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Janesville to Whitewater bus route gets $243,000 grant

JANESVILLE — A combination state and federal transportation grant to operate and expand Innovation Express, a bus route that runs from Janesville to Whitewater, was approved Friday.

The $243,525 Supplemental Transportation Rural Assistance Program grant will provide the majority of funding to operate the route, which was originally designed to provide transportation for employees of Generac, a portable power manufacturer in Whitewater.

“We are obviously thrilled to hear that the STRAP grant has been formally approved. … We will be able to not only continue , but increase service as well,” said Janesville Transit Director Dave Mumma. “This will allow us to build on last year’s 5,167 trips from May 1 until the end of last year.”

In addition to the trips at 5 a.m., 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. from Monday through Friday, the grant will allow for trips between the 5 a.m. and 1 p.m. runs and the 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. runs. The expansion of service also will create additional runs on Saturday and Sunday.

No fare increases are planned for 2013. One-way cash fares are $1.90 from Janesville to Milton, $4 from Janesville to Whitewater and $2.50 Milton to Whitewater.

Other revenue to support the service comes from Generac, Milton, Whitewater and UW-Whitewater.

The grant is among five announced Friday by Gov. Scott Walker.

“These grants provide incentives to local governments and tribal governments to continue , expand or begin new rural public transit systems,” Walker said. “Public transit in our rural areas is critical to meet basic transportation needs for many Wisconsin residents.”

Other grants were awarded to:

Lac du Flambeau Tribe for service in Vilas County.

Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin for service in Langlade, Menominee and Shawano counties.

Southwest Wisconsin Commuter Bus Service for service in Prairie du Chien, Viroqua, Westby and La Crosse, as well as smaller communities in Crawford and Vernon counties.

Neillsville-Clark County Taxi for service in the city of Neillsville and Clark County.