Waukesha Transit Commission OKs 2025 state aid agreement, accepts paratransit allocation and minor stop changes

Waukesha, Wis. — The Waukesha City Transit Commission on July 17 approved a 2025 transit operating aid agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, accepted a separate paratransit allocation and approved minor bus-stop changes, the commission said at its meeting.

The measures matter because the state operating-aid allocation for the city and county combined is smaller than last year, which staff said produces a budget gap for the current year and raises concern about another likely drop next year as federal support for the region declines.

Brian, transit staff, told commissioners the state operating-aid allocation represented a "pretty sizable percentage drop for one year" and that the award was about $70,000 less than the commission had budgeted for 2025. The contract cap for state-funded operating and county expenses cited in the presentation was $3,300,000. "We should be able to cover that shortfall for this year," Brian said.

The commission approved the operating-aid agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). The staff presentation said the $3,300,000 figure…