach potential employers by bus," according to a post by Matthew Isla.
To sum up the problem, Isla writes: "State budget cuts have severely hampered Milwaukee County Transit System’s ability to connect city residents with outlying jobs."
Specifically, on the subject of budgets, "[the] MCTS says it has reduced bus service 14.5 percent since 2000 in response to successive rounds of state budget cuts. The most recent cut came in the 2011 biannual budget when the MCTS state appropriation was slashed by 10 percent. Although about 4 percent of the funding was restored in a later budget, MCTS is currently operating under an approximate $4.1 million shortfall in state money compared to the 2009 budget."
As for the potential that planners are regrouping to develop a more efficient system "[c]urrently there is no long-range planning taking place at MCTS to reverse trends in service cutbacks and meet the needs of job holders and job hunters for the long term."
FULL STORY: Why City Workers Can’t Get to Suburban Jobs
Milwaukee BRT Proves Popular With Riders
The newly opened line is already reaching pre-pandemic ridership levels.
Second Bus Rapid Transit Line Planned for Milwaukee
The Milwaukee County Transit System could be adding a bus rapid transit line to the existing PurpleLine.
Milwaukee Bus Lines Are Lifeline to Jobs for the City’s Neediest Workers
Funding for two routes is running out soon, but many workers depend on this service to access jobs outside of the city.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
Dallas Surburb Bans New Airbnbs
Plano’s city council banned all new permits for short-term rentals as concerns about their impacts on housing costs grow.
Divvy Introduces E-Bike Charging Docks
New, circular docks let e-bikes charge at stations, eliminating the need for frequent battery swaps.
How Freeway Projects Impact Climate Resilience
In addition to displacement and public health impacts, highway expansions can also make communities less resilient to flooding and other climate-related disasters.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
