Proponents of an alternate route for Madison’s bus rapid transit system fell two votes short Wednesday, as the Madison City Council voted 10–9 in favor of an amendment to the 2022 capital budget, according to an article in the Wisconsin State Journal. Since 11 votes are required to pass an amendment, the measure failed.
The amendment would have directed city staff to evaluate the feasibility of an alternative route that would run away from State Street and along the outer loop of the Capital Square. Instead of putting BRT stations on State Street, which is called for in the current east-west route, the amended proposal would have placed them on the 300 blocks of West Gorham and West Johnson streets.
If approved, the amendment could have delayed the project for a year and added an estimated $5 million to the cost of building the BRT route.
The amendment, which also would have given the council final approval of all BRT routes, was introduced by Council President Syed Abbas, who represents District 12, and alders Sheri Carter, District 14; Barbara Harrington-McKinney, District 1; Charles Myadze, District 18, and Mike Verveer, District 4.
During a public hearing on Tuesday, critics of the current plan argued that stops along State Street would halt the progress merchants have made in recovering from the pandemic, progress that was aided by the city’s “Streatery” program.
Supporters of the current BRT proposal believe that Madison can no longer afford to delay a project that would improve transit service and advance economic growth.
