Milwaukee County Transit System
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.[2] The Milwaukee Transport Services, Inc. is a quasi-governmental agency responsible for the management and operation of the Milwaukee County Transit System.[3] The county-run agency was formed in 1975 (under the direction of the "newly" created Milwaukee Transport Services, Inc.) after taking over the assets of the Milwaukee & Suburban Transport Company, a private operator.
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![]() A pair of New Flyers, a second generation D40LFR (5101) and a 41-foot Xcelsior (5804), operating on Blue Line and Freeway Flyer route 40 in Downtown Milwaukee respectively. | |
Parent | Milwaukee County Government |
---|---|
Founded | June 1, 1975 |
Headquarters | 1942 North 17th St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
Service area | Milwaukee, Ozaukee, and Waukesha counties |
Service type | Bus service |
Routes | 50+ |
Hubs | Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee Intermodal Station, Henry Maier Festival Park (Seasonal) |
Stations | Kinnicknnic Ave Garage, Fond du Lac Ave Garage |
Fleet | About 400 buses |
Daily ridership | 151,000 (2011 avg. weekday)[1] |
Fuel type | Diesel |
Operator | Milwaukee Transport Services, Inc. |
Website | Milwaukee County Transit System |
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[4] to an Innovators Award from the American Public Transportation Association in July 2019.[5]
Response to COVID-19
Due to COVID-19, or to help maintain social distancing, each bus is only allowed to carry 15 passengers. Once the bus reaches 15 passengers, the bus will drive pass stops. In this event, passengers must wait for the next bus. Face masks are now required on all MCTS Buses.[6] Passengers are also encouraged to limit interaction with the bus driver, and to use contactless fare forms, such as the M•CARD or Ride MCTS app. UBUS routes (40U, 44U and 49U), Freeway Flyers (40, 43, 44, 46, 48, 49 & 79), routes 137, 143, RR1, RR2 and RR3 are temporarily suspended until further notice. The MCTS Administration Building is also closed to visitors. [7]
Bus Fleet
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MCTS operates a fleet of 392 buses (341 New Flyer D40LFRs and Xcelsior XD40s, and 51 Gillig Low Floor BRTs). Almost all buses are 40 feet (12 m) long, with the exception of the 5800 series XD40s being 41 feet long. 28 of the new Gillig Low Floor Advantage BRT 40 ft coaches were delivered in 2019 are were all in active revenue service as of June 25, 2019,[8] marking Gillig's first return to the MCTS fleet in years. As of July 2019, all New Flyer D40LFs have been officially taken out of service, ending a 23-year run of original low floor buses on the streets of Milwaukee. In June 2020, the second set of Gillig BRTs began to be delivered, accounting for 23 more buses. As of July 2020, all 23 are in service.
Website
For more information about MCTS, go to https://www.ridemcts.com.
Active Bus Vehicles
Below are all the bus vehicles that are still active, like bus vehicles 5219, 5334 and 5601. Some are out of service due to bunch of accidents.
