Politics
Midtown Council Passes Infrastructure and Workforce Ordinance, Funding Transit Routes and Job Centers
The July 7 vote directs $52 million to new bus lines and training sites that will serve Midtown neighborhoods directly.
How we reported this
The Midtown City Council on July 7 approved the Infrastructure and Workforce Investment Ordinance, allocating $52 million to extend three bus routes and open two new workforce development centers in the East Side and River District.
The ordinance responds to documented gaps in the city’s 2025 transportation plan, which showed average commute times exceeding 42 minutes for 28 percent of Midtown households without personal vehicles, and to the most recent labor market report indicating 4,800 unfilled positions in logistics and health care.
Changes to Transit and Training Access
Under the measure, Route 14 will add evening service to the industrial park, Route 22 will gain weekend stops near the hospital complex, and Route 7 will extend two miles into the North End. The two workforce centers will offer certification programs in commercial driving and medical assisting, with 180 training slots scheduled to open in the first year.
City budget documents list $30 million from the general fund and $22 million from federal surface transportation grants as the funding sources. The same documents project that the new routes will serve an additional 1,200 daily riders within 18 months of launch.
Implementation Timeline
Procurement for the bus extensions begins in August, with construction expected to start in October. The workforce centers are scheduled to accept applications in January 2027, following site renovations at two existing municipal buildings.
Residents seeking information on route changes or training enrollment can contact the Midtown Department of Transportation and Workforce Services, which will publish updated schedules and program details on the city website by September.