Mayor's Office

This is a stressful time for everyone as we work to practice social distancing, maintain a schedule and remain healthy, but consider the complications that moving a family across a few state lines during this pandemic would add.

When Justin Stuehrenberg accepted the position as Metro Transit’s new General Manager, he did not expect a pandemic either, but I am pleased he has completed the move from Indianapolis, Indiana to Madison.

In Indianapolis, he served as Vice President of Planning and Capital Projects of the IndyGo system. He was responsible for implementation of that city’s Bus Rapid Transit program and oversaw the establishment of one of the largest electric bus fleets in the country.

Although it was not what any of us initially envisioned, he will now help Madison Metro negotiate the rapid changes associated with our COVID-19 response. Our bus drivers have been at the front lines during this pandemic, making sure that essential workers are able to get to their jobs. Other Metro employees have been diligently sanitizing buses between routes, to keep riders safe and healthy. The routes have changed, and ridership has fallen as former commuters have been working from home. As we work our way out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Justin will work with staff to rebuild the system on which so many depend. I am confident that he can also use his extensive experience to develop MetroForward, a modern system that responds to the transportation needs of our area.

Justin has moved to Madison with his wife Katie and his two sons, Warren, 6 and Arthur, 4. So far his impressions of Madison are great, he is looking forward to taking advances of the lakes, the downtown area and of course our transit system.

A native of Illinois, he reports that his sports loyalties will always be with the Fighting Ilini but he looks forward to cheering on the Badgers, as he would like to support a team that actually wins.