[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6658803,"mediaKeyId","3769771-60d615f2548fadee01f7310382141ce0","parentId",3769771,"title","Advocates urge continued funding for same‑day paratransit pilot, report rising ridership","audioSeconds",217,"startMs",3758000,"endMs",3975000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3769771-60d615f2548fadee01f7310382141ce0&start=3758&end=3975","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3769771-60d615f2548fadee01f7310382141ce0/thumbnail_3758000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6658803/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Advocates-urge-continued-funding-for-sameday-paratransit-pilot-report-rising-ridership","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6658803-22532c42132b77bb1b21ddb8fd05adfc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771108001&Signature=mdtK~0dhLu9NgOkOu1klz9N7d2yp~zrYx0mJvEr842pVL41RJImdeUnKOKg6T9Iky8apZFDhO2ud9twKKqJqyUxggjiYDk6~uU-DwsfF~BBgyY~X40pUwhFKLcNEFdVZ78sbwNCtjScviW5Tq4eXBKti0HQYRS02OR2kVgbcY5OIiR6wxclEGFWYqIThI8HxAyWNuwikPN8MHu7hMM~JM5O05J1fg9GIeedAJv-UszSUByYjSmXyXq1pcO~uzX~KggRwfZd7E5XhpybXyQAClW8fRGJkSgHYRRWkWlC66PZusyK1j~0BghTO5lY9RdrpwGQGuth2RPJmBnDBvnMW4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Milwaukee County","date","2025-06-11T00:00:00Z","article","Members of the Milwaukee County same‑day paratransit task force and disability advocates urged the transportation committee to continue funding a same‑day paratransit pilot program and highlighted rising ridership during public comment.

Kevin Myers, a member of the county\u0000s same‑day pilot task force and the Independence First Transportation Advocacy Committee, thanked the committee for previously funding the pilot and described how earlier restrictions limited ridership. Myers said changes made by the task force, DOT and Transit Plus increased usage and allowed users to respond to unforeseen, same‑day needs that fixed 24‑hour paratransit scheduling could not meet.

Becky Rubanton, community access and legislative policy analyst at Independence First and co‑chair of the transportation advocacy team, said task force members helped shape the pilot beginning in April 2023 and supported vendor selection and outreach. Rubanton said ridership started very low but has grown; she told the committee there were 221 rides provided in the previous month and that Transit Pros (the vendor) reported minimal complaints. She asked the county to include operational funding for the pilot in the 2026 fiscal year budget and said task force members have also sought state support via the Joint Committee on Finance.

Both speakers said no formal rider survey has yet been completed but that anecdotal feedback from users has been positive, and they offered to continue working with county staff to identify funding needs and priorities. The comments were delivered as part of the public comment period; the pilot itself was presented earlier to the committee as an informational item and there was no committee vote on funding at this meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Milwaukee County - Committee on Transportation and Transit on 2025-06-11 9:30 AM - HYBRID MEETINGThis meeting will be held in Room 203-R, and will be live-streamed on the County Legislative Information Center: https://milwaukeecounty.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx - Jun 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Task force members and disability advocates told the committee the same‑day paratransit pilot has expanded access and ridership is growing; they asked the county to include funding for the pilot in the 2026 budget and pursue state support.","taxTitle","Milwaukee County, Wisconsin","taxId",2736,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6658806,"Office of Economic Inclusion reports drop in targeted business participation year over year; officials cite contract mix as cause",300,3285000,3585000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3769771-60d615f2548fadee01f7310382141ce0&start=3285&end=3585","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3769771-60d615f2548fadee01f7310382141ce0/thumbnail_3285000.jpg","/articles/6658806/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Office-of-Economic-Inclusion-reports-drop-in-targeted-business-participation-year-over-year-officials-cite-contract-mix-as-cause","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6658806-0b71384c55f9dcd07a28a293c3c4dd67/orig.mp4?Expires=1771108001&Signature=QIit5E2801taUcHAeECabgeoUUJaqYb8krh8VMmnwPkVXac4Adbmb03FO5bfqjbZ65asN3P6Yk7MV7qDZTCt~OKPkxCGb7D-iIiuYlIBvajDinFjiaYj4RxjN~ANB6xqhcWLY6G-~~8SbjE-dJixNrk~Ub7maDTrIyV2AvMPcJ1S7rESNvOOdJXWAm5q3qIdATZvmH6RUuVZcZn5wcmLDLW08BbsJTyBKSQ~iWk-nW3xdKcZnmxpg~adLZmYQDbRA5LYQhI0yAjoWhzoylRZkU0PkPHnnTFa7IbffvVEItCz~-JOKsWk6JeKblPKT8aOc~FO5Wwpr0nq~QpzeENawQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Milwaukee County Office of Economic Inclusion presented an informational report on Targeted Business Enterprise (TBE) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation for March and April 2025, reporting roughly $3.3 million in contract dollars awarded to certified firms during those months and noting a significant drop from 2024 participation.

