A planned nine-mile bus rapid transit (BRT) project that would link downtown Milwaukee, Wis., and the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center can advance to the final design stage following a key federal environmental approval.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) and Milwaukee County's East-West BRT on Nov. 29 based on the project's Environmental Assessment.
“This is an important step in making this project a reality,” County Executive Chris Abele said. “This decision by FTA gives me confidence that federal funding will become available to deliver this significant regional project that can be expanded to other areas of the county and the region.”
The county plans to purchase electric buses to run along the route and earlier this month, the county board and county executive approved funding for the project in the 2019 budget.
MCTS said the East-West BRT will be the first rapid transit corridor in the region. The project is expected to reduce congestion and spark economic development across the corridor that runs between downtown Milwaukee, the city's Near West Side, Marquette University, Wauwatosa and the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center. MCTS described the project as a "central spine" that would pave the way for future rapid transit corridors in the area.
With the FONSI issued, the project moves into the final design, which should be completed by the end of 2019 with construction expected to begin in 2020. Service along the BRT route is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2021.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
