Milwaukee County committee votes to move forward with discussions on bus route to Foxconn

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – Milwaukee County’s Transportation, Public Works and Transit Committee voted Wednesday morning to move forward with discussions of a possible bus route to the future Foxconn site.

A potential plan of the bus service was put together by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. They say the service would start in 2020. The route would connect downtown Milwaukee with several local park and ride stops before going to the Mount Pleasant area.

The plan proposes using $4.5 million of county money from the recent sale of the former Midwest Airlines hanger. The resolution passed in a 4-1 vote. Milwaukee County Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic voted against the measure.

“There’s been so much money involved here [with Foxconn], it’s really hard to put anything else forward,” she said.

Milwaukee County Board Chairman Theodore Lipscomb says he hears the community's concerns, but is pleased the resolution passed.

“While I recognize there are those who have strong feelings about the Foxconn deal itself, the reality is there is going to be thousands of jobs and thousands of residents who need jobs and we want to connect them.”

The resolution to continue discussions on the potential route will now go to the Milwaukee County Board for a vote. If approved, the county executive will begin working on a formal plan.