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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Update|date=October 2023|reason=outdated information}}
{{short description|Bus service serving Green Bay, Wisconsin}}
{{short description|Bus service serving Green Bay, Wisconsin}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
{{Infobox Bus transit
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| logo = GB Metro logo.png
| logo = GB Metro logo.png
| logo_size =
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| image =
| image = Green Bay July 2024 014 (Green Bay Metro bus).jpg
| image_size =
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| image_caption = Green Bay Metro bus
| company_slogan =
| company_slogan =
| parent =
| parent =
| founded =
| founded =
| headquarters = 901 University Avenue<br>[[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]], [[Wisconsin]], United States
| headquarters = 901 University Avenue<br />[[Green Bay, Wisconsin]], United States
| locale =
| locale =
| service_area = [[Green Bay area, Wisconsin|Green Bay]] and [[Brown County, Wisconsin|Brown County]]
| service_area = [[Green Bay metropolitan area|Green Bay]] and [[Brown County, Wisconsin|Brown County]]
| service_type =
| service_type =
| alliance =
| alliance =
| routes = 15 full service routes<br>one limited service route<br>4 gameday routes
| routes = 17 full service routes<br />two limited service route<br />4 gameday routes
| destinations =
| destinations =
| stops =
| stops =
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| lounge =
| lounge =
| fleet =
| fleet =
| ridership = {{American transit ridership|WI Green Bay total daily}} ({{American transit ridership|dailydate}}){{American transit ridership|dailycitation}}
| ridership = 3,192 (avg. weekday 2017) <ref name="planning2017">{{cite web|last1=Brown County Planning Commission/MPO for Green Bay Urbanized Area|title=2017 Annual Route Review and Analysis Report|url=http://www.public.applications.co.brown.wi.us/Plan/PlanningFolder/Transpotation/Metro%20Route%20Reviews/2017%20-%20Route%20Review%20Final.pdf|publisher=Brown County, WI|accessdate=26 November 2017|date=March 2017}}</ref>
| annual_ridership = {{American transit ridership|WI Green Bay total annual}} ({{American transit ridership|annualdate}}){{American transit ridership|annualcitation}}
| fuel_type =
| fuel_type =
| operator = City of Green Bay
| operator = City of Green Bay
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| website = {{URL|greenbaymetro.org}}
| website = {{URL|greenbaymetro.org}}
}}
}}
'''Green Bay Metro''', (originally known as '''Green Bay Transit''' prior to 2001), is the [[mass transit]] system found in the city of [[Green Bay, Wisconsin]]. It also provides service in [[Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin|Ashwaubenon]], [[Allouez, Wisconsin|Allouez]], [[De Pere, Wisconsin|De Pere]], and [[Bellevue, Wisconsin|Bellevue]].
'''Green Bay Metro''' (originally known as '''Green Bay Transit''' prior to 2001) is the [[mass transit]] system found in the city of [[Green Bay, Wisconsin]]. It also provides service in [[Ashwaubenon]], [[Allouez, Wisconsin|Allouez]], [[De Pere]], and [[Bellevue, Wisconsin|Bellevue]]. In {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}, the system had a ridership of {{American transit ridership|WI Green Bay total annual}}, or about {{American transit ridership|WI Green Bay total daily}} per weekday as of {{American transit ridership|dailydateasof}}.


==History==
== History ==
From 1916 through 1972, the [[Integrys Energy Group|Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPS)]], a privately owned utility company, provided streetcar and bus service in the Green Bay Metropolitan Area. In the late 1960s, bus ridership decreases combined with rising expenses forced WPS to reduce deficits by cutting back on service. Service cutbacks, in turn, contributed to further decreases in ridership and even greater revenue losses, resulting in a downward spiral of service, ridership, and revenue. In April 1972, WPS offered to sell the bus company to the city of Green Bay with an agreement to reimburse the city for the full purchase price of $270,000 in the form of an operating subsidy over a five-year period. In January 1973, WPS was granted the right to discontinue bus service in the Green Bay Metropolitan Area, at which time the city of Green Bay leased the bus system from WPS through the remainder of 1973. This action avoided a discontinuance of service and allowed time for the city to create the Transit Commission, consider alternative plans for the system developed by the Brown County Planning Commission (BCPC), and prepare for a public referendum on the purchase of the system. On April 3, 1973, 71 percent of the public voted in favor on a referendum calling for the purchase of the system from WPS. In July 2015, [[Greyhound Lines|Greyhound Bus]] service was added to the Green Bay Metro Transit terminal after Greyhound Lines moved from their old bus station located between Cedar Street and Main Street.
From 1916 through 1972, the [[Integrys Energy Group|Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPS)]], a privately owned utility company, provided streetcar and bus service in the Green Bay Metropolitan Area. In the late 1960s, bus ridership decreases combined with rising expenses forced WPS to reduce deficits by cutting back on service. Service cutbacks, in turn, contributed to further decreases in ridership and even greater revenue losses, resulting in a downward spiral of service, ridership, and revenue. In April 1972, WPS offered to sell the bus company to the city of Green Bay with an agreement to reimburse the city for the full purchase price of $270,000 in the form of an operating subsidy over a five-year period. In January 1973, WPS was granted the right to discontinue bus service in the Green Bay Metropolitan Area, at which time the city of Green Bay leased the bus system from WPS through the remainder of 1973. This action avoided a discontinuance of service and allowed time for the city to create the Transit Commission, consider alternative plans for the system developed by the Brown County Planning Commission (BCPC), and prepare for a public referendum on the purchase of the system. On April 3, 1973, 71 percent of the public voted in favor on a referendum calling for the purchase of the system from WPS.
== Operations ==
[[File:Green_Bay_Metro.jpg|thumb|Green Bay Metro buses at the downtown transit center]]