Director Lamont Robinson said March contract awards totaled just over $102 million of which about $5 million was eligible for participation; certified firms held approximately $1.8 million (35.1% of eligible dollars) for March. In April, Robinson said $57.5 million in contract dollars were awarded, about $15 million deemed eligible and about $1.5 million (10.3% of eligible dollars) held by certified firms. Combined certified firm participation for March and April was reported at about $3.3 million.

Robinson provided a demographic breakdown of participation across categories for the two months: roughly $195,000 to Asian‑owned firms; $496,000 to Black‑owned firms; $118,000 to Hispanic firms; $602,000 to Native American firms; $1.5 million to women-owned firms; and $436,000 to other small businesses. He told supervisors the year‑over‑year decline from 2024 (about $27 million participation for the same period) reflects the contract mix in 2025, where the county has issued more software renewals and service contracts and fewer construction and professional services contracts that historically generate higher participation dollars.

A supervisor requested that future reports add percentage columns and benchmarks to make year‑over‑year comparisons easier to read; Robinson acknowledged the request and said the office will include additional percentages and context in future reports. The item was informational and no committee action was taken.","The county\u0000s Office of Economic Inclusion reported about $3.3 million awarded to certified firms in March and April 2025 and a year-over-year decline from 2024 participation; director Lamont Robinson said the dip largely reflects the types of contracts awarded in 2025 so far.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6658811,"MCTS reports progress on EEO goals, cites high minority representation and apprenticeship work to raise female craft hiring",358,2567000,2925000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3769771-60d615f2548fadee01f7310382141ce0&start=2567&end=2925","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3769771-60d615f2548fadee01f7310382141ce0/thumbnail_2567000.jpg","/articles/6658811/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/MCTS-reports-progress-on-EEO-goals-cites-high-minority-representation-and-apprenticeship-work-to-raise-female-craft-hiring","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6658811-1a423123d69a64280023663f0649818d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771108001&Signature=HwEI0kWr-snYFHv6fw19-o7N9lccb2bESxV8DM-gPnlh8yq4gkOOwOfRDhQg8n9gc1JNoQp3G19nZBdLRKaSZcnkwqiTeeaxhzgkDqZktt~X5Gd~1gXGZCZo~X~IeZ13MNe~RUObV8GYwHZIaA9-Ny9O9urd1731xfSuGw1Mok8FICQxMKDvxu39vJV2WOHxFSySB0DqDf9ACycd3RkgsH9JdbLqNJnnzFhDrNScvLAvCQH390wCYuQ8XkjzSiqQAXcUdMPPqTKDQCBltug1prJVv-i32BJQFs4dcD-~2do-laWaTLXcCbqz1kL7DwloO5-p3z24XLP1BbmCJrilSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Milwaukee County Transit System staff presented an informational report on the agency\u0000s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) program, telling the committee that minority representation now exceeds utilization goals in every job category while female representation meets goals in five of seven categories.

Sandy Kellner, chief administrative officer and EEO officer for MCTS, said the agency updates its EEO program every three years to set utilization goals by job category using American Community Survey (ACS) data. Kellner reported that professionals are 53% minority compared with a goal of 18.7% and administrative support workers are 57% minority compared with a 41% goal; she said director-level minority representation is at an all-time high of 50%.

Kellner said female representation exceeds goals in five of seven job categories, but MCTS is continuing recruitment and training efforts for craft and service worker categories where female representation remains low. Strategies cited include a state-partnered apprenticeship program (with an incumbent female apprentice), internal job-shadowing and skill-building programs, and specialized EEO training for hiring managers. Kellner said MCTS maintains reporting to Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requirements and will continue targeted recruitment and retention efforts.

