Metro proposes cuts to Northside bus routes

The Northside News

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Recently proposed cuts to Madison Metro bus service would affect practically all Northside routes and times. These service tweaks, which would occur along with numerous other proposed changes throughout the city’s bus system, are designed to address Metro’s stated goal of increasing efficiencies.
At a glance, the following changes to Northside Metro bus service have been proposed:

Route 17 (direct service between the North and East Transfer Points) would be eliminated after 6 pm on weekdays;
Route 24 service to the airport and areas north of Tennyson would be eliminated;
Route 20 would replace Route 24 and hourly evening service for Route 17; and
Routes 21 and 22 would be reduced from 30 to 60 minute service after 6:30 pm. Midday service frequency would increase from hourly to every 30 minutes to offset the elimination of Route 24.

Metro’s plan indicates that proposed changes for Routes 17, 20, 21 and 22 may cause missed connections at the North Transfer Point to other hourly trips (i.e. Routes 4, 21 and 20 via Shopko/Copps). Decreased evening service on all routes would turn the typical 50-minute trip to downtown in the evening into 75-minutes. In fact, the plan allows transfers to be missed by a matter of minutes leaving riders at the isolated North Transfer Point for an additional half hour in the evening.

Bus service is a “huge issue because the Northside already has the highest percentage of people without cars,” said Pacia Harper, who serves on the Northside Neighborhood Plan Steering Committee. Harper pointed out that the inconvenience of existing Northside bus routes has come up in Steering Committee discussions.

What do these proposed changes mean for the daily life of a Northside bus rider?
Northsiders would get increased midday frequency on Routes 20 and 21 from hourly to every 30 minutes and more frequent and efficient routes from MATC to East Towne Mall. However, Metro’s figures demonstrate an overall net loss of hours of service to the Northside.

Most of the cuts affecting Northside routes appear under the category of “reductions that are considered productivity-driven efficiencies,” according to Metro proposed service plan. The over plan calls these changes, “A comprehensive approach… that will involve route realignments in peripheral and core areas and the addition of new services.”

“I am concerned that these cuts disproportionately impact low-income communities,” said Alder Satya Rhodes-Conway. “I believe that there are portions of the Northsiders who are transit dependent. It’s disappointing to see us lose service yet again.”

“I would strongly encourage Northsiders to join us at the Public Hearing,” Rhodes-Conway added. “It’s important for the Transit and Parking Commission to hear from bus users how this will impact their lives.”