Beth Sluys
Northside News

In January 2019, the City of Madison’s Department of Transportation presented its Metro Facility Analysis, which reviewed several options, locations and scenarios with the eventual long term outcome: to relocate all Metro facilities from the East Washington location.  According to the report, the city is looking to address these critical needs: improving safety, both driver and environmental; accommodating Bus Rapid Transit vehicles and electric vehicles; and providing more bus storage. In November of last year, the City was awarded a $7 million dollar Federal Transit Authority grant toward the purchase of approximately 15 acres on the north end of O.M. Station (previously Oscar Mayer) that include buildings 43 and 50 (possibly 50A). These funds would also provide local match for the FTA’s Small Starts grant program, all tied to the mayor’s Bus Rapid Transit system.  According to the Metro analysis, the satellite bus storage facility is planned to house 132 drivers and 13 support staff, dispatchers, wash bay technicians and service repair technicians.

With the new year upon us, it is expected that there will be an agreement introduced to the Common Council that will be with the current OM Station owners. The agreement will allow the City to do things like getting access to the site to conduct an environmental site assessment related to confirmed trichloroethylene vapor infiltration from confirmed contamination under Building 43. The subsurface contamination and Building 43 gas vapor infiltration issues require the current owners to present the DNR with a remedial action plan to address the risks presented.  As Metro looks to move its operations to a new location, in part, for employee health and safety, it is imperative that the city ensures that its new facility is environmentally safe now and into the future.