The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) is the largest transit agency in Wisconsin, and is the primary transit provider for Milwaukee County. It ranks among the top 50 transit agencies in the United States for total passenger trips.[3] Milwaukee Transport Services, Inc. is a quasi-governmental agency responsible for the management and operation of the Milwaukee County Transit System.[4] Its bus fleet consists of 360 buses. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 17,507,900, or about 57,600 per weekday as of the fourth quarter of 2023.
History
Public transit operations began in Milwaukee during 1860. The service consisted of two horse drawn cars. On June 1, 1975, Milwaukee County took over the bus system and established the Milwaukee County Transit System after taking over the assets of the Milwaukee & Suburban Transport Company, a private operator.
In 2009, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle proposed a three-county Regional Transit Authority that would incorporate MCTS.[5] The proposal faced opposition from some lawmakers and the Regional Transit Authority was never created.[6]
In late 2013 into the early part of 2014, MCTS began debuting new technology onboard buses. This included introducing real-time bus information allowing passengers to track the exact location of buses, new fareboxes and an electronic fare system by virtue of a smart card (M•CARD), and a stop announcement system complete with visual and audio information. Clever Devices is the provider of the real-time bus information, stop annunciator system and the farebox terminal, whereas the new fareboxes were provided by Scheidt & Bachmann.[7]
MCTS NEXT
In 2018, MCTS began a comprehensive study and overview of the entire fixed-route system and began the process of implementing a new system with faster service, more connections, and easier-to-understand routes. Multiple community meetings and forums were held to gather public input on the project. Prior to the project, only about 40% of the system was high-frequency routes, defined as routes on which buses come every 15 minutes. The consensus from the study was that riders wanted faster service and were willing to walk extra distance to bus stops. The public voted that the transit system would transition to a 60-40 model, meaning 60% of the routes would be high frequency. MCTS analyzed every bus stop in the system and removed some lightly used bus stops to speed up service.[8] The system overhaul was implemented in 3 phases in 2021, with the first one beginning March 7. This phase involved Routes 15, 19, 31, 33, 35, 51, 52, 63, and the introduction of new routes 20 and 68. The second phase was implemented June 6, 2021, and involved changes to routes PurpleLine, 12, 14, 21, 53, 57 and 80, with new routes 11, 34, 58 and 88 being introduced. The final phase of the project, implemented August 29, 2021, affected routes BlueLine, 22, 28, 54, 55, 56, 60, 76, with new routes 18, 66 and 92. The reimagined transit system was accompanied by a 14% increase in ridership after the first phase was implemented.[9]
Response to COVID-19
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, face masks were required on all MCTS buses. In the early stages of the pandemic, there was a passenger limit of 10 passengers per bus, which was increased to 15, but rescinded on July 1, 2021.[10] Passengers were encouraged to limit interaction with the bus driver, exit through the back door, and to use contactless fare forms, such as the M•CARD or Ride MCTS app.[11]
New Fare Collection System
Overview
MCTS began transitioning their fare system away from the M•CARD in favor of the WisGo card and Umo App, in mid-2023, with the M•CARD becoming invalid on October 1, 2023. Riders can pay fare via the Umo App using a credit or debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Instead of showing the validation code in the Umo app to the driver, mobile users now hold the validation code up to new fare validators. The new fare system also features the WisGo Card, which effectively replaced the M•CARD. The ability to load 1, 7 and 31-day passes was eliminated in favor of stored value that never expires. The Go Pass and Reduced Fare programs were consolidated into one encompassing Reduced Fare Program. 90-minute transfers will be available for Umo app and WisGo card users and will cost $2 per transfer for regular adult fare, and $1 per transfer for reduced fare users. The new fare system features fare capping, ensuring regular riders do not pay more than $4 daily, $19.50 weekly, and $72 monthly, and reduced fare riders will not pay more than $2 daily, $11 weekly and $32 monthly. Cash remains a payment option, but riders using cash are not eligible for transfers or fare capping. The full adult cash fare was reduced from $2.25 to $2.00 to expedite fare payments (from $1.10 to $1.00 for reduced fare).[12]
Changes with U-Pass and Commuter Value Pass (CVP)
The U-Pass was replaced with a variant of the WisGo smartcard that will provide college students with unlimited rides through their university. Commuter Value Pass users also have a special WisGo smartcard issued by their employer that will provide them with the same benefits as the original CVP program did. CVP users can also use the Umo app.[13]
CONNECT 1 BRT (Bus Rapid Transit)
A CONNECT 1 station in downtown Milwaukee.
