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Beloit council approves new East‑West school route and cashless fare system with weekly/monthly caps
Summary
The City Council approved a reconfiguration of Beloit Transit’s Route 5 to prioritize school connections and a Wisco (UMO) cashless fare system with fare capping, student reduced fares and a soft launch schedule. The transit technology upgrades are funded with 100% federal CARES/ARPA funding; legacy passes will be accepted through Dec. 31.
The Beloit City Council approved major changes to Beloit Transit System on items that include replacing the Gateway route and adopting a modern cashless fare system aimed at improving school access and rider convenience.
Council action came after staff presented near‑term recommendations from a Transit Development Plan and a demonstration of the Wisco (UMO) fare platform led by Milwaukee County Transit System and Cubic/UMO representatives.
City staff said they will eliminate the current Gateway route (Route 5) and replace it with a new East‑West Route that prioritizes connections to Beloit schools. Transit staff reported the Gateway route averaged about 189 rides per month, compared with roughly 2,000 rides per month on each of the other fixed routes. The new Route 5 will operate in a figure‑8 pattern during peak school travel times — 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. — and will operate year‑round; staff said the change is intended to increase ridership without increasing operating costs. Staff told the council the proposed route changes would take effect Sept. 2, 2025.
Transit staff also presented…
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