Committee members asked about how utilization goals are calculated; Kellner explained the goals are derived from ACS labor-force data for the Milwaukee area and are updated every three years when the EEO plan is refreshed. A public commenter, Michael Brown, representing union concerns, praised increased minority leadership but urged hiring based on qualification and criticized what he described as a persistent \"buddy system\" in promotions; he urged the county to ensure qualifications guide hires. The item was informational and no committee action was requested.","Milwaukee County Transit System presented its 2024-2027 Equal Employment Opportunity program update, saying minority representation exceeds utilization goals in all job categories and highlighting an apprenticeship and job‑shadowing programs to increase female representation in craft/service roles.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6658816,"County committee recommends MCTS—s Move 2025 route changes; plan would add four routes, extend several and eliminate small campus route",1984,563000,2547000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3769771-60d615f2548fadee01f7310382141ce0&start=563&end=2547","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3769771-60d615f2548fadee01f7310382141ce0/thumbnail_563000.jpg","/articles/6658816/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/County-committee-recommends-MCTSs-Move-2025-route-changes-plan-would-add-four-routes-extend-several-and-eliminate-small-campus-route","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6658816-10aa09342e807aaab7fe9e07f77b49e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771108001&Signature=Zb8~fPRUNKtCKI1TsEwIrp2Zo174CK~TY~ugMhW0OC68d9bQrnAzMsafa6bdrhIlGHZ0g8W7tbmsfUS7NhVd6HmMMxXcCyXyTMyOTUK0MmXiYglIdmJI3uadrmUgSBiWFjHgmmMTTDsHO2Mhdqb63t-p-3WDh5X~3x5GFET9LPUQM4AI0IB5~zin5JF9nUPyugCupo6XXiEEJKhQak4~S-~j7OwISRGVlryw0cBzJw4XjIMXpTpTA9~ASyEAq5jjkm5vdhzVqalTBa9q8qpNnl0glahG5i6X014vHze9JeLvCCfwYuisYKMGsmu5tM6WEnj~-e~vMI3bY038ezGXew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Milwaukee County Committee on Transportation and Transit recommended adoption, by a 5-0 vote, of Milwaukee County Transit System\u0000s Move 2025 recommended route plan, a cost-neutral package of service changes planned to take effect with the fall schedule on Aug. 24.

MCTS presenters said the plan is budget-neutral (no net additional operating hours) and is based on six months of public outreach including public meetings, station boards for drivers, surveys in English and Spanish, and targeted stakeholder engagement. Tom Winter, director of service development at MCTS, and Jesus Ochoa, planning manager, outlined four categories of proposed changes: increased frequency on high-ridership corridors, creation of four new routes, route extensions to improve connections, and targeted modifications where ridership is low.

Key elements described by MCTS:
- Frequency increases: Blue Line service north of Hampton would be increased from every 30 minutes to every 15 minutes; Routes 57 and 63 would receive more frequent service during weekday peak periods.
- Four new routes: Route 59 would provide new service along Drexel Avenue to Drexel Town Square and IKEA; Route 73 would serve a Mill Road segment; Route 74 would connect Highway 175 to Miller Parkway (with a potential future stop near the baseball stadium tied to a WisDOT interchange project); Route 82 would be a segment split off from Route 19 to serve Oak Creek and Drexel Town Square.
- Extensions and connection improvements: Route 14 would be extended further west on Wisconsin Avenue toward Marquette University; Route 52 and Route 56 would be extended to serve additional shopping nodes, parks and senior centers; Route 68 would be extended eastward to UWM.
- Modifications and reductions: Route 19 would be shifted off a narrow segment of Martin Luther King Drive to wider Sixth Street through downtown to improve reliability; limited, low-ridership weekday segments on routes 51 and 55 over Lake Drive would be removed; Route 49U, a small, school‑year‑only route serving Brown Deer Park & Ride to UWM, would be eliminated and mitigated by the Route 68 extension.

MCTS emphasized a service‑equity (Title VI) analysis that, according to presenters, found no disparate adverse impact on minority or low‑income populations and noted planned mitigation for eliminated segments. The agency said it had engaged with the Office of Equity, ATU local leadership and municipal DPW staff during plan development; ATU representatives urged clearer breakdowns of hours transferred between routes and requested additional station meetings for operators.

