BRT project pause gives us pause

Today during a meeting of the Public Works Committee, the committee heard a communication file from the Milwaukee County Transit System relating to its proposal to pause development of the north-south Connect 2 Bus Rapid Transit project.

The news that this project is being paused is, to say the least, massively disappointing and does a tremendous disservice to residents in the city.

The Connect 2 was slated to be an 18-mile route between the Bay Shore shopping area in Glendale and Franklin, running chiefly north-south along 27th Street and including Layton Boulevard on Milwaukee’s near south side. The project would increase frequency for the well-traveled Purple Line, add amenities, and serve more community members along the 27th Street corridor.

While we can empathize with the County’s ever-tightening budget situation, we firmly believe services like the Connect 2 are exactly what is needed to support residents, visitors, and increase the overall transportation viability of our city and county.

We hope the County is being truthful when it says this project is only being shelved for now, and urge them to continue development of this much needed amenity as soon as is possible.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.