The transit system is in a precarious situation. Our funding isnt keeping up with expenses.

At the request of Milwaukee County and in light of a potentially serious funding shortfall, the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission is developing a short-term plan for the county transit system.

Affecting the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and city commuters alike, the system faces substantial service cuts if the county remains on its current fiscal course.

The commission held several open house public meetings last week to address the needs and concerns of county transit users in hopes of developing a financially viable, service efficient system.

State funds that the system heavily relies on have stagnated, with the county receiving roughly a 1.5 percent increase per year, which fails to keep up with inflation.

Drawing money out of that dwindling pot has caused the system to draw down its federal funds, which are on pace to be used up by 2010. The federal bank for county transit contained $37 million in 2001, and is down to $12 million this year. The federal money, which was intended for capital projects, is being used mostly for operating expenses.

The transit system is in a precarious situation. Our funding isnt keeping up with expenses, said Ken Yunker, deputy director for the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission.

An idea proposed by several legislators is to increase the sales tax slightly in Milwaukee and surrounding counties. The increase would likely be 0.25 percent to 0.5 percent, though talk is still preliminary.

A need for a dedicated source of local funding in line with other comparable metro systems was identified by the commission as well.

The potential economic damage for such substantial cuts is significant when 70 percent of transit use is for people going to either work or school, often without viable transportation alternatives.

The commission hopes that significant cuts can be avoided.

Two options were developed as examples of service cuts if the systems financial problems are not remedied. In both cases all freeway flyer and UBus services would be axed. Other possible cuts included the elimination of seven to 10 bus routes and the possibility of cutting night service hours.

However, the options were outlined more as an example of what would have to occur if funding levels continue as currently projected.

We are just trying to show people what a 35 percent cut in service looks like, said Yunker.

Evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the system was another component of the commissions plan, with the system performing extremely well in comparison to other similar metro areas. The county system was deemed to have excellent coverage within Milwaukee County, with over 90 percent of the population residing within a quarter mile of a bus or shuttle route.

Other identified strengths were buses are almost always on time (from a minute early to three minutes late), are generally not overcrowded, and excel in reaching the main areas of commerce and employment in the city.

However, the system is not without areas in need of improvement. Lengthy transit times were cited, as many buses get caught in traffic during peak hours and slog through their routes.

Differing from other metro systems, Milwaukee streets have no bus lanes to make getting them through heavy traffic easier, nor do they use traffic signal priorities to speed up service. Certain areas on the fringes of the city also lack sufficient coverage.

The commission is still in the process of acquiring feedback and gathering information from concerned citizens.

Additional public meetings will be held later in the spring, and development of a recommended plan will take place over the summer.

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