North–South BRT reaches 60% design; staff refines station locations, Park Street parking tradeoffs

City planners presented a 60% design update Nov. 5 for Madison’s North–South Bus Rapid Transit route, describing station relocations, removal of one center‑running bus lane where cost or geometry made it impractical, and refinements on Park Street intended to preserve both BRT quality and short‑term parking for small businesses.

Liz Callan, principal transportation planner, said the design work moves the project closer to a consistent set of station locations and operational assumptions. The most notable changes include serving lower‑ridership portions of the Troy Drive loop with local bus stops rather than full BRT platforms, routing adjustments to accommodate future connections to other rapid routes, relocating a Packers‑area station to enhance pedestrian safety (from Packers & Elka to Packers & Manly), and changing a proposed center‑running alignment in Fitchburg to side‑running lanes where that minimizes intersection impacts and cost.

Park Street drew substantial public attention. Staff reported they are exploring a hybrid approach to preserve BRT running ways while allowing limited, off‑peak parking and loading lanes in segments where small businesses lack off‑street parking. The design also proposes consolidation of some left turns on South Park Street to reduce conflict points and improve safety; in specific cases staff adjusted earlier plans to retain the northbound left at Vilas after hearing concerns from a local hospital and stakeholders.

Several Park Street business owners told the commission that small, family‑owned shops rely on on‑street parking immediately in front of their storefronts and asked staff to avoid net parking loss. Commissioner and community commenters asked staff to continue outreach and to consider small, local mitigations (short‑term loading zones or 15‑minute customer parking) where business models depend on curb access.

Liz said federal funding remains in process; environmental documentation is under review and a final grant decision will depend on the federal process and completion of later design milestones. Staff said they will submit the modest design changes as an amendment to the locally preferred alternative and continue coordination with property owners, emergency services and WisDOT on the remaining design refinements.

What’s next: complete 60% design, incorporate local feedback on Park Street parking and left turns, finalize environmental documentation, and pursue federal grant steps toward 90% design.