Madison officials want a faster way for buses to cut across town from east to west, through the downtown area and University of Wisconsin campus.

In pursuit of that goal, at it's Monday, Nov. 6, meeting the city Plan Commission will review a resolution, proposed by Mayor Paul Soglin, to plan for the first phase of a city Bus Rapid Transit system.

BRT provides a faster ride down busy roads by using high-capacity buses, limited stops, prepaid tickets and even the power of bus drivers to extend green lights. Madison officials have looked into a BRT system for years. A 2013 study found that there is a “good potential for the successful implementation of BRT in the Madison area.”

The 2013 study estimated that a BRT system could shorten the commute from Capitol Square to West Towne from over 50 minutes to about 35 minutes. Trips from the Capitol Square to East Towne could be trimmed from over 30 minutes to 26 minutes. (The estimates were based on potential, not actual, routes for the system.)

The buses, specially branded to distinguish them from other Madison Metro buses, would be 60 feet long and equipped with wireless internet.