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Transit Commission approves county-funded FlexRide contract and bus-stop changes near Lowell Elementary
Summary
The Transit Commission voted to approve Waukesha County'9s proposed 2026 FlexRide contract with Mobilize, administered by the city, and approved safety-driven bus-stop adjustments near Lowell Elementary. Commissioners heard staff briefings on funding, performance and notification procedures.
The Transit Commission voted Feb. 5 to approve Waukesha County'9s proposed 2026 FlexRide contract with Mobilize and to adopt a set of bus-stop changes around Lowell Elementary School.
Staff described FlexRide as an on-demand service that serves employment corridors between parts of the City of Milwaukee and eastern Waukesha County, including Menomonee Falls and Butler. Staff said the county would provide up to $350,000 for the 2026 program and that the city acts as administrator; the city'9s administrative fee for overseeing the contract is rolled into the annual administrative fee (staff reported $96,000). "Waukesha County has, again, agreed to partially fund FlexRide," staff told the commission, and recommended approval for the 2026 contract with Mobilize.
Commissioner Joe Piper moved to approve the item and it was seconded; after brief questions about the county funding and the city'9s administrative role, the commission voted to approve the contract. The motion passed on a voice vote called by the Chair.
On the bus-stop changes near Lowell Elementary, staff said the recommendations follow the school district'9s route-optimization decision to continue using the school. Staff proposed eliminating a stop on Grandview near the school'9s front entrance and reinstating the corner stop at Michigan and Grandview for safety and operational clarity. Staff also recommended removing a low-ridership stop on Michigan at Western (south side) because nearby stops serve the block and the stop had minimal ridership.
A commissioner asked how much notice the school district would receive; staff said the commission typically provides a buffer of a couple of weeks and would notify the district before changes take effect. A motion to accept the bus-stop changes was made, seconded and carried.
The approvals were procedural actions taken on items brought forward by staff; no city funds were committed to the FlexRide service, which the staff said is funded by Waukesha County for 2026. The commission then moved on to receive ridership reports (no vote required).
