MADISON, Wis. — Madison’s annual Rhythm and Booms fires off this Saturday at Warner Park.
The event, which starts at noon, is expected to draw around 250,000 people. But, one big change this year will be that Madison Metro will no longer be providing the shuttle service between Warner Park and the MATC parking lot.
New federal regulations that went into effect in April prohibit federally-funded transit systems from providing shuttle services for community events.
“It’s a federal rule that’s trying to help out the private companies,” said Metro transit marketing specialist Mick Rusch. “We feel like we’re passing the torch. We understand the spirit of this legislation.”
The new federal rules also mean Metro buses will no longer be able to provide shuttle service at University of Wisconsin football games or WIAA sporting events. Metro buses moved 50,000 people a year on these community event shuttles, WISC-TV reported.