Ivy Hu, professor and chair of the urban planning department at UWM’s School of Architecture and Urban Planning, speaks to the crowd and media. She and Robert Schneider, urban planning faculty members at the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, and Yaidi Cancel Martinez, associate scientist at the Center for Economic Development, lead the UWM research effort. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley recognizes Milwaukee County Transit System for their partnership and reinforces the need for service and regional cooperation in transit to get people to their jobs. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Chia Vang, UWM vice chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, emphasizes the research component and the role of UW-Milwaukee in the project. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Chytania Brown, president and CEO of Employ Milwaukee, explains her organization’s role in the project. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Acting Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said he was excited to see Waukesha and Milwaukee County leaders speaking with one voice on this issue. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
The UWM researchers, faculty, students and staff involved in the project pose for a photo in front of a FlexRide van and an MCTS bus. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Acting Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson speaks with one the UWM graduate researchers who worked on the microtransit project. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
UWM graduate student TC (Tathagato) Chakraborty talks with Acting Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
FlexRide, a new service that aims to connect workers in Milwaukee with jobs in Waukesha County, formally launched Wednesday, March 9, with an event that drew local political and business leaders.
The service provides transportation for workers on Milwaukee’s north and northwest sides to get to employers in Menomonee Falls and Butler.
UWM researchers are leading the project, which is funded by a $1 million National Science Foundation and includes as partners the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, Milwaukee County Transit System, Employ Milwaukee, the Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington Workforce Development Board, Waukesha County Business Alliance, Waukesha County Center for Growth and MobiliSE.