The East-West BRT, now known as the CONNECT 1 BRT, is an 9-mile (14 km) route that serves the region's most traveled corridor. The BRT route runs primarily along Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee and Bluemound Road in Wauwatosa, connecting riders from Downtown Milwaukee and Marquette University to the west side of the city to the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center (MRMC).[14] Its goal is to connect thousands of people to and from work, universities, and recreational centers. It features battery-electric buses which receive traffic signal priority, off-board fare collection in the near future, special bus shelters with ramps for ADA accessibility, and dedicated travel lanes along portions of the route.[15]
In late 2018, the project design was finalized, and subsequently received federal approval.[16] MCTS utilized a Small Starts Grant Agreement from the Federal Transit Administration, which accounts for $40.9 million of the $55 million project.[17]
On March 11, 2021, MCTS announced they selected Nova Bus as the manufacturer of 15 LFSe+ battery-electric buses, 11 of which will be used for the new BRT line. MCTS was the first transit system in the United States to have been awarded a contract for Nova LFSe+ buses.[18][19] MCTS Connect officially started June 4, 2023. The first 11 Nova LFSe+ buses have been delivered as of October 2023, and the remaining 4 buses expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2024. This has been significantly delayed due to supply chain issues. It is estimated that by 2035, MCTS Connect will average more than 9,500 weekday riders, with overall transit ridership in the corridor increasing by 17%.[20]
On August 25, 2023, the 9 Nova LFSe+ electric buses that were exclusively used for the CONNECT 1 BRT were temporarily pulled from service due to a battery recall as a result of a potential manufacturing issue. Nova Bus financed the battery replacements, and most of the buses have returned to service,[21] alongside two new LFSe+ buses, totaling eleven buses. Due to a supply chain issue, the pre-board payment equipment has also been delayed, resulting in an extension of the fare-free period for the CONNECT 1 until April 8, 2024.[22]
Accolades
MCTS is known for its bus drivers doing good deeds around the city of Milwaukee, such as rescuing lost children, helping people with disabilities cross busy streets, and much more. Videos of such acts have gone viral, placing MCTS in the national spotlight. This recognition has resulted in MCTS receiving honors from organizations such as PETA[23] to an Innovators Award from the American Public Transportation Association in July 2019.[24] MCTS was also featured on a December 2018 episode of Inside Edition.[25]
Clean air buses with new interior features, such as an automatically opening electronic smart door at the back of the bus.[26] 2 were canceled due to increased costs. 5601 was first new bus in service on Route 19 on Friday October 2, 2015.[27]
This is Nova Bus' first order for LFSe+ buses in the United States, and Milwaukee's first battery-electric buses. These buses feature USB charging, an automatic Quantum wheelchair securement system, and produce chimes when approaching stops for visually impaired riders. The buses also feature a new light blue paint scheme specifically designed for the CONNECT branding, as opposed to the normal blue, green and yellow MCTS livery.[29][30] As of October 2023, the first 11 buses (1000-1010) have been delivered and run exclusively on the CONNECT 1 BRT.
1329 & 1343 painted in UWM black & metallic gold in 1975;
1335, 1336, 1339, 1406, 1411, 1415, 1421, 1428, 1430, 1432, 1446 & 1456 painted in two-tone county green in late 1975/early 1976. (All were painted for WTMJ Ch. 4 except 1456)
1466, 1467, 1470, 1473, 1474, 1477, 1479, 1481, 1482 & 1483 painted in dark green and white for Downtown ShuttleBug (Route 7) in 1975.
