MetroRide public information session at the Marathon County Library. MWC photo by Mike Leischner
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The Marathon County Metropolitan Planning Organization held a public information session Tuesday on the Wausau Area Transit Plan.
Laura Brown with RLS and Associates facilitated the discussion, which included details of a recently completed survey on the Wausau MetroRide system. She says the service is a vital part of the community.
“It provides an important benefit that keeps people healthy, employed, and active,” said Brown. “It is a part of this community, and we know budgets are tight. The dollar can only go so far, but transit is important to a lot of people here.”
The survey data showed that many of the MetroRide service’s shortcomings remain the same- limited route service, lack of weekend service, and the inability to take passengers outside Wausau’s city limits. Brown says the last part of that presents the most challenges because for someone with a car, crossing municipal borders is something they may not give a second thought to. But for someone who relies on others to get around, it’s not that easy. “This area is several communities, several municipalities working together. People who live here probably function as if it is one big place but the governments each have their own pot of money.
“The challenge is to work together, to bring a little bit of money from each place to make a more comprehensive system. That is what we are facing,” she adds.
The Metropolitan Planning Organization has published the draft plan on its website, you can find that by clicking here. Those who would like to submit comments can contact MPO Director Dave Mack at 715-261-6043 or by email at MPO@co.marathon.wi.us. Brown says those comments will be included with the final draft, which will be distributed to all local municipalities. She hopes that can get them to think seriously about investing in MetroRide because having more stakeholders will help provide a better service.
A second session will be held Wednesday from 10 to 11:30 AM at the Marathon County Public Library- Downtown Wausau location.
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