Milwaukee Rising

County panel oks bus bike rack grant application

Jan. 28 -- A County Board committee has recommended, 5-2, that $760,000 be added to next year's county budget to add bike racks to county buses.

The total cost of rack project, including driver and rider education, would be about $790,000. The county could recover about $520,000 through a federal grant, with tax levy and private donations covering the rest, according to a county memo. The tax levy impact could be about $270,000.

The documents did not say where the county would get the $30,000 needed to bridge the gap between the cost of the project and the funding recommended by the committee.

Adding racks to county buses has been a long-time goal of bicycling advocates. The County Board last year approved seeking grant funding for the effort.

The basic rack project would cost $650,000, according to the memo.

"This includes $545,000 for racks, installation and replacement parts; $60,000 for facility restriping; $20,000 for operator training; and $25,000 for user education," it said.

An additional $140,000 would be needed for annual operating costs, according to the memo.

"This amount includes one new mechanic position (including benefits, social security, etc.); the cost for vehicle damage repair; and revenues lost due to the removal of marketing panels from the front of buses. If that level of maintenance support proves to be insufficient, an additional maintenance position would be added in the 2010 budget," it said.