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Council approves $47,200 grant-funded feasibility study to examine Wausau MetroRide bus facility and expansion options
Summary
The council approved a grant-funded feasibility study for Wausau MetroRide after hearing the transit director say the existing bus barn is at capacity; the study cost was reported as $47,200 with an approximately $8,000 local match.
Wausau — The Wausau Common Council voted April 14 to fund a feasibility study examining the future of Wausau MetroRide’s operations and facilities. The transit director told council the current bus barn is full and constrains service expansion, describing safety and capacity problems that prompted the study.
The study was described in council as a revision of an earlier effort: an initial RFP had been done incorrectly, the city resubmitted and the grant funder extended the timeline. The director said the reworked procurement reduced the cost to $47,200 with a roughly $8,000 out-of-pocket match by the city. The study will examine whether the current site can be upgraded or expanded and will propose up to three alternate locations the city could consider, taking into account site constraints including potential flood-plain issues.
Alder Mike Martins said the $47,200 grant with an $8,000 match is money well spent to chart the future of MetroRide; he urged council to support the study. Alder Watson and others said improved transit capacity is important to reach more residents and to support city growth. The council approved the study following discussion of the facility’s constraints and the grant funding arrangement.
What the study will cover: the feasibility work is expected to evaluate (1) whether the current bus barn can be upgraded or expanded, (2) flood-plain and site constraints at the current location, (3) up to three alternative sites within the city, and (4) options for maintenance and mechanical capacity. The transit director indicated the study was supported by a state transit grant and technical assistance from regional partners.
Next steps: staff will proceed with the revised procurement and contract execution for the feasibility study; the resulting report will return to council when complete.
