85.26 Intercity bus assistance program.

(1) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Intercity bus service" means regularly scheduled bus service for the general public that operates with limited stops over fixed routes connecting 2 or more urban areas not in close proximity, that has the capacity for transporting baggage carried by passengers, and that makes meaningful connections with scheduled intercity bus service to more distant points if service to more distant points is available.

(b) “Net operating loss" means the portion of the reasonable costs of operating an intercity bus service route that cannot reasonably be financed from revenues derived from the route.

(c) “Political subdivision" means a city, village, town, or county.

(2) Administration.

(a) The department shall develop and administer an intercity bus assistance program to increase the availability of intercity bus service in this state. Under this program, the department may do any of the following:

1. Contract with private providers of intercity bus service to support intercity bus service routes of the provider.

2. Make grants to political subdivisions to support intercity bus service routes having an origin or destination in the political subdivision.

(b) All expenditures under the program shall be made from the appropriations under s. 20.395 (1) (bq), (bv), and (bx). The department may not enter into any contract under par. (a) 1., or award any grant under par. (a) 2., that provides funds to support any intercity bus service route in an amount exceeding the lesser of the following:

1. Fifty percent of the net operating loss of the intercity bus service route.

2. The portion of the net operating loss of the intercity bus service route for which federal funds are not available.

(c)

1. The department shall prescribe the form, nature, and extent of the information which shall be contained in an application for a grant under par. (a) 2.

2. The department shall establish criteria for evaluating applications for grants under par. (a) 2.

History: 2009 a. 28.