First group to display route numbers on right end rear windows. Refurbished in 1987–1990 to add new vertically opening windows and new air conditioning units.
3219-3224 equipped with turbo engines and the only 6 plus a demo.
40-ft. Ordered with wheelchair lifts which were removed before entering service. Only 76 of this model built, only MCTS & Atlanta (MARTA) had them plus one demo.
3700-3801 was the last order without wheelchair lifts; 3802-3816 were assigned to the Metrolink route and were identified by an orange stripe adjacent to MCTS's green; wheelchair lifts; last buses to display route destination numbers on right side rear windows.
Used exclusively for Ozaukee County service. Officially retired on June 8, 2014, with 4 examples of this series being purchased by Wausau Transit System to replace buses that had structural problems. Bus 1004 has been out of service before the retirement due to transmission problems
Future
2020 Gillig BRT Bus 6000 at the MCTS Fleet Maintenance Facility
The Milwaukee County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) plans to seek approximately $55.2 million in federal grants for bus replacements to help finance the Milwaukee County Transit System's transition to an electric fleet. If the county secures the full grant awards MCTS is applying for, that would pay for 32 battery-electric buses and 60 clean-diesel buses.[33]
In March 2023, Milwaukee County was awarded $8.4 million from the state to support the purchase of 16 battery electric buses (BEBs).[34]
Bus routes
In January 2012, MCTS introduced three new express bus routes under the brand MetroEXpress. The GreenLine, BlueLine, and RedLine routes have a larger stop spacing than other routes.[35][36]
In August 2014, MCTS launched two new bus routes: Route 6 (New Berlin Industrial Park Express) and Route 279 (Menomonee Falls Industrial Park Express) and were marketed as "JobLines". These bus routes were the result of a lawsuit against the Department of Transportation claiming that the Zoo Interchange reconstruction project was discriminatory in that it only benefitted commuters from the predominantly White suburbs and did not advocate for public transit improvements in the city. As a result, the state spent $13.5 million on transit improvements, $11.5 million of which supported the funding for the routes until 2018.[37][38] Route 6 traveled from Port Washington Road & Capitol Drive, along Capitol Drive, Mayfair Road, Bluemound Road, and Moorland Road through the New Berlin Industrial Park to Buy Seasons in New Berlin. Route 279 traveled along Fond Du Lac Avenue from 35th Street to the Park Place Business Park, and then on to the Menomonee Falls Business Park to Pilgrim Road P+R Lot.
On January 18, 2015, the number 10 route was withdrawn. The route, which dated back to the 1920s, was the last streetcar in Milwaukee on its conversion to bus operation in 1958.[39] Two express services (GoldLine and PurpleLine) were introduced, with the PurpleLine offering express service on 27th Street from Glendale to Franklin, and the GoldLine effectively replacing Route 10 service from Brookfield to Downtown Milwaukee, and also being aligned with Route 30 to serve UWM. Route 61, a third "JobLine", was also introduced, which traveled from 35th Street & Capitol Drive, and ran northwest along Keefe Avenue, Appleton Avenue, Silver Spring Drive, Falls Parkway, and County Line Road to Germantown Walmart.[40] Route 279 was eliminated on August 27, 2016, because of extremely low ridership. The remaining funding for the route was reallocated into Routes 6 and 61.[41]
In 2018, the system operated 59 routes with 5,190 bus stops. In December 2018, it was announced that Routes 6 and 61 were retiring due to the end of the Zoo Interchange settlement funding. Both routes were retired by January 6, 2019, with Route 57 being reconfigured to still serve Waukesha County and Germantown Walmart, effectively replacing Route 61, until funding expiration on August 24, 2019.
