County to close two bus stops as ridership dips

With costs dramatically rising and ridership sinking, county officials will close two stops on the Ozaukee County Express commuter bus route.

Under the plan approved by supervisors on the county Public Works Committee, which oversees the county transit system, commuter buses will no longer stop at the Port Washington park-and-ride lots on Seven Hills Road near Allen-Edmonds and in the Town of Grafton on Highway V.

Only 4% of the route’s daily riders use the two lots, county Transit Superintendent Joy Neilson told the Public Works Committee last week.

Port Washington riders could use the bus stop at Walmart in Saukville and the users of the Highway V lot could use the stop at Grafton Commons a mile south.

The change would save the system $79,194, Neilson said.

Ridership this year is down more than 20% from last year and down 41% from 2009, Neilson said.

Due to the lower ridership, the average cost per ride is $29.65, compared to $11.10 per ride in 2010, when ridership was at its peak. Fares cover only about 9% of the current cost per ride, with federal funds picking up the majority of the rest.

Neilson said the drop in ridership is a national trend due to stable gasoline prices, higher employment and a thriving economy, officials say.

In Ozaukee County’s case, specifically, the population is aging and consequently commuting less while younger workers prefer more urban living.

Neilson said Washington and Waukesha counties also are seeing drops in ridership.

“At the same time, the (cost) is expected to increase. The trend is not sustainable,” she said.