$25M transit services investment in Milwaukee, Madison
MADISON, Wis. - This past June, the Wisconsin Legislature's Joint Finance Committee voted to reduce transit funding to Milwaukee by more than $30 million over the next two years. On Monday, Aug. 30, Gov. Tony Evers looked to help the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) bounce back.
"This past 18 months have challenged our state and our communities far more than we ever could have imagined," the governor said. "I am thrilled to be with all of you to announce we will be providing 25 million dollars of our ‘American Rescue Plan Act’ dollars to invest in public transit in Milwaukee County and the City of Madison to help fill in the gaps by the legislature and by our last budget."
Milwaukee is getting more than $19 million – and the City of Madison is receiving the remains, a little more than $5 million.
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"If we didn’t get this money today we would hit a day where our cost increases outpace the dollars that we’re getting from the state – our largest funding source," said Dan Boehm, MCTS Managing Director.
Transit officials say the money will go to helping maintain operations – but also work to fill in the financial gaps created by funding cuts from a few months back.
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"The funding granted to Milwaukee today will offset the reductions made during the budget process by 60 percent, and will reduce the impact of funding changes over the next two years," said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.
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