==Operations==
The bus transit system service method used in the Green Bay area is called a "radial pulse" system. The system is called "radial" because the layout of the routes brings all buses to the downtown transitway and then radiates them out in a spoke-like fashion to cover the service area. It is called a "pulse" system because all routes are timed to arrive at the downtown transitway at regular intervals, allowing for transfers with little or no waiting. This type of system has been in operation since 1937.
The bus transit system service method used in the Green Bay area is called a "radial pulse" system. The system is called "radial" because the layout of the routes brings all buses to the downtown transitway and then radiates them out in a spoke-like fashion to cover the service area. It is called a "pulse" system because all routes are timed to arrive at the downtown transitway at regular intervals, allowing for transfers with little or no waiting. This type of system has been in operation since 1937.


Most routes either begin/end their route or "transfer", or stop for a period of typically 5–8 minutes, at several hubs around the area known as "Transfer Points". There are currently four transfer points within this area:
Most fixed-service routes either begin/end their route or "transfer", or stop for a period of typically 2-5 minutes, at the Transportation Center located at 901 University Avenue. Certain routes will provide service to microtransit transfer points, offering transfer opportunities to microtransit destinations.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! Point Name !! Street Located On !! Routes Passing
! Point Name
!Key Destinations Nearby!! Street Located On !! Routes Passing
!'''Microtransit Zones Served'''
|-
| Green Bay Metro Transportation Center
| || University Avenue, Green Bay || 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 71, 75, 78
|Zone 5 (night service)
|-
| Bay Park Square Microtransit Transfer Point
|Bay Park Square Mall|| South Oneida Street, Ashwaubenon || 8, 9, 78
|Zone 2, Zone 3, Zone 5
|-
| Green Bay Plaza Microtransit Transfer Point
|Green Bay Plaza|| South Military Avenue, Green Bay || 6, 75
|Zone 1, Zone 5
|-
|-
| Allouez Microtransit Transfer Point
| Green Bay Metro || University Avenue || 1, 2, 3/4, 5, 6, 7, 8/9, 11, 13, 14, 18
|McDonald's|| South Webster Avenue, Allouez || 11, 17
|Zone 3, Zone 5
|-
|-
| Bay Park Square Transfer Point || South Oneida Street || 8, 9, 10, 17
|Walmart East Microtransit Transfer Point
|Walmart #1908
|Main Street, Bellevue
|10
|Zone 4, Zone 5
|-
|-
| Green Bay Plaza Transfer Point || South Military Avenue || 3/4, 5, 6, 8/9
|De Pere Transfer Point
|former Shopko
|George Street, De Pere
|78
|All - Point Located in Zone 2
|-
|-
| Shopko/De Pere Transfer Point || North Wisconsin Street || 11, 17
|East Side Transfer Point
|
|Main Street Frontage Road
|71
|None
|}
|}
On a five-year average the city of Green Bay has a total estimated budget for transportation of $7,770,111 with the city itself contributing $1,395,894. The remainder of the budget comes from federal and state funding as well as other revenue. The 2014 [http://greenbaywi.gov/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2014-Final-Budget.pdf Green Bay Final Budget] shows the Bus Operations having $6,255,258 in expenses and $1,079,500 in revenue. This adds up to a $5,175,758 deficit for 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://greenbaywi.gov/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2014-Final-Budget.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=April 15, 2015 |archive-date=July 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730155357/http://greenbaywi.gov/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2014-Final-Budget.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
According to several annual reports for Green Bay Metro,<ref name="planning2017"/> an east side transfer point is being considered. In public meetings held in relation to the creation of routes 9 Tan and 13 River (along with modifications to several routes), 2015 Transit Director Patty Kiewiz had stated that there will be a study conducted on the east side when asked about the addition of an east side transfer point. In August 2015, the East Side Study had been published to the Brown County website.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Brown County Planning Commission / Green Bay MPO in partnership with Green Bay Metro|title=Green Bay Metro East Side Route Study|url=http://www.public.applications.co.brown.wi.us/plan/planningfolder/transpotation/East%20Side%20Route%20Study%20FINAL%2007302015.pdf|publisher=Brown County, WI|accessdate=26 November 2017}}</ref>


== Bus routes ==
The system does not operate on Sunday.