[42][43] This temporary extension was a result of additional funds being appropriated by Milwaukee County.[44] In 2020, MCTS operated 48 routes with 4,591 bus stops.[45]
All freeway flyer routes, including Routes 79, 137 and 143, in addition to the Cream Puff Line (service to Wisconsin State Fair), the Summerfest Shuttle (informally Route 7) and the Brewers Line (service to Brewers games at American Family Field) were formally eliminated towards the end of 2022 due to a projected budget shortfall in 2025.[46] The 3 UBUS routes have continued normal operation. MCTS provided two Summerfest freeway flyers in 2023, Route 40S, operating from the College Avenue Park and Ride lots, and Route 49S, operating from the Brown Deer Road East Park and Ride Lot.[47]
The CONNECT 1 Bus Rapid Transit route officially began June 4, 2023, providing service between Downtown Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center via Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee, and Bluemound Road in Wauwatosa. It is the first BRT route in the state of Wisconsin.
Milwaukee County Transit System – Summerfest Flyer Bus Routes
Route No.
Name
First Stop
Last Stop
40S
College Ave Summerfest Flyer
College Ave P+R Lots (Northeast & Southwest)
Summerfest Chicago Harbor
49S
Brown Deer Rd Summerfest Flyer
Brown Deer Rd East P+R Lot
Summerfest Chicago Harbor
Milwaukee County Transit System – Current Regular Bus Routes as of Sunday, March 3, 2024
Sherman Park Fond du Lac/35th-Burleigh (MCTS Fond du Lac Station)
Oak Creek Amazon MKE2 (Oak Creek)
16.5 miles (26.6 km)
88
Brown Deer Road
Brown Deer Service Rd/Schroeder
Dretzka Park 124th/Bradley
8.2 miles (13.2 km)
92
92nd Street
Greenfield Layton/84th (S. 87th) (84 South)
Granville Heather/107th (limited trips to Coca-Cola plant on Brown Deer Rd/114th)
19.4 miles (31.2 km)
CONNECT 1 BRT
Wisconsin Avenue Bus Rapid Transit
Downtown Wisconsin & Van Buren BRT Station
Wauwatosa Watertown Plank P&R BRT Station
9.0 miles (14.5 km)
Other projects
North-South Transit Enhancement Project
Currently, Milwaukee County, MCTS, and the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) are engaged in a study of the 27th Street Corridor. A considerable number of jobs, shopping centers, and medical facilities are along this corridor, currently served by the PurpleLine. This project plans to enhance transit along 27th Street by re-imagining the PurpleLine as a BRT line, which would add a second route to the CONNECT BRT system. While the current PurpleLine is already a pseudo-express route, it does not offer authentic express service for the majority of the route, as on average, stops are 0.2 miles (1,100 ft; 0.32 km; 320 m) apart. This is one of the aspects of transit in this corridor that this project will address.[48] Furthermore, this project aims to address racial inequalities in the transit system, reduce reckless driving along 27th Street, attract new riders, and overall improve the quality of transit in this corridor.[49]
The recommended route was developed during the feasibility study, which concluded in 2022. This new, 18-mile route would travel from Bayshore Mall in Glendale to the Oak Creek IKEA via Silver Spring, Teutonia and 27th Street, serving 33 stops in each direction, including St. Luke's Medical Center at 27th and Oklahoma, two Walmart stores, one at 27th and Ohio and another near 27th and Sycamore, and the Northwestern Mutual Franklin Campus near 27th and Drexel. This corridor features nearly 50,000 jobs, 2,500 businesses, 4 major medical facilities, 63 K-12 schools, 36 grocery and big-box discount stores, and 12 community resource centers. MCTS began the environmental review and design phase of the project in 2023, which is expected to conclude in 2025. Following that, construction of the new system would begin, which would include adding specialized stations and off-board fare collection technology to bus stops, dedicated travel lanes for buses and possibly traffic signal priority. Construction is expected to conclude sometime in 2027, with service beginning in 2028.[50]
^Schultz, Russell E. (May–June 1986). "Milwaukee Part V [of history of transit in that city]: Milwaukee County Transit System, 1975 to 1985". Motor Coach Age, pp. 3–36. Motor Bus Society. ISSN 0739-117X.
