Tag Archives: city buses

Southridge Mall May Prohibit Milwaukee County Buses

Posted by Shakara on

ImageShoppers and employees who ride the bus will have to use bus stops off of Southridge Mall’s property if the malls owner gets its way.

According to The Business Journal, Simon Property Group Inc. may prohibit Milwaukee County Transit System bus service on the mall’s property in the near future.

In a memo addressed to the county transportation, public works and transit committee, the Indianapolis-based owner of the Greendale mall raised concerns about the service, including noise and frequency of service.

“Concerns raised by the Simon Property Group have included removal of bus service on the mall property before and after mall hours, financial assistance for continued operation along ring roads during mall hours, signing a hold-harmless agreement for continued operation, addressing noise concerns from nearby residents and overall consolidation of bus service during mall hours,” the memo said.

Currently, there are four bus routes at the mall, serving about 1,200 riders a day, and a freeway flyer service from southwestern Milwaukee County to downtown serving about 310 riders per day.

There is no specific date on when the buses would have to start operating off-property. The county transportation, public works and transit committee will address the memo in an upcoming meeting.

Simon Property Group Inc. currently owns or has an interest in 383 properties in North America, Europe and Asia.

Milwaukee County Bus Stops…Now Featuring MPD Patrols

Posted by Shakara on

Caught On Tape: teenager attacks and threatens a county bus driver

Milwaukee Public Schools.

Mayfair Mall.

Riverwest BP Gas Station

State Fair Park

and now….Milwaukee County Transit Buses.

The list grows longer for public places tainted with youth violence. When will it cease?

It has gotten so bad on the city buses that Chief Flynn announced Friday that his officers will now patrol bus stops on routes with the most problems in order to deter violence.

Because buses are moving vehicles on county roads, safety on the bus system is normally handled by the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department. But Chief Flynn said Friday that his officers would step in to keep crime under control.

Sheriff David Clarke has assigned some deputies to bus patrols in the past. It’s no secret Sheriff Clarke is frustrated with the recent string of attacks, but he says the 2012 budget cuts implemented by County Executive Chris Abele will limit his department’s ability to protect riders. Because of that, Clarke advised the public last week that they would be riding  at their own risk.

MCTS also uses the  private security firm G4S Wackenhut (some people refer to them as rent-a-cops) to monitor the buses as well. According to the Journal Sentinel, Wackenhut has responded to the bulk of this year’s 3,200 service calls about problems on buses.

But county executive Chris Abele says the county bus system is the safest it’s been in five years.

A 24-year-old woman was attacked on a bus Thursday near 35th & Fond du Lac Ave. in front of her 2-year-old son.

A driver was assaulted last week by a rider who refused to pay his fare.

A bus was involved in a road-rage incident when the driver of a car cut off the bus, then pulled over and punched the window of the bus door.

Last Tuesday, MPD reported more than 30 teenagers went on a public rampage on Atkinson & Capitol, assaulting innocent bystanders in front of the library after four of them were kicked off a bus.

And the list goes on.

I’m no political debater and I try to avoid those arguments, but Mr. Abele, does that sound safe to you?

Not only has it become dangerous for riders, but drivers can’t even go to work without worrying if they will be attacked during their shifts.

People are calling this city “Detroit Jr.”

Where is this youth infatuation with group violence and attacking adults coming from?

What can be done to make things better? How can we take our city back?