Bus Rapid Transit is making traffic worse in Madison | Jacqueline Jugenheimer

Like a lot of Madisonians, I have been impacted by the new Bus Rapid Transit stations and lanes.

The impact is particularly bad at the intersection of Whitney Way and Mineral Point Road, which is close to our house. Long lines of cars are stuck in traffic because fewer lanes are for cars. Traffic turning right and going straight share a lane, and you can no longer turn right on red. Instead, we have dedicated bike and bus lanes.

Granted, BRT is just getting started. But when I see A-route buses at the intersection, they are close to empty with only a few riders. Worst of all, the buses turning from Mineral Point onto Whitney Way take the car lane instead of the bus lane. Bikers are nowhere to be seen.

So why do we spend so much time and energy on the new traffic patterns and make residents' lives more difficult? I am sure we can find smarter solutions, especially for bikers.

Jacqueline Jugenheimer, Madison