On a five-year average the city of Green Bay has a total estimated budget for transportation of $7,770,111 with the city itself contributing $1,395,894. The remainder of the budget comes from federal and state funding as well as other revenue. The 2014 [http://greenbaywi.gov/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2014-Final-Budget.pdf Green Bay Final Budget] shows the Bus Operations having $6,255,258 in expenses and $1,079,500 in revenue. This adds up to a $5,175,758 deficit for 2014.<ref>http://greenbaywi.gov/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2014-Final-Budget.pdf</ref>

==Bus routes==

===Regular Service===
Routes that typically run from 5:15am–9:45pm weekdays, and 7:15am–6:45pm Saturdays. These routes are not serviced on Sundays, nor on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day.<ref>http://www.greenbaymetro.org/en-us/schedules/routes/default.aspx?type=0</ref>


=== Regular Service ===
Fixed routes and "daytime" microtransit service is provided 5:45am-8:45pm weekdays, and 7:45am–3:45pm Saturdays. The system provides no regular service on Sundays, New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://greenbaywi.gov/239/Service-Area-Hours-of-Operation|title=Service Area and Hours of Operation}}</ref> Exceptions to lack of regular service occur with Game Day Service. Most routes provide 30-minute service on weekdays and Saturdays.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!No.
!Route Name
!Key Destinations<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frequent Destinations {{!}} Green Bay, WI |url=https://greenbaywi.gov/268/Frequent-Destinations |access-date=July 30, 2022 |website=greenbaywi.gov}}</ref>
!Service Notes
|-
|-
|1
! No. !! Name !! Notes
|Pink Line
|Bellin Hospital, St Vincent Hospital
|Runs Hourly
|-
|-
|2
| 1 || Brown Line || Stops at East Town Mall, Aurora Hospital, Edison Middle School, Happy Joe's Pizza, Prevea, Brown County Library East, Service Plus, and Biolife East.
|Orange Zippin Line
|Bay Beach, Nicolet Elementary, Paul's Pantry, Preble High School, St. Vincent de Paul, University Market, Wildlife Sanctuary
|Runs Half-Hourly
|-
|-
|3
| 2 || Orange Zippin Line || Stops at Paul's Pantry/St. Vincent DePaul, Bay Beach Amusement Park, Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary (upon request), Post Office, East High School, and University Avenue Market
|Silver Line
|ASPIRO-Stiles, KI Center, New Community Shelter, Salvation Army
|Runs Half-Hourly on weekdays and Hourly on Saturdays
|-
|-
|4
| 3 || Silver Line || Runs on similar path to 4 in opposite direction, No service Saturdays, Transfers at Green Bay Plaza.
|Blue Line
Stops at St. Mary's Hospital, Aspiro Dousman, Aspiro Stiles, West High School, The Salvation Army, Social Security Administration, Shopko West, Meijer, House of Hope, Green Bay Plaza, and KI Convention Center
|ASPIRO-Dousman, House of Hope, KI Center, Social Security Administration Office, St. Mary's Hospital, West High School
|Runs Half-Hourly on weekdays and Hourly on Saturdays
|-
|-
|5
| 4 || Blue Line || Runs on similar path to 3 in opposite direction, Transfers at Green Bay Plaza.
|Yellow Line
Stops at St. Mary's Hospital, Aspiro Dousman, Aspiro Stiles, West High School, The Salvation Army, Social Security Administration, Shopko West, Meijer, House of Hope, Green Bay Plaza, and KI Convention Center
|Bellin Hospital, JBS, Kroc Center, St. Vincent Hospital
|Runs Hourly
|-
|-
|6
| 5 || Plum Line || Runs 5:45-9:45am/1:45-5:45pm weekdays, No service Saturdays, Transfers at Green Bay Plaza.
|Red Line
Stops at Southwest High School, Lombardi Middle School, Brown County Library Southwest Branch, Green Bay Plaza, Park Place, Mason Manor, Brown County Health Dept., and Brown County Courthouse.
|Green Bay Plaza Microtransit Transfer Point, ADRC of Brown County, BioLife-West, Brown County Courthouse, Brown County Central Library, Festival Foods, Franklin Middle School, Notre Dame Academy, Southwest High School, Walmart West
|Runs Half-Hourly
|-
|-
|7
| 6 || Red Line || 2 buses running on Saturdays from 12:15-4:15, Transfers at Green Bay Plaza.
|Lime Line
Stops at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Walmart/Sam's Club West, Rasmussen College, Green Bay Plaza, Green Bay Botanical Gardens, Shopko West, Goodwill West, Festival Foods West, Mason Manor, Post Office, Franklin Middle School, Notre Dame Academy, Brown County Library, and Biolife West.
|Baird Elementary, Boys & Girls Club East, Brown County Community Treatment Center, Brown County Jail, Curative Connections, East High School, Edenbrook, Freedom House, Festival Foods, Manna for Life, Nicolet Elementary School, University Market, UWGB Library, VA Clinic
|Runs Half-Hourly on weekdays and Hourly on Saturdays
|-
|-
|8
| 7 || Lime Line || Stops at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, University Avenue Market, Brown County Community Treatment Center, Brown County Jail, N.E.W. Curative, Baird Elementary, Manna For Life, Nicolet Elementary, Milo C. Huempfner VA Clinic, and Boys & Girls Club East.
|Green Line
|Bay Park Square Microtransit Transfer Point, ADRC of Brown County, Ashwaubenon High School, Brown County Courthouse, Brown County Central Library, Brown County Southwest Library, Job Center, Parkview Middle School, Lambeau Field, Target West
|Runs Hourly, Fare-free
|-
|-
|9
| 8 || Green Line || Stops at Green Bay Plaza, Brown County Library, Bay Park Square, Lambeau Field, Target West, Fort Howard Elementary School, Resch Center, Social Security Administration, and West High School.
|Gold Line
|Bay Park Square Microtransit Transfer Point, ADRC of Brown County, Ashwaubenon Village Hall, Brown County Courthouse, Brown County Central Library, Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles, Green Bay City Hall, Job Center, People Ready, Post Office, QPS, Resch Center, Resch Expo Center
|Runs Hourly, Fare-free
|-
|-
|10
| 9 || Gold Line || Stops at Bay Park Square, Green Bay Plaza, Lambeau Field, Social Security Administration, Target West, QPS, Ashwaubenon High School, and Parkview Middle School.
|Plum Line
|Walmart East Microtransit Transfer Point, Brown County East Library, Goodwill, Minoka-Hill School, Pick n' Save
|Runs Half-Hourly
|-
|-
|11
| 10 || Yellow Line || Starts at Bay Park Square, Does Not go to Metro Station.
|Sky Line
Bay Park Square, Department of Motor Vehicles, Goodwill Ashwaubenon, Tufco Technologies, Schneider National, Bellin, and Prevea.
|Allouez Microtransit Transfer Point, Aldo Leopold School, Bellin Hospital, Brown County Central Library, Leonardo da Vinci School, Prevea, Post Office, St. Vincent Hospital
|-
|Runs Half-Hourly
| 11 || Sky Line || Transfers at De Pere Shopko.
Stops at St. Vincent Hospital/Bellin Hospital, Prevea, Broadview YMCA, Labor Ready, Cerebral Palsy Center, and Green Bay Correctional Institution.
|-
| 12 || Coal Line || Stops at St. Vincent Hospital, Bellin Hospital and Brown County Library East.
|-
| 13 || River Line || Covers Downtown Green Bay area.
Stops at Aging & Disability Resource Center, Brown County Court House, Brown County Library Downtown, Green Bay City Hall, New Community Shelter, EGS Customer Care, and KI Convention Center.
|-
| 14 || Pink Line || Stops at Walmart East, East Town Mall, Pick 'n Save East, Goodwill East, American Red Cross, and Preble High School
|-
| 17 || Brick Line|| Starts at Shopko De Pere, Does not go to Metro Station, Transfers at Bay Park Square.
Stops at St. Norbert College, Shopko De Pere, Walmart De Pere, Syble Hopp School, Humana, De Pere Library, De Pere Police Station,
Festival Foods De Pere, and Bay Park Square.
|-
| 18 || Tan Line || Stops at Target East, Pick 'n Save East, Kroc Community Center, The Children's Museum of Green Bay, East High School, Washington Middle School, and Costco.
|}
|}