Vehicles | Builder | Model | Delivered | Division | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
5100-5189 | New Flyer | D40LFR | August 2010 | Fond du Lac (5100-5115)
Kinnickinnic (5116-5189) |
All active
First buses to feature near-zero emissions 5126 wrapped into MCTS 150 Years of Public Transportation livery. 5174 was wrapped in a controversial anti-ICE mural for about a month.[9] |
5200-5234 | New Flyer | D40LFR | May 2011 | Fond du Lac | 5200-5218, 5220-5234 active
5219 retired early due to an accident at Marquette University on May 15, 2018.[10][11][12] |
5300-5354 | New Flyer | D40LFR | March 2012 | Fond du Lac | 5300-5333, 5335-5354 active
5334 retired early due to an engine fire at 76th and Layton on July 4, 2019.[13][14][15] |
5400-5454 | New Flyer | XD40 | July 2013 | Kinnickinnic (5400-5447)
Fond du Lac (5448-5454) |
All active
Clean air buses; first fleet in MCTS' history to feature rear route number signs on the back of the bus. |
5500-5534 | New Flyer | XD40 | January 2014 | Fond du Lac | All active
Clean air buses |
5600-5627 | New Flyer | XD40 | October 2015 | Kinnickinnic (5600-5614, 5616-5617)
Fond du Lac (5615, 5618-5627) |
5600, 5602-5627 active
Clean air buses with new interior features, such as an automatically opening electronic smart door at the back of the bus.[16] 5601 & 5603 used for demonstrations for MCTS Fleet Maintenance Tour. 5601 was the first new bus in service on Route 19 on Friday, October 2, 2015.[17] 5601 had an engine fire on March 1, 2020 at 27th and Fond du Lac. Returning to service is therefore unknown. |
5700-5729 | New Flyer | XD40 | August 2016 | Fond du Lac (5700-5719)
Kinnickinnic (5720-5729) |
All active as of December 2, 2016
5713 features a white front LED destination sign. 5729 features the Quantum Securement System, which automatically secures wheelchairs and scooters.[18] |
5800-5814 | New Flyer | XD40 | September 2017 | Kinnickinnic | All active
Buses are 41 feet long. 5801 on display on August 16, 2017 at the Newaukee Festival Market in Downtown Milwaukee. 5807 & 5813 used for demonstrations for MCTS Fleet Maintenance Tour. 5814 in service as of November 11, 2017. |
5900-5927 | Gillig | Advantage BRT | June 2019 | Fond du Lac | All active as of June 25, 2019
First buses to have white LED destination signs (with the exception of 5713), heated side mirrors, and new anti-slip floors. The first set of a 50-bus order from Gillig. |
6000-6022 | Gillig | Advantage BRT | May-June 2020 | Kinnickinnic | All active
Have been seen on all routes operating out of Kinnickinnic. The second set of a 50-bus order from Gillig. |
6100- | Nova Bus | LFSe | TBD | First battery/electric fleet |
Active Bus Routes
These are bus routes that are still active. Routes 40, 40U, 43, 44, 44U, 46, 48, 49, 49U, 137, 143, RR1, RR2 and RR3 are temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 disease.
Starting August 30, there will be new routing for routes 19, 55 and PurpleLine.
Route Number | Name | First Stop | Last Stop | Division | COVID-19 Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 | Teutonia-Hampton | Downtown Intermodal Station | Hampton/124th
Brown Deer/Park Plaza-66th |
Fond du Lac | |
14 | Humboldt-Forest Home | Southridge Mall (74th & Holmes) (Northwest Lot) | Bayshore Town Center | Kinnickinnic | |
15 | Holton-Kinnickinnic | Chicago/Drexel | Bayshore Town Center | Kinnickinnic | |
19 | M.L. King/S. 13th & S. 20th | College via S. 13th Street (Zellman Court)
College via S. 20th Street (Zellman Court) |
Silver Spring & 35th Street | Kinnickinnic | |
21 | North Avenue | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Weekdays Fall/Winter/Spring)
Lake Drive & Water Tower (Summer Weekdays and all Weekends/Holidays) |
Mayfair Mall
Center & 114th Street (1 bus in the morning, 1 bus in the afternoon on weekdays in Fall/Winter/Spring) |
Fond du Lac | |
22 | Center-N. 92nd | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | 92nd/Grantosa | Fond du Lac | |
