Milwaukee officials consider yanking permit for Intermodal Station's parking lot after another rash of car break-ins

Milwaukee officials would love for people to ditch their cars and take a train or bus from the Intermodal Station, but a series of break-ins at the transportation hub's main parking lot has led a city committee to recommend denial of the lot's license to operate.

Ald. Robert Bauman points the finger of blame at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for failing to invest in security measures like a fence, dedicated parking lot attendants and security cameras. 

“The fact that it’s a public entity that owns the lot and just sticks their head in the sand and is unwilling to spend the money, I think is pretty outrageous, particularly when they can spend literally billions of dollars expanding freeways, they can spend a couple hundred thousand to properly secure the lot,” Bauman told the Journal Sentinel. “They are the Department of Transportation not the Department of Highways.” 

It might not be that simple.

When the Intermodal Station was renovated in the early 2000s, the DOT leased out the entire property to Milwaukee Intermodal Partners. Milwaukee Intermodal Partners then leased the parking lot to Interstate Parking. Under this agreement, Milwaukee Intermodal Partners is responsible for the security of the station and parking lot, according to the DOT and the parking lot operator.

In response to Bauman, the DOT pointed to Milwaukee Intermodal Partners as the responsible party for additional security measures, saying that when the department was approached with security concerns they "have acted in good faith."

"WisDOT also felt it was necessary to enhance the level of security patrols at the facility," the WisDOT Office of Public Affairs wrote to the Journal Sentinel. "In discussions with MIP about security upgrades, MIP declined to fund a second security guard to allow for extra patrols at the parking lot in the evening and overnight hours.

"WisDOT stepped up and is funding a second security guard to increase security for the entire property, including the passenger parking lot. The Department believes we’ve acted in good faith with the lessee to address issues as they arise and will continue to do so."

Officials with Milwaukee Intermodal Partners could not be reached for comment, but the president of Interstate Parking said the group had made some security updates.

Tony Janowiec, the Interstate president, said MIP is working with the DOT and Interstate Parking to find a workable solution. Janowiec added that when the lease was negotiated 25 years ago, security was not a major concern and that conditions changed in the post-pandemic years.

Janowiec said he believes that security measures, while contractually the responsibility of Milwaukee Intermodal Partners, is still something the DOT should contribute to.

"I own 14 lots in Milwaukee and manage 50 other lots," Janowiec told the Journal Sentinel. "This would be the first lot in the history of the city to have its permit denied, and that's just not going to happen. The Licensing Committee and Alderman Bauman have both made clear to us that if we present a security plan by the Common Council meeting on June 20 our license will be renewed. All parties are working towards a resolution and we will get there."

According to Bauman, the procedure followed by the licensing committee Tuesday was created five years ago because of similar problems at the Intermodal lot. The Common Council will make a final decision on the permit application at its full meeting on June 20. 

In the last year, a police investigation on the parking lot reported 13 separate instances in which officers were dispatched to the lot for complaints ranging from break-ins to thefts of cars. 

“It’s a killer for passengers, and I think it’s a horrible situation for people we’re trying to encourage to use the train and leave their car behind and use public transit,” Bauman said. “People are fearful that when they get home, the car is gone, broken into or damaged, or all their contents stolen.”

The station, 433 W. St. Paul Ave., is in Bauman's aldermanic district.

Bublr Bike employee Ntirenganya Kabayita told the Journal Sentinel that Bublr Bikes regularly parks its vehicles in the lot. Almost a year ago, one of the company's trucks had its windows smashed in.

But, Kabayita does not believe the lot should be closed.

"This is happening everywhere," Kabayita said. What will closing this lot achieve?"