The Best Transit Access in Wisconsin is sitting Next to a Freeway, Part 1
Updated: Sep 2
How transit ridership has changed
Since peaking in the post-WWII 1940s, public transit ridership in the United States had already plummeted to all-time lows prior to 2020’s pandemic disruption.
Nearly 24 billion trips were taken in 1946 compared to just under 10 billion in 2019. Even more starkly, the share of transit trips, compared to overall trips, fell from over 30% post-war (and post-automobile peak) to under 5% today.
Source: adapted from American Public Transportation Association, Public Transportation Fact Book.
This can be attributed to many things, all centered around the rise of the automobile:
suburbanization
the removal of transit networks
the systematic defunding of transit systems in favor of highway construction
But that shift has come at a tremendous cost: over 17 million people killed in violent car crashes since 1899, devastating weather events from climate change, the isolation of millions of Americans who are unable to drive but not served by quality public transit, and many more consequences past and present.
It’s clear that shifting our transportation choices back towards public transit isn’t just a goal; it’s a necessity for the well-being of our neighbors and our planet.
When Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson recently called for the reconstruction of I-794 through Downtown Milwaukee, he was indirectly turning his back on his own goals focused on increasing the share of trips taken via transit in Milwaukee, such as the Climate and Equity Plan and Vision Zero plan.
When people decide how to get from Point A to Point B, they generally choose the most convenient available option. In a city with a quality transit system, that’s often the best choice! Users can avoid parking and traffic congestion while stepping onto an already heated/cooled vehicle (really, it makes driving look miserable). To support transit service at that level, it’s necessary to build dense housing and destinations in proximity to transit stops to support ridership that warrants frequent service and routes serving multiple neighborhoods.
As we work towards having better transit service across Milwaukee, it’s vital that we seek opportunities to build neighborhoods that encourage transit use.
The area around the I-794 corridor is already the transit hub of Milwaukee; it’s within a short walk of 15 MCTS routes, many of them high-frequency, running as often as every 10 minutes. The corridor also sits adjacent to regional rail and bus service at the Intermodal Station and nearby a large portion of The Hop’s current route. Is using this valuable, transit-accessible land for a freeway the best choice for our city?
One of the most common roadblocks to new housing development is resident pushback over increased traffic and parking demand.
By converting I-794 to a boulevard, we have an opportunity to build housing where it makes sense. Transit use is further encouraged by the convenience factor – and living car-lite (or even car-free) suddenly becomes more practical for many.
As a result, access via existing transit service is maintained, and new homes, jobs, and destinations drive increased ridership, which in turn warrants improved service. Improved service can encourage increases in ridership, creating a cascading force that improves service for riders across the region.
