[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6559092,"mediaKeyId","3213738-deb309fa61dad034193460602029ae60","parentId",3213738,"title","MCTS briefs committee on Title VI update and service and fair equity (SAFE) analysis requirements","audioSeconds",613,"startMs",3632000,"endMs",4245000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3213738-deb309fa61dad034193460602029ae60&start=3632&end=4245","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3213738-deb309fa61dad034193460602029ae60/thumbnail_3632000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6559092/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/MCTS-briefs-committee-on-Title-VI-update-and-service-and-fair-equity-SAFE-analysis-requirements","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6559092-396f5942de57245666314dde2f4c30ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1770529494&Signature=JY0O16G-DFWKc1nUZzdqPBCHkh4woAX3vEPAQDnkLugYC17SS3Vhxq9rlH9MebktIvkoF0IjOSdOHeo~unYGMNxjIY28TZU3g1VAaRb4vfuIXadLGPX2YGponvBrs9hzPstuf0d594f8DkEo4FkEOG5849wItvl6liMbOdbTK0URGtcN5O3mIWstxfPjZh8fDMZRuULNS7RwQr1vKRWLPWzmYD3Q5QMH9q146qmKPAdHAuD~D~soKh0SRiHKCRyAq3HZgj40Z9M5INqoD9KGWs6vgP~6ihBaHZiARywiPZpbrIxUP78ESxV9OT7~IMl0h-FWNnebmnW4V2fDNODZkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Milwaukee County","date","2025-05-07T00:00:00Z","article","Milwaukee County Transit System staff presented an informational update to the Committee on Transit and Transportation on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the agency’s Service and Fair Equity (SAFE) analysis process.

Jesus So, planning manager for MCTS, explained that as a recipient of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds, MCTS must prepare a Title VI program update every three years that documents nondiscrimination policies, complaint procedures, limited English proficiency planning, public participation, minority representation on advisory bodies, and monitoring of grant subrecipients.

MCTS described the SAFE process, which the agency must run prior to any major service change (for example: changes affecting 25% of vehicle revenue hours or mileage, a 50% reduction in frequency, or creating a gap greater than a half mile). The SAFE uses established thresholds — including the four‑fifths rule ratio — to determine whether a proposed service or fare change would cause a disparate impact on protected populations (race, color, national origin) or a disproportionate burden on low‑income riders. If the analysis finds a disparate impact or disproportionate burden, the agency must attempt to avoid, minimize or mitigate the impact.

Staff reviewed recent examples: SAFE analyses were run when the flyer services were suspended in 2021, route changes in 2022, and for the Connect 1 BRT (Gold Line) in 2023. The next Title VI program update is due in 2026.

Supervisor Balinski thanked staff and noted the county’s continued commitment to Title VI compliance despite recent federal administrative guidance affecting disparate‑impact enforcement.

MCTS said its full Title VI plan is posted on the agency website and that the plan includes procedures for public notice, complaint submission, and outreach to riders with limited English proficiency. The presentation was informational only; the committee did not take action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Milwaukee County - Committee on Transportation and Transit on 2025-05-07 9:30 AM - HYBRID MEETINGThis meeting will be held in Room 203-R, and will be live-streamed on the County Legislative Information Center: https://milwaukeecounty.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx - May 07, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Milwaukee County Transit System presented a Title VI program update to the committee, describing federal Title VI obligations, the agency’s Service and Fair Equity (SAFE) analysis triggers and methodology, and examples of recent SAFE analyses for major service and fare changes.","taxTitle","Milwaukee County, Wisconsin","taxId",2736,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6559098,"Committee rejects amendment and recommends approving end of TNC van relief pilot amid dispute over $35,000 reallocation",2958,663000,3621000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3213738-deb309fa61dad034193460602029ae60&start=663&end=3621","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3213738-deb309fa61dad034193460602029ae60/thumbnail_663000.jpg","/articles/6559098/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Committee-rejects-amendment-and-recommends-approving-end-of-TNC-van-relief-pilot-amid-dispute-over-35000-reallocation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6559098-89a37e293db8118eb78a8e27073f2dfa/orig.mp4?Expires=1770529494&Signature=mV7iyOxY5Cy4VVYj3HRP8XKtXBtQv~vQN2ufU2bX5Ga2-L~rE1mduv73HueVaYD4MAtyncWmPEdcFLFTb1v1SOw98hGaSbaXplcWuBK1~jypBXIuMb0-jyLU6DnnChLEMEkae-Y7bid8CTwkqEDEBqPNE79W29LAVdlvCrraGB-4C2FuXAxnUK98DRFkrfo9MCaIaWwiOKw8~NPO-3cCTidX1PqLm3-AYxup1aQeNTIA-c9Mmu--vp2hid3x7LyYKk4qDWd~jGVKybF2Twh2V1CTewd27aEc3PXm~-4FyFhbCPKTX~mjPJW06Ah4Q8MS6zJmyCMP66hFUA5x0xkOqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Milwaukee County’s Committee on Transit and Transportation on an 5‑0 vote recommended adoption of a county budget amendment that would not implement the transportation network companies (TNC) van driver relief pilot as directed in the 2025 adopted budget, after rejecting an amendment that sought to reallocate $35,000 to overtime for in‑house public safety officers.

Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) leaders Kevin Pumphrey, chief operating officer, and Julie Esch, interim director, told the committee they had operated a van‑based pilot for nearly a year but concluded the limited funding and operational constraints made a different allocation of the money more productive. Pumphrey said the agency could use the funds to expand public safety officer (PSO) and transit safety officer (TSO) overtime and training, arguing PSOs cover more ground and are more likely to prevent security incidents than van pickups alone.

“Our data consistently shows an operator is more likely to have a security incident on the bus than while waiting to be relieved,” Pumphrey said, describing recent ride‑alongs and noting PSOs’ daily routines and visibility can respond to operators’ safety needs.

Union representatives and several supervisors urged continued van relief or a negotiated solution rather than an abrupt end. Tom Stawicki, legislative director for ATU Local 998, said the amendment to move the $35,000 to overtime was well intentioned but “falls short of any meaningful goal,” and that some cost assumptions in MCTS materials obscured the pilot’s effectiveness. Stawicki noted the $35,000 was intended to support a transportation service to get operators from relief points back to stations and argued schedule and payroll changes could reduce overtime costs.

Donnell Shorter, former ATU Local 998 president, and members of ATU described instances of operators waiting outdoors in bad weather and of operators being assaulted or threatened while waiting at relief points. MCTS union speakers said targeted van service for higher‑risk relief points achieved meaningful use in some locations and asked the committee to keep the program in place while internal negotiations continue.

Supervisor Rowland (district) said MCTS staff told him the $35,000 could pay roughly six weeks for the van relief program or about six months of additional security overtime, and cited systemwide incident data: 34 assaults on bus operators in the prior calendar year, with three reported at relief points. MCTS staff said, if used for van relief, the $35,000 would extend the pilot only until about early August 2025 before funds were exhausted.

At the committee meeting, Supervisor Martinez moved to reject the proposed amendment (to reallocate the $35,000); the motion to reject the amendment carried on a 5‑0 roll call. The committee then voted 5‑0 to recommend adoption of the budget amendment as presented, which effectively approves not implementing the TNC van driver relief pilot program as directed in the 2025 adopted budget.

Speakers raised implementation and bargaining issues: MCTS said the pilot had been negotiated with the union and that some aspects were under collective bargaining, and MCTS staff also said one relief van had been damaged in an accident earlier in the year and was undergoing additional maintenance checks after in‑house repairs.

