By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
The future of the Innovation Express bus service within Whitewater is under review as the current contract ends next month.
The ride-share program has been offered to people in Milton, Janesville and Whitewater. The three municipalities have contributed to the effort, as has Generac Power Systems and several higher education schools.
In 2013, Whitewater contributed $10,000 of city funds toward the service. But as he drew up 2014 budget documents, City Manager Cameron Clapper did not include funding for the program, opting instead to discuss its future within Whitewater with the Common Council.
“The success of the service has been questioned due to the fact that the bus often appears empty when seen traveling through the City of Whitewater,” Clapper said.
In addition to perceived low rider figures, Clapper also expressed concern about the likelihood of the city contributing more toward the service in 2014. Federal and state grant dollars have been funding a portion of the service through the end of this year.
While explaining the scenario to the council at their Nov. 5 meeting, Clapper said the city, in a 50-50 split with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, would be expected to contribute $18,413 in the year ahead.
Clapper provided the council with a spreadsheet, outlining rider data from August 2012 and August 2013.
Overall ridership did increase, from 567 passengers in 2012 to 1,460 passengers in 2013. But the share of riders within Whitewater and UW-Whitewater has remained small. In 2012, there were 37 city and UW-Whitewater students who used the service. This year, 91 Whitewater-based riders used the service in August.
Whitewater trails the service, which is used more heavily in Janesville and Milton.
The council had a robust discussion of the Innovation Express at their Nov. 5 meeting, but opted not to make an immediate decision. Instead, the council invited a representative to Generac to speak to the issue.