Public commenters at the committee hearing included Transit Plus and disability advocates who urged continued funding for the same‑day paratransit pilot program (a separate informational item). Committee members asked for clarifications about specific district impacts, layover location safety at a Greendale layover near Northway and Grange, and the plan\u0000s outreach and multilingual accommodations. MCTS said training and rider outreach would follow approval. Supervisor Ekblad moved the item; the motion carried 5-0.","Milwaukee County Transit System presented its Move 2025 recommended route plan and the committee voted 5-0 to recommend adoption. The cost-neutral plan creates four new routes, extends others, increases frequency on several corridors and eliminates a small UWM seasonal route.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6658820,"Milwaukee County committee approves applying for up to $31 million in federal SS4A implementation funding",298,42000,340000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3769771-60d615f2548fadee01f7310382141ce0&start=42&end=340","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3769771-60d615f2548fadee01f7310382141ce0/thumbnail_42000.jpg","/articles/6658820/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Milwaukee-County-committee-approves-applying-for-up-to-31-million-in-federal-SS4A-implementation-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6658820-7b7cbc3b88d284113be9a427f1c978f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771108001&Signature=YxcQFEgiUGWtz8N0PrsD45u6wRDCxbY7XJH8LCpPrY1QEJihDU~arLrQsk1~duy8KBrMelWn7ppd04v5I~yGM0puVIh-5T5sePShzjLg3v0hxIBUSZ5L1dUEI440uq24gOQlEs2faT1fqx7a4CBeBCPf~cSdik76Hl~0Etrvjf7JmcVcy~Pf6XOtGjce6w~KkpFZwkFt4QdwefAwNkkCxnpUJ8rRlmPekP18p58cUM8K5JUQKLkFiUnDI0cDhWHa6HikFElPD1iewiFXddzTM2yM8ozV9lEvgbnsW9K6wOBQ63R1Rxs4G5nYNrZ~AzC9GeqeCmlGwwZB9OtXrJUPlg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Milwaukee County Committee on Transportation and Transit voted 5-0 to recommend adoption of a request from the Department of Transportation to apply for implementation funding under the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary grant program.

The county sought authorization to apply for implementation funds that DOT staff said could total about $31,000,000, approximately $25,000,000 of which would be federal funds and the remainder provided via a required 20% local match. Jeff Spancia of the Milwaukee County Department of Transportation said the application would fund construction of permanent safety infrastructure identified in the county\u0000s Corridor of Concern and comprehensive safety action plan.

The DOT director\u0000s office described the SS4A application as the next phase after earlier studies and demonstration projects: a countywide roadway analysis published in February 2024, a safety action plan identifying 25 high‑hazard corridors, and smaller demonstration projects with five municipal partners. Spancia told supervisors the implementation grant would allow the county and its municipal partners to build permanent countermeasures intended to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes.

Supervisor Martinez moved the item; the motion was carried 5-0. During discussion, supervisors asked whether the grant would be administered through the state and how matching funds would be provided. Spancia said the current application is federal funding with a 20% local match and that local matches would be provided by the jurisdiction where each project is located; many of the projects are on municipal rather than county roadways and municipal partners had already given assurances they would provide matching funds.

Spancia and committee members described the application as competitive but presented it as a county priority based on prior planning and pilot projects. No amendments or conditions were recorded in the committee\u0000s discussion.

The committee record shows the motion was recommended for adoption and forwarded as referred to the Committee on Finance. If awarded, staff said the projects would be built in later years (DOT referenced 2027\u00002028 as target years for construction).","The County’s transportation committee voted 5-0 to authorize applying for Safe Streets and Roads for All implementation funds, a proposal the Department of Transportation says could fund up to $31 million in permanent safety projects with a required 20% local match.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Advocates urge continued funding for same‑day paratransit pilot, report rising ridership

Office of Economic Inclusion reports drop in targeted business participation year over year; officials cite contract mix as cause

MCTS reports progress on EEO goals, cites high minority representation and apprenticeship work to raise female craft hiring

County committee recommends MCTS—s Move 2025 route changes; plan would add four routes, extend several and eliminate small campus route

Milwaukee County committee approves applying for up to $31 million in federal SS4A implementation funding