[media-credit name=’LUKAS KEAPPROTH/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]

University of Wisconsin students and downtown residents have a brighter future in terms of nighttime safety after Madison’s City Council approved the Downtown Residential Lighting Initiative Wednesday night.

The DRLI, authored by Ald. Eli Judge, District 8, sets aside $50,000 in grant money for landlords and property owners to use toward installing lighting on the sides and backs of buildings.

“A lot of the motivation behind this ordinance came from discussions I had with police officers,” Judge said, adding officers told him the No. 1 thing Madison officials could do to improve safety would be to light dark areas on the sides of buildings.

The DRLI applies to the area between East Patterson Street, on the east side of downtown and extends to the intersection of Randall and Regent streets on the west side of downtown.

Before the ordinance was passed, Ald. Lauren Cnare, District 3, questioned Judge on whether the DRLI would place requirements on the type of lighting installed, such as the use of energy-efficient bulbs.

Judge said the DRLI will most likely include requirements for energy-efficient and solar-friendly lighting, but the formal detailed language will be established with the help of the Economic Development Division and the Public Safety Review Board.

The DRLI faced elimination because it is part of the Capital Revolving Fund, which was in jeopardy of being dissolved early on in the meeting in an amendment proposed by Ald. Jed Sanborn, District 1.

However, Ald. Brenda Konkel, District 2, said the money in the fund is not something that would raise taxes because it is capital that “revolves in and out.”

“To me this is really smart money,” Konkel said. “This isn’t money we are taxing people for.”

Bus fares increase

The Madison City Council also voted to increase bus fares after a long debate Wednesday night.

Alders were divided on the issue because the issue proved to be a double-edged sword forcing a choice between saving low-income riders from taking a financial hit or supporting the long term health and expansion of metro services.

Ald. Brian Solomon, District 10, proposed an amendment to eliminate the bus fare increase from the mayor’s budget, with the argument that an increase would impact low income riders, impact the economy and decrease Metro ridership.

“I think we can all agree that metro is a basic service,” Solomon said. “We need to make sure that it is affordable for those who need it most.”

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz told the council this was the last and most difficult decision he made when he put together the 2009 Operating Budget.

“I guarantee you this was not good politics for me,” Cieslewicz said. “I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t think it was the right thing to do. I believe in my heart this will strengthen Metro.”

Metro has not had a fare increase since 2000, and Madison Metro Manager Charles Kamp said ridership will still increase slightly, but it will be less than 1 percent rather than 6 percent.

Solomon said the cash fare is paid primarily by low-income riders and said he thinks Metro will lose more than 200,000 riders.

Ald. Julia Kerr, District 13, said she went back and forth on the issue but ultimately felt she had to support it because she knows her constituents will have a level of understanding with the increase.

“This is the most different decision I’ve made on the council,” Kerr said, adding the increase will “help us lay the foundation for a more robust Metro.”

The increase in fares will not affect unlimited ride passes, such as the Associated Students of Madison bus pass for UW riders, until after 2009 when the contract expires.