Madison Reporter

In response to heavy complaints about proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations on State Street blocking storefronts and taking up too much space, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway has made compromises and is moving forward with opening smaller stations. 

Business owners on State Street raised concerns that the originally proposed 75-foot-wide stations would decrease the visibility of their businesses. In response, the stations have been decreased to 50 feet and are also now more transparent, so businesses can remain visible, NBC 15 News reported.

"We have been listening to, and working to address concerns of State Street businesses over the past several years," Rhodes-Conway wrote in a July 12 Twitter post. "Today we are releasing a modified BRT station design, more context sensitive to improve the transit situation for the entire street."

Madison is one of only six cities expected to receive federal funding in the next year, and the mayor wants to take advantage of the opportunity to build better public transportation and $80 million has been earmarked to fund the BRT project, NBC 15 News reported.

In her address, the mayor pointed out that the new stations will increase access to retail and jobs and will boost Madison’s economy and tourism.