=== "GBM On Demand" Microtransit Service ===
===Packers Gameday Routes===
[[Microtransit]] is a [[demand-responsive transport]] vehicle service offering flexible routing and scheduling of minibus vehicles shared with other passengers. Green Bay Metro partners with Via to provide microtransit service utilizing smartphone applications and a similar fare structure. Riders can travel within zones, between zones, and between a zone and its corresponding transfer point. <ref>{{Cite web |title=GBM On Demand {{!}} Green Bay, WI |url=https://greenbaywi.gov/1154/GBM-On-Demand |access-date=July 30, 2022 |website=greenbaywi.gov}}</ref>
Packers Gameday Routes are bus routes that only operate on the day of a Green Bay Packers football game being played at home. Instead of using the Transportation Center, these routes all begin and end at Lambeau Field. These routes are known as Cheesehead, QB Sneak, Lambeau Leap, and Quick Slant.


Service to Zones 1-4, otherwise referred to as "daytime service", operates during weekday and weekend fixed route scheduling. "Night time service", which includes Zones 1-5, is offered from 8:45pm-10:45pm Monday-Friday. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Service Area & Hours of Operation {{!}} Green Bay, WI |url=https://greenbaywi.gov/239/Service-Area-Hours-of-Operation |access-date=July 30, 2022 |website=greenbaywi.gov}}</ref> Zone 1 (red) services Green Bay's west side, including destinations such as [[Northeast Wisconsin Technical College]]. Zone 2 (gold) services Ashwaubenon, including destinations such as [[Austin Straubel International Airport]] and the Ashwaubenon Business Park. Zone 3 (light blue) services southern Ashwaubenon, southern Allouez and De Pere, including destinations such as Walmart De Pere, Syble Hopp School, Downtown De Pere, [[St. Norbert College]], and the CP Center. Zone 4 (violet) services Bellevue and eastern Green Bay, including destinations such as the I-43 Business Center, Target East, Costco, Landmark Drive, OSMS, Bellevue Senior Living, and [[Advocate Aurora Health|Aurora BayCare]] Medical Center.
===Limited Service===
Limited service route #78 operates on regularly scheduled school days and is open to the general public.


