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Marshfield council rejects shift to late‑night transit hours after safety concerns
Summary
After a public hearing with taxi drivers and tavern-league representatives urging preservation of late‑night service for safety and worker access, the council rejected a staff proposal to reallocate certain late‑night public transit hours to busier daytime periods.
Council members on Tuesday declined a staff proposal to reallocate some Marshfield Public Transit late‑night hours, following public testimony warning that reduced late‑night availability could endanger patrons and overnight workers.
The proposal from Jordan Munger, accounting manager, would have shifted contracted service hours beginning Jan. 1, 2026: reducing service from 2–3 a.m. (Saturday and Sunday mornings) to 2–3 a.m. moved earlier, and cutting Sunday–Thursday service to end at 11 p.m. instead of midnight while keeping the total contracted hours the same. Munger told the council the change would affect roughly 400 rides a year — under 2% of annual rides — and was intended to reduce maximum wait times by reallocating service to higher‑demand windows.
The Nut Graf: Munger said the analysis (Oct. 1, 2024–Sept. 30, 2025) showed most rides during the proposed reduced hours were bar‑related and that shifting hours could improve reliability during peak commuter and appointment periods. He also said contractual hours would not be reduced and the change was intended to use existing resources more efficiently.
Public commenters pushed back. Josh Milovich, owner of Great Dog and president of the Wood County Tavern League, urged the council not to limit taxi or transit service and described local Safe Ride coordination efforts and fundraising to prevent impaired driving. "You guys changing the laws or certain times of taxi will increase OWIs," Milovich said. Elizabeth Dura, vice president of the Wood County Tavern League, said late‑night gaps create situations where an intoxicated person may drive because no ride is available. Cab driver Patty Peschel told the council cutting hours would harm overnight caregivers and employees who rely on late‑night rides to get to early shifts.
Several aldermen raised safety and equity concerns. Alderman Wurman and Alderman O'Reilly said even a single accident would be devastating and questioned whether the proposed shift would actually shorten the extreme wait times Munger cited. Alderman Bridal asked whether the June sample month that produced some long wait‑time outliers was representative and whether the proposal would meaningfully reduce the maximum delays.
Rebecca Spiros moved to approve the change as presented; Alderman Bridal seconded the motion. Roll call recorded Spiros voting yes and Bridal voting no; the motion failed on the council floor.
The meeting record shows no immediate plan to resubmit a revised hours proposal. Staff said they would continue to evaluate data and monitor demand before bringing further recommendations back to the council.
