Madison Bus Rapid Transit

Executive Overview

The City of Madison has engaged Urban Assets to aid in engaging the community in the planning and implementation of the first route of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

The initial corridor will operate east to west, from near East Towne Mall, through Madison’s downtown and the University of Wisconsin campus areas to west of the West Town Mall.

 

Impact:

Implementation of Madison’s first Bus Rapid Transit Route which will provide expanded transit options, reduced travel times, and a more equitable and efficient transit network.

Location:

Madison, WI 

Our Role:

Community engagement

Others on The Development Team:

  • AECOM – Project Lead
  • Strand – Engineering
  • Urban Assets – Community Engagement
  • CTG – Operations
  • Toole Design – Multi-Modal Transportation
  • SRF Consulting – Environmental
  • Commonwealth Heritage Group – Historic Preservation
  • ZebraDog – Branding

The Story:

City-wide public engagement for the Madison East-West Bus Rapid Transit Planning Study was guided by the City of Madison’s Racial Equity and Social Justice Initiative (RESJI), which sets guidelines and expectations for broad public outreach and targeted engagement of traditionally underrepresented populations.

The project team is deeply committed to encouraging involvement by all members of Madison’s diverse community, inclusive of all ages, races, cultures, genders, abilities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. 

A mix of online, print, and in-person tools and strategies are being used to build broad community awareness and promote equity, transparency, and collaboration throughout Phases One and Two of the project. The primary objective has been to develop a corridor plan that reflects a range of community needs, concerns, priorities, and values.

This has been achieved by utilizing a variety of engagement tools and methods to effectively reduce barriers to participation, especially for underrepresented members of the community, including surveys, small group meetings, neighborhood meetings, intercept interviews, tabling at events, and attending community organization meetings at their request. 

In The News

“We need to find a way to meet everyone’s transit needs,” said Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, who urged quick action on the project during her campaign. “The best way to do that is through BRT.”  

Dean Mosiman, Wisconsin State Journal, May 19, 2019

Project Visuals

Please explore the Bus Rapid Transit Planning Study’s visual impact through project renderings, floor plans, drawings, or photos.

Our Work

Urban Assets believes planning and development are inherently collaborative. We target projects that meet community needs, promote equity, and further healthy, sustainable growth.

How can we help you?

We deliver planning and strategic project management for community-oriented projects. How can we help?