=== Packers Gameday Routes ===
==Bus Fleet==
Packers Game Day Routes are bus routes that only operate on the day of a [[Green Bay Packers]] football game being played at home. These routes are known as Cheesehead, QB Sneak, Lambeau Leap, and Quick Slant.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://greenbaywi.gov/272/Game-Day-Routes | title=Game Day Routes &#124; Green Bay, WI }}</ref>


=== Limited Service ===
As of March 2017, the Green Bay Metro bus system has 35 buses in use. The system uses 25 buses during peak hours.<ref name="planning2017"/>
Limited service routes #71, #75, and #78 operate on regularly scheduled school days and is open to the general public.
{| class="wikitable sortable"

== Bus Fleet ==

As of March 2017, the Green Bay Metro bus system has 35 buses in use. The system uses 25 buses during peak hours.<ref name="planning2017">{{cite web |last1=Brown County Planning Commission/MPO for Green Bay Urbanized Area |date=March 2017 |title=2017 Annual Route Review and Analysis Report |url=http://www.public.applications.co.brown.wi.us/Plan/PlanningFolder/Transpotation/Metro%20Route%20Reviews/2017%20-%20Route%20Review%20Final.pdf |publisher=Brown County, WI |accessdate=November 26, 2017}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
! Count !! Year/Make !! Length
! Count !! Year/Make !! Length
|-
|-
! 9
! 9
| 2003 New Flyer
| 2003 New Flyer
| 30 feet
| 30 feet
Line 134: Line 184:
|-
|-
! 10
! 10
| 2011 Gilig
| 2011 Gillig
| 35 feet
| 35 feet
|-
|-
! 4
! 4
| 2014 Gilig
| 2014 Gillig
| 40 feet
| 40 feet
|-
|-
|}
|}


The average of the system's buses is 8.7 years, with the oldest 9 buses being 14 years old. Green Bay Metro has been planning on replacing older buses, but sufficient funding hasn't been able to have been established to replace all older buses at once. The system anticipates needing to order between 9 and 12 new buses by the year 2021.<ref name="planning2017"/>
The average age of the system's buses is 8.7 years, with the oldest 9 buses being 14 years old. Green Bay Metro has been planning on replacing older buses, but sufficient funding hasn't been able to have been established to replace all older buses at once. The system anticipates needing to order between 9 and 12 new buses by the year 2021.<ref name="planning2017" />


== Green Bay Transportation Center ==
==See also==

On February 26, 2001, all Metro operations relocated from the 318 South Washington Street facility to a new Transportation Center located at 901 University Avenue. The Washington Street facility was originally constructed in the late 1800s for administration, maintenance, and storage of an electric streetcar system. Both Wisconsin Public Service and the city of Green Bay financed many building expansions and enhancements over the years. However, the age of the structure, size of the bus fleet, and inefficiencies associated with the building were a problem for some time. This, along with the city of Green Bay's desire to make the waterfront property available for redevelopment, necessitated the move.

The Transportation Center has allowed all Metro employees to be located in one facility. Operational efficiencies of a modern facility and the reduction of "deadhead" mileage from the garage to the primary hub have been cost-saving benefits. The bus area needed to accommodate the indoor storage of 48-plus buses, six maintenance bays, bus wash and lifts, and the safe and efficient flow of the buses and people between all these elements. The site was an abandoned seven-acre parcel within a transitional neighborhood of industrial and older residential properties. The bus storage and maintenance areas total 85,000 square feet of the 98,500 square foot facility. This large expanse of building serves as the backdrop for the public and employee areas.

Passengers at the Transportation Center benefit from a staffed information counter, real-time bus arrival board, automated pass dispenser, spacious climate-controlled seated waiting area, vending machines, and public restrooms. Outside, a large canopy covering many bus stalls protects passengers from falling rain and snow. In addition, each bus route has a designated stall, and the distance passengers have to walk between buses is minimal. Special public hearings and informational meetings are also held at the Transportation Center. At the heart of the facility stands a 300-foot long canopy with 14-foot vertical clearance for bus traffic and a width sufficient for protecting the passengers from sun and rain. The concrete island has a smooth saw-tooth form for buses to enter and exit without backing up. The access to this platform is centralized at one crosswalk, which minimizes all cross traffic between passengers and buses.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://somervilleinc.com/project/green-bay-metro-transit/ | title=Green Bay Metro Transit }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.public.applications.co.brown.wi.us/plan/planningfolder/transpotation/TDP/2019-2023TransitDevelopmentPlan113018Final.pdf|title=Green Bay Metro 2019-2023 Transit Development Plan}}</ref>

Prior to 2011, Metro used a single hub located at the Transportation Center. Since then, the bus system is designed around one main hub at the Transportation Center and four peripheral hubs. All routes begin and end at the Transportation Center. In addition, intercity buses from Milwaukee, Madison, Minneapolis and Hancock, MI serve the facility. In July 2015, [[Greyhound Bus]] service was added to the Green Bay Metro Transit terminal after Greyhound Lines moved from their old bus station located across from Whitney Park at 800 Cedar St.

