Beloit council approves new East‑West school route and cashless fare system with weekly/monthly caps

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 a two‑phase technology upgrade. Phase 1 (already completed) installed a PASIO system for real‑time vehicle tracking, in‑vehicle announcements and automatic passenger counting. Phase 2 is the Wisco (UMO) cashless fare platform. Staff said the agency will soft‑launch Wisco on Aug. 25 for internal testing and card loading, with public use beginning on the first day of school, Sept. 2. Staff said the software and hardware upgrades were paid with transit‑specific federal CARES and ARPA funds with no local match.

Terry (transit staff) described the fare model and caps: "Fare capping is, it limits rider costs to no more than 9 rides per week and 32 rides per month, providing cost predictability and eliminating the upfront burden of purchasing passes." Under the proposal, students will pay a reduced fare of 50¢ per ride and veterans will receive a reduced fare of 75¢; the current reduced fare for seniors and persons with disabilities (75¢) remains. Regular fares remain $1.50. Council packet materials show weekly and monthly caps that staff said will limit monthly costs for students and regular riders (staff gave the capped totals in council presentation). Free transfers would be eliminated; cash remains accepted but cash payers cannot benefit from fare capping.

School coordination was discussed. Staff said schools will issue student Wisco cards with a red band so operators can recognize the student fare; schools will receive blank cards and materials to distribute to students and families. Staff said schools will help track student eligibility so cards can be toggled to the student fare each school year.

The council voted to approve the route changes and the fare structure. The motion to approve the major route changes (Resolution 2025‑110) was moved by Denton and seconded by Blakely and carried on a voice vote. The motion to approve the fare structure changes (Resolution 2025‑111) was moved by Terrell and seconded by Dentsch and carried on a voice vote.

City staff and the vendors walked the council through the UMO mobile app and card experience, showing mobile wallet top‑up, rotating QR code validators and customizable reporting for planners. Milwaukee County Transit System staff described the procurement that allowed Beloit to join an existing regional platform rather than issue a separate RFP.

Staff noted a transition period: existing passes and tokens will be accepted through Dec. 31, 2025; the Beloit‑Janesville Express and the Blackhawk Technical College zone are not included in fare capping at this time because they are shared services that require intergovernmental agreement changes.

Council President Kevin Levy thanked staff and vendors for the presentation and for coordinating with the school district. Staff said they will begin public outreach if council approval stands, with bilingual materials, school handouts and social media timed to the launch.

Implementation details requested by councilors included confirmation that parts of the Gateway area would retain service from Route 3 (Walmart route) through at least the end of the year and that the agency is evaluating micro‑transit as a mid‑term option.

The council’s approvals put the new route and Wisco platform on a near‑term implementation track; staff said riders will be able to preload cards starting Aug. 25 and use the cards beginning Sept. 2, 2025.