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The Bus Stops Here: Bus Rapid Transit MUST ADD to Local Bus Service

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At the downtown Senior Center in early May, the City of Madison had yet another in a series of public meetings on a hypothetical regional transportation system to compliment the local service provided by Madison Metro dating back to at least 2002. A video of the meeting can be seen here. This time, the meeting focused on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), not rail. BRT may be most suitable for an urban area our size, at least initially. The Madison area has become just too big to be served adequately by a local bus system alone, but it is not yet big enough to warrant having a more expensive rail system.

City Life

Madison Commons Media Digest, June 9, 2019

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Top Story

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway asks city agencies to plan for $9.5 million budget gap in 2020, Abigail Becker, Capital Times, June 5. Madison and Dane County

Dane County puzzled by errant tax reminders, Steven Verburg, Wisconsin State Journal, June 8. Madison School Board poised to take up new school-based police officer contract, Logan Wroge, WSJ, June 8. Dane County Board approves $148 million in jail renovations after opponents shut down meeting, Emily Hamer, WSJ, June 7. Madison police officer who strikes teen in video is put on 'restricted duty,' Chris Rickert, WSJ, June 7; Video shows MPD officers beating black juvenile with bag over his head; Internal investigation ongoing, Robert Chappell, Madison365, June 5.

City Life

June 2019 Backyard Heroes

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Community Shares, a partner of Madison Commons, recognizes two volunteers each month. The volunteers come from Community Shares' member groups and are selected for their service to the community and to community issues. Thom Thoresen, Wisconsin Conservation Voices

Thom Thoresen is a hardworking volunteer and longest-serving board member of Wisconsin Conservation Voices. Since 2004, Thom has facilitated Wisconsin Conservation Voices’ membership at Community Shares of Wisconsin. In this role, he leads fundraisers and matches donations for the annual Big Share campaign.

City Life

Why We Need Medicaid Expansion and Why Opponents Are Wrong

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The co-chairs of the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee have announced plans to reject Governor Evers’ proposal for Medicaid expansion in the biennial state budget. Their politically motivated decision would result in a loss to the state of $324 million over two years, including needed general operating funds. Not accepting these federal tax dollars would gut much of what the Governor has proposed, including programs in the health, transportation and education budgets which serve all Wisconsin residents. Here are five reasons why Wisconsin should accept the federal funding for Medicaid expansion:

More people will be covered by BadgerCare. The Governor’s proposal would lift the income eligibility ceiling for a single individual from $12,490/year to $17,236/year, expanding BadgerCare eligibility to cover an additional 82,000 more adults.