Panel approves plan to remake Badger Bus terminal

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

From an article by Mike Ivey in The Capital Times:

A proposal to redevelop the Badger Bus terminal site at the corner of West Washington Avenue and Bedford Street has moved forward, despite pleas from mass transit backers.

The Madison Plan Commission Monday night approved plans for 82 luxury apartments units and 12,000 square feet of retail space in three buildings in the Bassett neighborhood.

The development would force closing of the bus terminal at 2 S. Bedford St., but that issue fell outside the review of the commission.

"I don't like to see the bus station going away and that's not to say it's not an important matter," said commission member Tim Gruber.

Still, a half-dozen transit backers spoke against the project. In addition to regular Badger Bus service between Madison and Milwaukee, the station also serves 10 Greyhound trips daily.

"This is going to make bus travel that much more difficult, especially for people without cars," said Barbara Smith.