Metro, which has faced budget strains due mainly to rising fuel prices, has restructured routes three times since 2000, each time including service cuts as part of the package.

But that's put more riders on bus routes with fewer hours of service, which is filling some buses to capacity and making it harder to meet schedules.

"We were trying to do too much with too little," said Sharon Persich, Metro's planning and scheduling manager.

Now Metro is proposing a series of changes that will add a net 33 hours of service to the system each day, which should ease problems, especially on the central Isthmus where crowding is worst, Persich said.

Metro has not yet developed a plan on how to pay for changes.

"It's a city issue," Persich said. "It's going to have to be addressed on that level."

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, pleased ridership is increasing and that Metro is addressing crowding and scheduling concerns, said he hasn't seen cost estimates for the changes but is hopeful the moves won't be expensive.

"I don't know what 30 hours means in terms of cost," he said. "Raising fares, that's something I'm reluctant to do."

OUTLINING PROPOSAL TODAY

Metro staff will outline draft proposals before the city Transit and Parking Commission at 5 p.m. today at the Madison Municipal Building. The commission will consider the proposals and likely set a public hearing for April. Changes could be made a soon as this summer.

Commission Chairman Carl Durocher was cautious about offering comment because he hasn't seen the draft proposals, but said, "I want to see us provide as attractive and convenient public transit system as possible in Madison."

Boosted by the use of unlimited ride passes by UW-Madison and others, Metro attracted 12.7 million riders last year, the second-highest total in system history after the 13.2 million peak in 1982, Persich said.

Since 2000, the system has added 1.6 million annual rides in the campus area alone, Persich said.

"We are still ascending," she said.

But cost-cutting and service efficiencies and reductions have hurt, she said.

Buses on Route 6, the backbone of the system that runs from East Towne to West Towne, are running on too tight a schedule, Persich said. Routes on Monroe Street, Gorham and Ingersoll streets, East Washington Avenue, Johnson Street and University Avenue, for example, have lost more than 200 daily trips since 2000.

On some routes, filled buses must pass people at stops, while heavy ridership has made it hard for drivers to keep up with the schedules, she said.

Meanwhile, new bus designs have meant fewer seats and less standing room, and automated fare box requirements make boarding slower, she said.

RESTORING ROUTES

The proposed changes - a mix of new service and some efficiencies - would make a difference, Persich said.

Metro wants to revamp Route 6, return popular routes that bypassed Capitol Square and connected the east Isthmus and campus, and improve service to the airport, Madison Area Technical College and more.

"This is an expansion, there's no question about it," Persich said.

Metro, however, is constrained because it's using all its buses and has no extra garage space for more.

Durocher is concerned about putting too much pressure on drivers, who've struggled to meet schedules especially through a tough winter.

'UNAPPEALING OPTIONS'

It's still unclear where the city will find money for the new service.

Metro's overall budget increased $1.17 million to $48.7 million in 2008. The city's share for fixed-route service rose $342,000, but due to a $679,000 cut in paratransit funding, net city funding for the system fell $337,400 to $9.8 million this year.

"We have a series of unappealing options," Durocher said. "We don't want to raise fares. We don't want to ask the taxpayers."

In recent years, the city has turned toward generating revenue by selling more advertising on buses, but that move has been controversial.

"I'm trying to avoid any of those three bad choices," Cieslewicz said. "The long-range hope for stabilizing public transit," Durocher said, "is the development of a regional transit authority."\

DRAFT METRO TRANSIT CHANGE HIGHLIGHTS

    CORE SERVICE CHANGES

Route 9: Eliminated in Johnson Street corridor, to be replaced by Routes 14 and 15 operating in the East Washington corridor.
Route 10: Restored, providing central Isthmus coverage, operating 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the UW-Madison academic calendar.
Route 37: No longer serve Advance Drive and will follow East Washington Avenue instead of Williamson Street.
Route 38: Serve areas south of Buckeye and Dempsey roads every 30 minutes.

    ROUTE CHANGES Route 6: End at East Towne. No Route 6 service for MATC on weekends, but Route 20 will continue that service. New Route 36 for East Springs Drive and City View neighborhood. New Route 26 for hourly midday service to American Center. More service to Madison Area Technical College. Route 17: Replaced by Routes 20 and 30 on weekdays after 6 p.m. between North and East Transfer Points. Certain trips won't serve Shopko/Copps during peak hours. Route 20: Serve East Towne but not the East Springs Drive loop and run on Anderson Street to MATC. Replace Route 24 service to the airport, which will increase service frequency. Serve ShopKo/Copps and the airport hourly after 6 p.m. Route 21: Increase midday service to every 30 minutes. Route 22: Service after 6:30 p.m. is hourly. Route 24: Eliminated, replaced by Routes 20 and 21. Route 26: New midday route from East Towne to American Center. Route 36: Serve Theirer Road, East Springs Drive and City View from East Towne bus stop. Improve frequency to City View. Operate weekends and holidays. PRODUCTIVITY CHANGES Route 14: Extended east of the Interstate to serve Sprecher neighborhood and will operate midday east of Capitol Square. Route 15: Realigned to replace service of Route 15 in some areas, and operate midday east of the Square. Route 34: Expanded to include peak-hour service. Route 39: Follow Dempsey Road outbound and Stoughton Road inbound. OTHER CHANGES Route 13: Operate as a loop using Olin Avenue inbound and Park Street outbound in the morning and visa versa in the afternoon. Route 44: Move from Fisher and Buick Street to Park Street. *Does not include all proposed route and schedule changes.
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