MCTS Selects BRT Construction Contractor
The transit system is executing a contract with Zenith Tech, a firm based in Waukesha.
The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) has selected a construction contractor for the $55 million Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line that will run from downtown Milwaukee to Wauwatosa.
Zenith Tech, a construction contractor based in Waukesha, has been selected after submitting the lowest bid for the project at $15.2 million, according to the transit system. Zenith Tech is part of Walbec Group, a construction and engineering conglomerate. Zenith Tech is a heavy civil construction company. It recently won a $57.6 million contract for a bridge replacement on Interstate 43, according to the Daily Reporter,
The transit system is still working to execute a contract with Zenith Tech, said Matt Sliker, a spokesperson for the transit system. The transit system is planning to begin construction on the project by late May or early June, and it’s expected construction will run until Fall of 2022.
The transit system is still accepting bids for the off-bus, cloud-based fare collection system, Sliker said. MCTS will continue to accept proposals for the system until May 21st.
The BRT project is the first of its kind in Milwaukee County. The transit system has been working on it since 2016. The service will dovetail with the newly redesigned transit system that prioritizes high-frequency service and shorter travel times. The new system, called MCTS Next, is currently being rolled out in three phases.
The BRT was originally planned to be completed and operational by 2021. Delays in the grant-making process with the federal government pushed the project back a year. Now, it’s expected the service will be ready by late 2022.
Starting in 2019, the project hit delays as it tried to secure a $40.9 million Small Starts Grant from the federal Department of Transportation (DOT). The grant is covering 80% of the project costs and was critical to moving it forward.
More about the East-West BRT Line
- Transportation: Milwaukee’s First Bus Rapid Transit Line Is Open for Business - Graham Kilmer - Jun 4th, 2023
- Transportation: New Bus Rapid Transit Line Launches Sunday, GoldLine Ends - Graham Kilmer - Jun 3rd, 2023
- Transportation: Federal Funds Creating Two New East-West BRT Stations - Graham Kilmer - May 19th, 2023
- Transportation: First 4 Months of BRT Rides Will be Free - Graham Kilmer - May 9th, 2023
- Transportation: 6 Bus Routes Will Change With BRT Launch - Graham Kilmer - Apr 3rd, 2023
- Transportation: BRT Grant Could Fund Downtown Plaza - Graham Kilmer - Feb 28th, 2023
- Transportation: New Electric BRT Line Will Launch With Some Diesel Buses - Graham Kilmer - Feb 24th, 2023
- Transportation: BRT Line Slated for June 4 Start - Graham Kilmer - Jan 26th, 2023
- Transportation: MCTS Unveils New Electric Bus, Brand For BRT Line - Graham Kilmer - Nov 11th, 2022
- Friday Photos: BRT Stations Reshape Wisconsin Avenue - Jeramey Jannene - Aug 26th, 2022
Read more about East-West BRT Line here
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