Wausau MetroRide buses. Image courtesy: WAOW TV.
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Bus riders in Wausau won’t have to worry about needing to pay for rides until at least this summer.
Thursday afternoon Wausau’s Transit Commission voted to continue the suspension of Metro Ride fares until June. Transit Director Greg Seubert says the department has enough CARES funding left to continue covering the usual cost of fares. “In terms of the needs of our passengers, you know is it still a benefit to have free fares for the community. I would say yes and again we have CARES funds that will make up the difference.”
With funds covered by the CARES Act, Seubert says the suspension of fares also helps the bus service to keep social distancing during rides. “I absolutely think that we should still avoid contact with customers and not come in contact with fare money yet. Ideally, that’s the best circumstance. It also allows us to load passengers through the back door and create a social distance between us and the passengers.”
The Transit Commission will reevaluate the decision to suspend the collection of passenger fares at their April meeting. The vote to continue the suspension of fares passed the Commission unanimously.
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