MCTS Connect, the name of Milwaukee County’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line, is nearing completion and will begin service on June 4.
The nine-mile Connect 1 line, which runs from the Milwaukee Regional Medical Complex to Cass Street in Downtown Milwaukee will include dedicated bus lanes, the lines for which are being painted this week.
Painting should take three to four weeks and begins on Tuesday, weather permitting.
These dedicated lanes are a key factor in BRT’s faster service.
The route will be about 50 percent dedicated lanes and 50 percent mixed traffic lanes, MCTS says. The dedicated bus lanes are along the right travel lane of the eastern portion of the route, on Wisconsin Avenue from Hawley Road to 8th Street and Plankinton Avenue to Cass Street.
“Modernizing public transit through the BRT has taken nearly 5 years to achieve,” said MCTS President and Interim Managing Director Denise Wandke.
“We’re excited to introduce Milwaukee County to this enhanced travel experience. Dedicated bus lanes are proven to increase safety for not only buses and cars, but for pedestrians and cyclists, too.”
The lanes will have painted markings and signage designating them as bus-only lanes, though motorists can, after yielding to buses, use the lane for turns parallel parking in designated areas.
Bikes may use the bus lane.
“Modernizing public transit through the BRT has taken nearly 5 years to achieve,” said MCTS President and Interim Managing Director Denise Wandke.
“We’re excited to introduce Milwaukee County to this enhanced travel experience. Dedicated bus lanes are proven to increase safety for not only buses and cars, but for pedestrians and cyclists, too.”
Here’s a guide, provided by MCTS, on how to use the dedicated bus lanes:
Motorists:
- After yielding to the bus, motorists may access the dedicated bus lanes to access driveways and designated parallel parking.
- After yielding to the bus and obeying pavement markings (dashed striping), motorists may access the dedicated bus lanes to make right turns at intersections.
- When parking in designated parking areas, make sure your entire vehicle, including side mirrors, is inside the parking lane, and use caution when opening doors as buses, bikes, and vehicles could be approaching from behind you.
- Never park your vehicle in the bus-only lane, even temporarily.
Pedestrians:
- Only cross the dedicated bus lanes at designated crosswalks, wait for the appropriate signals, and look in all directions before crossing the dedicated bus lanes.
- Never cross or run in front of an approaching bus and avoid entering the dedicated bus lane from between two parked vehicles.
- Take a break from your electronic devices. Remove your headphones so you can hear traffic in the dedicated bus lane, and don’t walk and text when crossing the BRT route.
Cyclists:
- Cyclists are allowed to travel in the dedicated bus lane.
- Be aware of approaching vehicles.
- Use hand signals to indicate turning.
Find more information about MCTS CONNECT here.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
