Report says flexible and on-demand transit services could help address the “last mile” problem in metro Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Public Policy Forum
March 27, 2017
A report released today by the Public Policy Forum suggests that flexible forms of transit service – and perhaps new strategies linked to partnerships with ride-hailing companies like Lyft and Uber – could help address the region’s elusive “last mile” problem, which can arise when fixed- route transit services stop short of bringing commuters all the way to their job sites.
“The rise of smart phones, mobile applications, and new private transportation service providers has ushered in a highly experimental period in which transit systems are testing new ways of providing on-demand transportation services,” says Forum Senior Researcher Joe Peterangelo, the report’s author. “Our research indicates there are a number of innovative solutions that local elected officials and transit system leaders should consider that could offer last mile solutions while also improving general transit access, coverage, and quality in the Milwaukee area.”
The last mile challenge is particularly common in suburban areas, where jobs are more dispersed and difficult for the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) and suburban transit systems to serve efficiently.
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The new report analyzes options for improving last mile transportation connections in metro Milwaukee, with a particular focus on reducing transportation barriers for City of Milwaukee residents seeking employment opportunities throughout the region. It considers last mile strategies used in other metro areas and explores their potential costs and benefits if tried in Milwaukee. The report also includes “local area studies” of Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley and New Berlin to illustrate possible application of flexible and on-demand transit services.
The report cites two last mile strategies that have “several unique strengths that merit a closer look” for metro Milwaukee. One is flexible transit, which typically involves utilizing 14- passenger buses or vans that are allowed to make diversions from set routes to serve dispersed businesses in suburban areas by request; and the other is ride-hailing, which offers on-demand, point-to-point transportation to and from transit stops through partnerships with taxi companies and transportation network companies, such as Lyft and Uber.
“While no last mile strategy would be a perfect, comprehensive solution in all areas of the region, each may be effective in certain contexts and/or in combination with other services,” says Peterangelo. “It is also critical to recognize that implementation of any of these strategies will require additional public funding and/or an employer subsidy for each trip.”
The report concludes with several policy recommendations, including the following:
“Overall, our research provides important insights into the steps being taken elsewhere to integrate new technologies and new ways of thinking into public transit offerings,” says Peterangelo. “It is important to remember, however, that taking such steps in Milwaukee would be difficult given the financial challenges facing our transit system, which makes preservation of existing service levels a daunting task.”
The full report – which was commissioned by MetroGO! – can be downloaded at the Forum’s web site, www.publicpolicyforum.org.
Milwaukee-based Public Policy Forum, established in 1913 as a local government watchdog, is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the effectiveness of government and the development of southeastern Wisconsin through objective research of public policy issues.