Madison Metro Transit is one of the best public transportation systems in the country. In fact, compared to those in communities of similar size, Metro Transit has four times more riders per capita and provides twice as many hours of service than any other public transportation system, according to a Wisconsin Department of Transportation performance audit.
Recently, Metro Transit disclosed it would add five hybrid buses to its fleet. Now Mayor Dave Cieslewicz has requested that two of these buses be used on the UW-Madison campus for the 80, 81, 82 and 85 routes.
The measure calls for an ""upfront cash contribution"" by the university to offset the cost of the city using these buses. Asking the university to pay for a portion of the cost is a great idea, as obviously students primarily use them.
This editorial board commends Metro Transit and Mayor Dave for trying to make the city and our campus more environmentally friendly, but feels more can be done.
Hybrid buses cost approximately $500,000, compared to $300,000 for normal buses. With an operating budget of $42 million—$30 million of which goes to employee salaries and benefits—an increase of $1 million is significant.
This money would be put to better use by adding more routes, which would mean more passengers. Metro Transit had 11.8 million passengers in 2005 and is looking to reach 12.4 million riders in 2006, according to Catherine Debo, Metro Transit's general manager for the past five years.
Current diesel buses emit 2,262 grams of carbon dioxide per mile, according to a report released last year by Debo. Hybrid buses emit 1,779 grams per mile, an improvement of 517 grams.
While this is a significant improvement, more routes would attract more passengers, leading to fewer cars on the road, which should be the ultimate goal of any public transportation system.
The damage carbon dioxide emissions have done to our planet is astounding. Hopefully, all cars and buses on the road will be hybrids in the future.
But until the price of this technology comes down, Metro Transit should employ more conventional efforts, such as adding routes, to attract more riders.