The committee’s recommendation now proceeds to the county board and the finance committee for their consideration as part of the formal county budget and amendment process.","After extended public and union comment, the county committee voted 5‑0 to reject an amendment reallocating $35,000 from a van-based driver relief pilot to overtime for in‑house security and then voted 5‑0 to recommend adoption of a budget amendment that would end the transportation network company (TNC) van relief pilot program.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6559103,"Milwaukee County launches 30th Street rail-with-trail feasibility study funded by WisDOT grant",617,50000,667000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3213738-deb309fa61dad034193460602029ae60&start=50&end=667","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3213738-deb309fa61dad034193460602029ae60/thumbnail_50000.jpg","/articles/6559103/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Milwaukee-County-launches-30th-Street-rail-with-trail-feasibility-study-funded-by-WisDOT-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6559103-c5ddc1d18f0d767a2397df1da6f89363/orig.mp4?Expires=1770529494&Signature=Fc1hju9Z18OFwZL97UO2o1b~D11o2P1BP1aNLKgXbWlOQAE6tSwQDkGg00mWjspoj1LiWnAQ5eQ7JNh4zOcRKWdIwR2N~9-CKsYxQg750bQiVeCF~djZl1TzcJC9ExVizg0YxdEc~YRjlZZ22LcxGuDGgxzc2Kn5RXqQoTGGrTSngk6OQWh0l1howJQc-Q7GHQZMXISDqBhLAdgLrmiL0~OQzxhOhzVVj~GXc7e37sK32ve3alve8sIDfFLSY5T86P7lRk3aU942QPxYFDceZQ1-U6EEHslf00wQM9UZjsmAD98LgH2E04-WF~KCxXlOKnzprZg3ph8uRPkK2yZegw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Milwaukee County officials on the Committee on Transit and Transportation presented an informational briefing on a feasibility study for a proposed 6.7-mile shared-use bicycle and pedestrian path along the 30th Street rail corridor on the city’s north side.

The study, led by Milwaukee County Department of Transportation staff with SmithGroup as the prime consultant, is funded by a Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Transportation Alternatives Program grant of roughly $700,000 and will investigate options for a trail from the Havenwoods State Forest area south to the vicinity of American Family Field.

County transportation planner Danny Park told the committee the corridor is largely owned by private freight rail companies, including Wisconsin & Southern (WATCO) and Canadian Pacific (CP). The corridor includes a mix of at‑grade and below‑grade segments, single‑tracked sections and numerous bridges, and the study will include coordination with the rail owners, analysis of soil and stormwater impacts, and alternatives if a trail on the rail right‑of‑way proves infeasible.

Consultant Cassie Goodwin of SmithGroup described a public engagement schedule that the team has scoped to include up to five public meetings, an eight‑member public advisory committee, and eight technical advisory committee meetings with agency and technical stakeholders. The consultant team will also work with an existing neighborhood coalition on the north side and a community liaison who grew up in the area to help reach residents and businesses.

The study timeline presented to the committee shows the county released an RFP in December, interviewed consultants in March and issued an award to SmithGroup in April 2025. The county said it expected to begin contract negotiations and hold a project kickoff in May 2025, present updates to the committee and county board in 2026, and complete the feasibility study by fall or winter 2026.

Supervisor Martinez asked about the project budget; Park confirmed the WisDOT Transportation Alternatives Program grant for the study is roughly $700,000. Park and the consultants emphasized safety as a primary consideration, including setbacks and potential physical barriers between any trail users and active freight tracks.

The committee voted 5‑0 to receive the informational item and place it on file.

The briefing materials note constraints the team must address: the corridor’s ownership by freight railroads, bridge and grade variations, single‑track sections, and the heavy freight activity near the Muskegon yard and other rail yards along the route. The study will also evaluate on‑street alternatives where a trail beside the rail line is not feasible.

Staff said further public engagement and technical work will inform whether a trail next to the rail line is feasible and, if not, what on‑street routing or other alternatives could achieve the project goals.","Milwaukee County Department of Transportation briefed the transit committee on a feasibility study to evaluate a 6.7-mile shared bicycle and pedestrian path along the 30th Street rail corridor, funded by a WisDOT Transportation Alternatives Program grant and including public engagement and coordination with private rail owners.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

MCTS briefs committee on Title VI update and service and fair equity (SAFE) analysis requirements

Committee rejects amendment and recommends approving end of TNC van relief pilot amid dispute over $35,000 reallocation

Milwaukee County launches 30th Street rail-with-trail feasibility study funded by WisDOT grant