University transportation officials are looking for input from students on changes to campus bus routes that could double the wait time on two major routes.
Because of budget cuts, UW-Madison Transportation Services will have to choose two of three options impacting routes 81 and 85 starting Sept. 1.
The options include doubling the wait time between bus arrivals for the Route 81 night route from 15 to 30 minutes and the Route 85 wait times from 10 to 20 minutes during weekdays. The third option would combine a portion of Route 85 with Route 80.
Transportation services will hold a public meeting at the Memorial Union on May 3 at 7 p.m., and the Metro Transit public meeting will be held May 9 at 7 p.m. at the Madison Municipal Building.
Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, said increasing the wait time on routes students rely on is “borderline unacceptable,” especially for the late night bus route.
“Shutting down the buses toward the Lakeshore dorms and cutting those services would be the most detrimental to students,” Resnick said.
UW-Madison freshman and Lakeshore dorm resident Emily Skorin plans to live in Lakeshore next year and said she relies on the buses because “the bus system is the safest way to get back to Lakeshore.”
Increasing the wait time would also affect the image of safety on campus, according to Resnick.
“The decision that comes out of this will have a major impact both on the perception and the availability of reliable transportation on campus,” he said.
