Here are three reasons why investing in BRT, a high-frequency, high-capacity, limited-stop bus service, must be a critical economic development priority:

Workforce mobility.

People need to be able to get to work. Ask a Madison business owner or executive to name his or her top challenge right now, and most will tell you it is recruiting and retaining good employees. Madison’s combination of rising housing costs and less-than-robust transit options are twin obstacles that physically disconnect people who need jobs from businesses that need employees.

University Research Park is lucky to have one of Madison’s bus transfer points, but more is needed. Creating capacity to move high volumes of people from our more affordable neighborhoods into and through employment areas such as the UW–Madison campus, our Downtown and University Research Park will create a vital economic artery, supporting businesses, students and residents alike.

The potential to catalyze investment.

BRT will create opportunities for transit-oriented neighborhood development along its routes. We’re already planning one such development here at University Research Park to help unleash innovation.