== Ridership ==

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:520px; margin:auto;"
|+
|-
! style="width:50px"| !! style="width:100px"| Ridership !! style="width:100px"| Change over previous year
|-
!2013<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/transit_agency_profile_doc/2013/5002.pdf|title=2013 Annual Agency Profile}}</ref>
|1,539,293 || n/a
|-
!2014<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/transit_agency_profile_doc/2014/50002.pdf|title=2014 Annual Agency Profile}}</ref>
|1,484,741 || {{decrease}}{{0}}3.54%
|-
!2015<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/transit_agency_profile_doc/2015/50002.pdf|title=2015 Annual Agency Profile}}</ref>
|1,444,464 || {{decrease}}{{0}}2.71%
|-
!2016<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/transit_agency_profile_doc/2016/50002.pdf|title=2016 Annual Agency Profile}}</ref>
|1,368,244 || {{decrease}}{{0}}5.28%
|-
!2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/transit_agency_profile_doc/2017/50002.pdf|title=2017 Annual Agency Profile}}</ref>
|1,281,386 || {{decrease}}{{0}}6.35%
|-
!2018<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/transit_agency_profile_doc/2018/50002.pdf|title=2018 Annual Agency Profile}}</ref>
|1,310,472 || {{increase}}{{0}}2.27%
|-
!2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/transit_agency_profile_doc/2019/50002.pdf|title=2019 Annual Agency Profile}}</ref>
|1,324,579 || {{increase}}{{0}}1.08%
|-
!2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/transit_agency_profile_doc/2020/50002.pdf|title=2020 Annual Agency Profile}}</ref>
|542,963 || {{decrease}}{{0}}59.01%
|-
!2021<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/transit_agency_profile_doc/2021/50002.pdf|title=2021 Annual Agency Profile}}</ref>
|523,900 || {{decrease}}{{0}}3.51%
|-
!2022<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/transit_agency_profile_doc/2022/50002.pdf|title=2022 Annual Agency Profile}}</ref>
|728,361 || {{increase}}{{0}}39.03%
|-
!2023<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/data-product/monthly-module-adjusted-data-release|title=National Transit Database|access-date=March 25, 2024}}</ref>
|836,102 || {{increase}}{{0}}14.79%
|-
|}

== See also ==
* [[GO Transit (Wisconsin)]] Bus service serving [[Oshkosh, Wisconsin]]
* [[GO Transit (Wisconsin)]] Bus service serving [[Oshkosh, Wisconsin]]
* [[Valley Transit (Wisconsin)]] Bus service serving the [[Appleton, Wisconsin]]/[[Fox Cities]] Area
* [[Valley Transit (Wisconsin)]] Bus service serving the [[Appleton, Wisconsin]]/[[Fox Cities]] Area
* [[List of bus transit systems in the United States]]


==References==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.greenbaymetro.org Green Bay Metro]
* [http://www.greenbaymetro.org/ Green Bay Metro]
* [http://www.co.brown.wi.us/departments/page_188ca71b61f8/?department=2317176c7f00&subdepartment=b4d10bb9388e Brown County Transit Planning Reports/Studys]
* [http://www.co.brown.wi.us/departments/page_188ca71b61f8/?department=2317176c7f00&subdepartment=b4d10bb9388e Brown County Transit Planning Reports/Studys]

{{Wisconsin public transit}}


[[Category:Bus transportation in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Bus transportation in Wisconsin]]

Latest revision as of 08:39, 20 October 2024

Green Bay Metro bus
Headquarters901 University Avenue
Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States
Service areaGreen Bay and Brown County
Routes17 full service routes
two limited service route
4 gameday routes
Stations1
Daily ridership2,800 (weekdays, Q3 2024)[1]
Annual ridership832,900 (2023)[2]
OperatorCity of Green Bay
Websitegreenbaymetro.org

Green Bay Metro (originally known as Green Bay Transit prior to 2001) is the mass transit system found in the city of Green Bay, Wisconsin. It also provides service in Ashwaubenon, Allouez, De Pere, and Bellevue. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 832,900, or about 2,800 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024.

History

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From 1916 through 1972, the Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPS), a privately owned utility company, provided streetcar and bus service in the Green Bay Metropolitan Area. In the late 1960s, bus ridership decreases combined with rising expenses forced WPS to reduce deficits by cutting back on service. Service cutbacks, in turn, contributed to further decreases in ridership and even greater revenue losses, resulting in a downward spiral of service, ridership, and revenue. In April 1972, WPS offered to sell the bus company to the city of Green Bay with an agreement to reimburse the city for the full purchase price of $270,000 in the form of an operating subsidy over a five-year period. In January 1973, WPS was granted the right to discontinue bus service in the Green Bay Metropolitan Area, at which time the city of Green Bay leased the bus system from WPS through the remainder of 1973. This action avoided a discontinuance of service and allowed time for the city to create the Transit Commission, consider alternative plans for the system developed by the Brown County Planning Commission (BCPC), and prepare for a public referendum on the purchase of the system. On April 3, 1973, 71 percent of the public voted in favor on a referendum calling for the purchase of the system from WPS.

Operations

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Green Bay Metro buses at the downtown transit center

The bus transit system service method used in the Green Bay area is called a "radial pulse" system. The system is called "radial" because the layout of the routes brings all buses to the downtown transitway and then radiates them out in a spoke-like fashion to cover the service area. It is called a "pulse" system because all routes are timed to arrive at the downtown transitway at regular intervals, allowing for transfers with little or no waiting. This type of system has been in operation since 1937.

Most fixed-service routes either begin/end their route or "transfer", or stop for a period of typically 2-5 minutes, at the Transportation Center located at 901 University Avenue. Certain routes will provide service to microtransit transfer points, offering transfer opportunities to microtransit destinations.

