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Director of Transportation reviews Madison’s mobility history, BRT progress and rail study; North–South BRT recommended for federal funding
Summary
Madison’s transportation director presented a historical overview and recent projects including Vision Zero safety work, the East–West Bus Rapid Transit line, a pending North–South BRT with recommended federal support, transit network redesign stats, and a city‑level passenger rail station study in coordination with WisDOT.
Madison Transportation Director Tom told the Common Council on Feb. 11 that the city is shifting direction after decades of car‑centric growth and outlined projects intended to expand transit, improve safety and support more compact development.
Tom traced Madison’s transport evolution from indigenous paths and early rail lines through streetcars, the rise of automobiles and suburban expansion. He emphasized recent local policy changes — including a “complete green streets” ordinance and the Vision Zero safety program — designed to reorder priorities so pedestrians, transit users and bicyclists are treated ahead of cars in design.
On transit, Tom summarized progress on the East–West Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, which he described as the city’s largest transportation undertaking to date (the project cost referenced at nearly $200,000,000 with roughly 72% federal funding). Ridership on the system is up since late 2020; Tom said Route A (the BRT route) is up about 20% and system-wide ridership increased about 10% when comparing late 2020 to late 2023. He said Metro Transit’s performance measures (25 riders per revenue hour average in 2023) place it in strong national percentiles.
Tom said the North–South BRT has a recommendation for roughly $118,000,000 in federal funding and that the project has appropriations pending apportionment. He described the North–South corridor as serving a high share of low‑income households and people of color and noted the city is seeking to leverage TIF and state Department of Transportation assistance for remaining capital needs. Tom said the city is proceeding as if the North–South route will be built and estimated an illustrative 2026–27 timeframe for construction if funding and approvals progress, while noting large projects can take longer.
On passenger rail, Tom said the city completed a station screening report around Christmas and was asked by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to re-evaluate one or two sites; staff have met with property owners and he expects a preliminary report in the coming months. He said WisDOT hopes to advance to the next step of its study in fall 2025.
Tom also reviewed safety and climate rationales for modal change. He cited national trends — rising pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities and high vehicle miles traveled per capita — to underscore the city’s Vision Zero focus on speed reduction and the high-injury network. He described completed and planned “complete green streets” retrofits that narrow vehicular lanes, add protected bike facilities and preserve trees where possible.
During Q&A Alders asked about rails, funding apportionment versus appropriation, partner municipal contributions to operations and capital costs, how donated or city‑owned parcels can count toward local match, and timelines for the city and WisDOT studies. Tom and other staff explained how donated staging land (the Brayton lot example) was credited toward local match for FTA funding and how partner municipalities contribute to operating and capital costs when routes extend beyond Madison.
Councilmembers praised the presentation and asked the department to keep the council informed as studies and funding decisions progress.
