Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment Propulsion Restrooms topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident urges Wausau Transit to favor propane buses over electric and to provide downtown restrooms
Summary
Deb Bridal, a former alder, told the Wausau Transit Commission she believes electric buses are "very dangerous" in the region and urged the city to consider propane buses and to buy the former Burger King building for a public restroom and welcome center, citing ADA and rider needs.
During the public-comment portion of the Nov. 20 Wausau Transit Commission meeting, Deb Bridal (702 Elm Street) told commissioners she favors propane-powered buses over electric vehicles in northern Wisconsin and urged officials to consider a private building purchase to provide public restrooms downtown.
Bridal identified herself as a former alder (2020–2022) and said she had provided staff with paperwork supporting her view. She said she would welcome a reporter to examine electric buses in Madison but asked that the reporter consider the local context in Wausau and the Upper Peninsula. "I just think electric in this part of the state is very dangerous," she said.
She also recommended purchasing the former Burger King building downtown to create a public restroom and welcome center with multiple stalls to serve riders, people with disabilities and people experiencing homelessness. Bridal noted the Americans with Disabilities Act and said the downtown area lacks adequate restroom facilities for riders and people with mobility needs.
The comment was part of the public-comment period; commissioners did not take action on the points raised during this meeting. No staff response disputing the safety claims about electric buses was recorded in the transcript.