Point Name Key Destinations Nearby Street Located On Routes Passing Microtransit Zones Served
Green Bay Metro Transportation Center University Avenue, Green Bay 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 71, 75, 78 Zone 5 (night service)
Bay Park Square Microtransit Transfer Point Bay Park Square Mall South Oneida Street, Ashwaubenon 8, 9, 78 Zone 2, Zone 3, Zone 5
Green Bay Plaza Microtransit Transfer Point Green Bay Plaza South Military Avenue, Green Bay 6, 75 Zone 1, Zone 5
Allouez Microtransit Transfer Point McDonald's South Webster Avenue, Allouez 11, 17 Zone 3, Zone 5
Walmart East Microtransit Transfer Point Walmart #1908 Main Street, Bellevue 10 Zone 4, Zone 5
De Pere Transfer Point former Shopko George Street, De Pere 78 All - Point Located in Zone 2
East Side Transfer Point Main Street Frontage Road 71 None

On a five-year average the city of Green Bay has a total estimated budget for transportation of $7,770,111 with the city itself contributing $1,395,894. The remainder of the budget comes from federal and state funding as well as other revenue. The 2014 Green Bay Final Budget shows the Bus Operations having $6,255,258 in expenses and $1,079,500 in revenue. This adds up to a $5,175,758 deficit for 2014.[3]

Bus routes

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Regular Service

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Fixed routes and "daytime" microtransit service is provided 5:45am-8:45pm weekdays, and 7:45am–3:45pm Saturdays. The system provides no regular service on Sundays, New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.[4] Exceptions to lack of regular service occur with Game Day Service. Most routes provide 30-minute service on weekdays and Saturdays.

No. Route Name Key Destinations[5] Service Notes
1 Pink Line Bellin Hospital, St Vincent Hospital Runs Hourly
2 Orange Zippin Line Bay Beach, Nicolet Elementary, Paul's Pantry, Preble High School, St. Vincent de Paul, University Market, Wildlife Sanctuary Runs Half-Hourly
3 Silver Line ASPIRO-Stiles, KI Center, New Community Shelter, Salvation Army Runs Half-Hourly on weekdays and Hourly on Saturdays
4 Blue Line ASPIRO-Dousman, House of Hope, KI Center, Social Security Administration Office, St. Mary's Hospital, West High School Runs Half-Hourly on weekdays and Hourly on Saturdays
5 Yellow Line Bellin Hospital, JBS, Kroc Center, St. Vincent Hospital Runs Hourly
6 Red Line Green Bay Plaza Microtransit Transfer Point, ADRC of Brown County, BioLife-West, Brown County Courthouse, Brown County Central Library, Festival Foods, Franklin Middle School, Notre Dame Academy, Southwest High School, Walmart West Runs Half-Hourly
7 Lime Line Baird Elementary, Boys & Girls Club East, Brown County Community Treatment Center, Brown County Jail, Curative Connections, East High School, Edenbrook, Freedom House, Festival Foods, Manna for Life, Nicolet Elementary School, University Market, UWGB Library, VA Clinic Runs Half-Hourly on weekdays and Hourly on Saturdays
8 Green Line Bay Park Square Microtransit Transfer Point, ADRC of Brown County, Ashwaubenon High School, Brown County Courthouse, Brown County Central Library, Brown County Southwest Library, Job Center, Parkview Middle School, Lambeau Field, Target West Runs Hourly, Fare-free
9 Gold Line Bay Park Square Microtransit Transfer Point, ADRC of Brown County, Ashwaubenon Village Hall, Brown County Courthouse, Brown County Central Library, Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles, Green Bay City Hall, Job Center, People Ready, Post Office, QPS, Resch Center, Resch Expo Center Runs Hourly, Fare-free
10 Plum Line Walmart East Microtransit Transfer Point, Brown County East Library, Goodwill, Minoka-Hill School, Pick n' Save Runs Half-Hourly
11 Sky Line Allouez Microtransit Transfer Point, Aldo Leopold School, Bellin Hospital, Brown County Central Library, Leonardo da Vinci School, Prevea, Post Office, St. Vincent Hospital Runs Half-Hourly

"GBM On Demand" Microtransit Service

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Microtransit is a demand-responsive transport vehicle service offering flexible routing and scheduling of minibus vehicles shared with other passengers. Green Bay Metro partners with Via to provide microtransit service utilizing smartphone applications and a similar fare structure. Riders can travel within zones, between zones, and between a zone and its corresponding transfer point. [6]

Service to Zones 1-4, otherwise referred to as "daytime service", operates during weekday and weekend fixed route scheduling. "Night time service", which includes Zones 1-5, is offered from 8:45pm-10:45pm Monday-Friday. [7] Zone 1 (red) services Green Bay's west side, including destinations such as Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Zone 2 (gold) services Ashwaubenon, including destinations such as Austin Straubel International Airport and the Ashwaubenon Business Park. Zone 3 (light blue) services southern Ashwaubenon, southern Allouez and De Pere, including destinations such as Walmart De Pere, Syble Hopp School, Downtown De Pere, St. Norbert College, and the CP Center. Zone 4 (violet) services Bellevue and eastern Green Bay, including destinations such as the I-43 Business Center, Target East, Costco, Landmark Drive, OSMS, Bellevue Senior Living, and Aurora BayCare Medical Center.

