Meetings and Updates Week of Sept 3
posted- City Meetings:
- Transportation Commission 9/4
- Madison Public Library Board 9/4
- Holiday Service Schedules for Labor Day 9/2
- Brush Collection Ending Soon for 2024
- Metro Transit’s New Fast Fare System and Fast Fare Card Pick-Up
- September is Library Card Sign-Up Month
- Events & Announcements
City Meetings
Note: This is not a complete list of meetings for this upcoming week. All meetings and their details can be found at the Meeting Schedule page.
Transportation Commission
The Transportation Commission meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 5th, at 5:00 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include the presentation of the Independent Auditor’s Report by Baker Tilly on Metro Transit’s budget. Here are two notable quotes from the Independent Auditor’s Report:
- On page 1: “In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position for Metro Transit, as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the changes in financial position and cash flows for the years then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.”
- On page 4: “System ridership continues steep growth, with a 13.5% increase in unlinked passenger trips 2023. However, preliminary evidence shows a significant reduction in transfers, so the increase in linked passenger trips is likely even higher.”
The TC agenda also includes a Quarterly Traffic Report by MPD (link), which describes MPD’s Traffic Enforcement activities so far this summer including several in and around District 3 on Milwaukee Street (on several occasions), Stoughton Road, and East Washington Ave. My thanks to MPD officers for this work! Meeting information:
Madison Public Library Board
The Madison Public Library Board meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 5, at 5:00 p.m. in Room 301 of the Central Library at 201 W. Mifflin St. Agenda items include updates on the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park. Here’s an excerpt from the Library Director’s most recent monthly report: “The project timeline has officially been updated to see the project go to bid in winter of 2024, start construction in spring of 2025, and open in fall of 2026. This pause will give library management time to explore operational funding options with the Library Board and other stakeholders. At this month’s board meeting, we’ll present data that could be used to reduce services and hours at libraries if a partial reduction is needed (less than the proposed 5%), but the same data will also allow us to begin to explore making those same reductions, even if the referendum passes in November, in order to move forward with the Imagination Center with our current operating budget."
The Library Board agenda also includes planning for the implementation of a reduction in evening hours at Madison Public Library locations in the event that the reductions will be necessary in the 2025 Operating Budget.
If you would like more information about becoming a member of a City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here.
Holiday Service Schedules for Labor Day 9/2
No Streets Division Collections or Drop-off Sites on Labor Day, September 2, 2024: The Streets Division will not perform trash, recycling, brush, or large item collection on Monday, September 2, 2024, in observance of the Labor Day holiday. The drop-off sites will also be closed.
Metro Service Reduced on Labor Day, Monday, September 2: Due to the holiday, Metro operates Sunday schedules on Monday, September 2. Sunday service is available on Routes A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, L, O, P, R, S. Route 80 operates weekday recess schedules. Last trip of the day departs from Memorial Union at 11:20 p.m. Routes 81-84 do not operate.
The Office of the Common Council will be closed on Monday, September 2 in observance of Labor Day. The Office of the Common Council will reopen on Tuesday, September 3 with regular business hours.
Street Closures for Taste of Madison: The streets surrounding the inner loop of the Capitol Square will close at 5:00pm on Friday, August 30th for the Taste of Madison. The closure will last until 2:00am on Monday, September 2nd. A detailed map showing the affected streets can be found on the Taste of Madison website.
Brush Collection Ending Soon for 2024
The Streets Division’s final curbside brush collection will soon get underway. Once the final curbside pickup occurs, there will not be another scheduled brush collection opportunity until the spring of 2025.
The last date when you should set out brush depends on where you live. For some neighborhoods, the last set out date for brush for this year is September 8, 2024. Get your final set-out date for brush collection at www.cityofmadison.com/brushcollection. Enter your address into the form on that page, or use the look-up map tool.
If you miss their final curbside pickup opportunity, take the brush to a Streets Division drop-off site. Check the drop-off site website so you know the locations, hours, and restrictions before loading your vehicle.
Metro Transit’s New Fast Fare System and Fast Fare Card Pick-Up
Metro has installed a new fare system that will make riding the bus faster, easier, and more convenient. Features include:
- Online accounts with reloadable smartcards
- Pay as you go with fare cap pricing
- Ticket vending machines at most BRT stations
- Board and tap at any bus door when boarding at a BRT station
Pick up a Fast Fare card and get help from City of Madison staff.
- Fast Fare Pick Up at Central Library:September 3, September 11, September 19, & September 25
- Fast Fare Pick Up at Lakeview Library: September 4, September 16, September 19 & September 25
- Fast Fare Pick Up at Fitchburg Library: September 4
- Fast Fare Pick Up at Sun Prairie: September 5
- Fast Fare Pick Up at Pinney Library: September 6, September 9, September 12, & September 23
September is Library Card Sign-Up Month!
From Madison Public Library:
“September is Library Card Sign-Up Month(link is external)! Started in 1987 by then Secretary of Education William Bennett, Library Card Sign-Up Month is a time to learn more about all the things you can do at your local library and to sign your kids or yourself up for a card. Celebrate with us by getting or renewing your Madison Public Library card. If you sign up in September you can take a picture with one of our BIG library cards at any location.
Already have a library card? We've compiled a list of 30 Things You Can Do With Your Library Card at Madison Public Library below - one for every day of Library Card Sign-Up Month!
Discover some of the lesser-known services your library card gives you access to, check out all of the fun items that are part of our Library of Things(link is external), or try the Library Value Calculator to see how much you save when you use the library. ”
Events & Announcements
- Capitol View Farmers' Market, Wednesday, September 4: The Capitol View Farmers' Market is held weekly on Wednesdays (3:00-7:00pm) from late May through mid-October. Join us each week for great local vendors, live music, food carts, and special activities from week to week. Visit our website and follow us on social media for the most up-to-date information and schedules!
- Madison Public Library Announces WE READ Youth Voices Writing Contest Winners: Grace Huang a 17-year-old senior from Madison's West High School takes home the Grand Prize for her story "Speak English" [posted August 30, 2024]
- City of Madison Announces Upcoming Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Open House Events: As we prepare for the launch of Madison's first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line, Metro Rapid Route A, the City of Madison invites community members to join us for one of two upcoming open house events. These events will offer a sneak peek at the new… [posted August 29, 2024]
- Smart Trips Challenge: Rewarding Car-Free and Car-Light Travel this September: RoundTrip, a public program connecting Dane County residents with transportation options and resources, is hosting a challenge this September to encourage walking, biking, using public transit, and carpooling for everyday trips. [posted August 29, 2024]
- Applications for City of Madison’s new BizReady program now open : Applications are now open for a new opportunity for small business owners in the City of Madison looking to receive training, mentoring, and networking opportunities to help their businesses innovate and thrive. [posted August 26, 2024]
- BRT Station Open House, Friday, September 6: Stop by to preview the station, tour an electric bus, ask questions and pick up a Fast Fare card.
Additional upcoming events can also be found on the City events calendar. Please visit the City news webpage to find additional news and announcements and to subscribe to receive notification of news releases as they are posted.