WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) – Wausau’s City Council rejected lifting city bus capacity limits at their meeting Tuesday night.
Metro Ride buses, which have a capacity of 55 passengers, have been limited to just 10 riders to maintain social distancing and to limit the spread of Coronavirus.
The city’s transportation committee recommend lifting the limits, as the Wausau School District is scheduled to resume in-person schooling on November 2. Many students use city buses to get to and from class.
The Common Council voted to keep the 10-rider limit in place. The vote was 9-2.
In a separate issue, the Marathon County Board of Supervisors will vote on whether to fund expanded bus service to Rib Mountain on Thursday.
Regional transit authorities are not allowed in Wisconsin, so bus routes that travel outside city limits must be funded by neighboring municipalities.
Since Shopko closed last year, there are no department or big-box stores on current Metro Ride routes. The county proposal would offer once-a-week bus service from Wausau down Rib Mountain Drive. It would cost $10,000, and would require a two-thirds vote of the county board. If approved, ridership numbers and funding would be reviewed in 9 months.
An earlier service from Wausau to St. Clair’s Hospital in Weston was funded by surrounding municipalities. It was discontinued because of low ridership and rising costs.
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