Packers Gameday Routes

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Packers Game Day Routes are bus routes that only operate on the day of a Green Bay Packers football game being played at home. These routes are known as Cheesehead, QB Sneak, Lambeau Leap, and Quick Slant.[8]

Limited Service

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Limited service routes #71, #75, and #78 operate on regularly scheduled school days and is open to the general public.

Bus Fleet

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As of March 2017, the Green Bay Metro bus system has 35 buses in use. The system uses 25 buses during peak hours.[9]

Count Year/Make Length
9 2003 New Flyer 30 feet
3 2004 New Flyer 30 feet
9 2009 New Flyer 35 feet
10 2011 Gillig 35 feet
4 2014 Gillig 40 feet

The average age of the system's buses is 8.7 years, with the oldest 9 buses being 14 years old. Green Bay Metro has been planning on replacing older buses, but sufficient funding hasn't been able to have been established to replace all older buses at once. The system anticipates needing to order between 9 and 12 new buses by the year 2021.[9]

Green Bay Transportation Center

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On February 26, 2001, all Metro operations relocated from the 318 South Washington Street facility to a new Transportation Center located at 901 University Avenue. The Washington Street facility was originally constructed in the late 1800s for administration, maintenance, and storage of an electric streetcar system. Both Wisconsin Public Service and the city of Green Bay financed many building expansions and enhancements over the years. However, the age of the structure, size of the bus fleet, and inefficiencies associated with the building were a problem for some time. This, along with the city of Green Bay's desire to make the waterfront property available for redevelopment, necessitated the move.

The Transportation Center has allowed all Metro employees to be located in one facility. Operational efficiencies of a modern facility and the reduction of "deadhead" mileage from the garage to the primary hub have been cost-saving benefits. The bus area needed to accommodate the indoor storage of 48-plus buses, six maintenance bays, bus wash and lifts, and the safe and efficient flow of the buses and people between all these elements. The site was an abandoned seven-acre parcel within a transitional neighborhood of industrial and older residential properties. The bus storage and maintenance areas total 85,000 square feet of the 98,500 square foot facility. This large expanse of building serves as the backdrop for the public and employee areas.

Passengers at the Transportation Center benefit from a staffed information counter, real-time bus arrival board, automated pass dispenser, spacious climate-controlled seated waiting area, vending machines, and public restrooms. Outside, a large canopy covering many bus stalls protects passengers from falling rain and snow. In addition, each bus route has a designated stall, and the distance passengers have to walk between buses is minimal. Special public hearings and informational meetings are also held at the Transportation Center. At the heart of the facility stands a 300-foot long canopy with 14-foot vertical clearance for bus traffic and a width sufficient for protecting the passengers from sun and rain. The concrete island has a smooth saw-tooth form for buses to enter and exit without backing up. The access to this platform is centralized at one crosswalk, which minimizes all cross traffic between passengers and buses.[10][11]

Prior to 2011, Metro used a single hub located at the Transportation Center. Since then, the bus system is designed around one main hub at the Transportation Center and four peripheral hubs. All routes begin and end at the Transportation Center. In addition, intercity buses from Milwaukee, Madison, Minneapolis and Hancock, MI serve the facility. In July 2015, Greyhound Bus service was added to the Green Bay Metro Transit terminal after Greyhound Lines moved from their old bus station located across from Whitney Park at 800 Cedar St.

Ridership

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Ridership Change over previous year
2013[12] 1,539,293 n/a
2014[13] 1,484,741 Decrease3.54%
2015[14] 1,444,464 Decrease2.71%
2016[15] 1,368,244 Decrease5.28%
2017[16] 1,281,386 Decrease6.35%
2018[17] 1,310,472 Increase2.27%
2019[18] 1,324,579 Increase1.08%
2020[19] 542,963 Decrease59.01%
2021[20] 523,900 Decrease3.51%
2022[21] 728,361 Increase39.03%
2023[22] 836,102 Increase14.79%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 30, 2015. Retrieved April 15, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Service Area and Hours of Operation".
  5. ^ "Frequent Destinations | Green Bay, WI". greenbaywi.gov. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  6. ^ "GBM On Demand | Green Bay, WI". greenbaywi.gov. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  7. ^ "Service Area & Hours of Operation | Green Bay, WI". greenbaywi.gov. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  8. ^ "Game Day Routes | Green Bay, WI".
  9. ^ a b Brown County Planning Commission/MPO for Green Bay Urbanized Area (March 2017). "2017 Annual Route Review and Analysis Report" (PDF). Brown County, WI. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  10. ^ "Green Bay Metro Transit".
  11. ^ "Green Bay Metro 2019-2023 Transit Development Plan" (PDF).
  12. ^ "2013 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF).
  13. ^ "2014 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF).
  14. ^ "2015 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF).
  15. ^ "2016 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF).
  16. ^ "2017 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF).
  17. ^ "2018 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF).
  18. ^ "2019 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF).
  19. ^ "2020 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF).
  20. ^ "2021 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF).
  21. ^ "2022 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF).
  22. ^ "National Transit Database". Retrieved March 25, 2024.
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