I ride Green Bay Metro everyday, and if you’re a regular reader of this blog you know that I’m generally pretty happy with their service. This is because I realize how much they’re doing with so little, as the City Of Green Bay continues to lose so much revenue to Madison and other outside entities.

Two recent signs of progress are encouraging ways to end the year.

Green Bay Metro has installed their first digital mirrors. While you may tell yourself “Well, that’s no big deal, I’ve had them on my car for years”, I can tell you that there are still a lot of bigger markets that don’t have them, and as clumsy as Green Bay drivers can get during these winter months, its encouraging to see another victory for safety.

And they’ve also installed an electronic kiosk at their passenger center which also includes its bus tracker. Once again, many larger markets require you to walk up to the window and try to describe your journey to the customer service rep. And I’ve had the bus I needed drive away while I clumsily tried to explain my journey to the rep. This will help that process, and also reduce the wait for customers who need help for other reasons.

Green Bay Metro isn’t perfect. They’re on demand service is still being abused by teenagers who are using it as an Uber at 1130 at night, when they should be at home. And their phone representatives should try not to act like their under cross examination when we call them.

But these two additions, as well as the first steps towards more electric vehicles are encouraging signs for public transportation in Greater Green Bay.