28 | 108th Street | Hales Corners Park & Ride | Silver Spring/107th | Fond du Lac | |
30 | Sherman-Wisconsin | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Woolworth & Sherman | Fond du Lac | |
31 | State-Highland | Downtown Intermodal Station | Innovation Drive
Mayfair Mall |
Fond du Lac | |
33 | Vliet-Juneau | Downtown Milwaukee (Prospect & State) | 60th/Vliet | Kinnickinnic | |
35 | 35th Street | Loomis/Howard | Teutonia/Good Hope (Weeknights, Saturday afternoons and Sundays/Holidays)
Teutonia/Good Hope via Aurora Health Center (Weekdays and Saturday mornings) |
Fond du Lac | |
40 | College Avenue Flyer | Downtown Milwaukee (Wells & 9th Street) | College Northeast Park & Ride | Kinnickinnic | Starting again 2 months after the vaccine |
40U | Holt-College UBUS | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee via Downtown Milwaukee |
College Southwest Park & Ride
Milwaukee Area Technical College South Campus |
Kinnickinnic | Starting again 2 months after the vaccine |
43 | Hales Corners Flyer | Downtown Milwaukee (Wells & 9th Street) | Hales Corners Park & Ride | Kinnickinnic | Starting again 2 months after the vaccine |
44 | State Fair Park Flyer | Downtown Milwaukee (Wisconsin & Cass) | 76th Street & Kearney | Fond du Lac | Starting again 2 months after the vaccine |
44U | Fair Park-Hales Corners UBUS | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Hales Corners Park & Ride | Kinnickinnic | Starting again 2 months after the vaccine |
46 | Loomis-Holt Flyer | Downtown Milwaukee (Wells & 9th Street) | Holt Park & Ride
Loomis Park & Ride |
Kinnickinnic | Starting again 2 months after the vaccine |
48 | South Shore Flyer | Downtown Milwaukee (Wells & 9th Street) | Chicago/Drexel | Kinnickinnic | Starting again 2 months after the vaccine |
49 | Brown Deer-Bayshore Flyer | Downtown Milwaukee (Kilbourn & 6th Street) | Bayshore Park & Ride
Brown Deer Rd East Park & Ride |
Fond du Lac | Starting again 2 months after the vaccine |
49U | Brown Deer UBUS | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Brown Deer Rd East Park & Ride | Fond du Lac | Starting again 2 months after the vaccine |
51 | Oklahoma Avenue | Oklahoma & Kinnickinnic (New York-Delaware & Oklahoma) | Oklahoma & 124th Street | Kinnickinnic | |
52 | Clement-15th Avenue | Chicago/Drexel | Kinnickinnic/Mitchell | Kinnickinnic | |
53 | Lincoln Avenue | Lincoln & Howell-Kinnickinnic (Bay Street & Conway) | Lincoln & 114th Street | Kinnickinnic | |
54 | Mitchell-Burnham | United Migrant Opportunity Services via Kinnickinnic (Rosedale & Parking Lot) (Weekdays)
Kinnickinnic/Mitchell (Weeknights and Weekends/Holidays) |
National/112th Street | Kinnickinnic | |
55 | Layton Avenue | Lake Drive & Warnimont Park
Lipton & Kinnickinnic-Armour |
Southridge Mall (Northwest Lot)
Hales Corners Park & Ride |
Kinnickinnic | |
56 | Greenfield Avenue | 1st/Mitchell
1st/Mitchell via Industries for the Blind (1 bus in the morning, 1 bus in the afternoon on weekdays) |
Greenfield & 121st Street | Kinnickinnic | |
57 | Walnut-Appleton | Downtown Intermodal Station | Lovers Lane/Silver Spring | Fond du Lac | |
60 | Burleigh Street | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Weekdays Fall/Winter/Spring)
Humboldt & Locust (Summer Weekdays and all Weekends/Holidays) |
124th/Capitol via Mayfair Mall | Fond du Lac | |
63 | Silver Spring Drive-Port Washington | Lovers Lane/Silver Spring | Brown Deer Rd East Park & Ride | Fond du Lac | |
64 | 60th Street | Southridge Mall (Southeast Lot) | 60th/Vliet | Kinnickinnic | |
65 | TBD | TBD | TBD | Starting in 2021 | |
67 | N. 76th-S. 84th & S. 92nd | Layton via S. 84th Street (Layton & 87th)
Layton via S. 92nd Street (Layton & 87th) |
Northridge Lakes & 76th Street | Fond du Lac | |
76 | N. 60th-S. 68th & S. 76th | Southridge via 68th Street (74th & Holmes) (Southeast Lot)
Southridge via 76th Street (74th & Holmes) (Southeast Lot) |
Brown Deer/96th | Fond du Lac | |
79 | Menomonee Falls Flyer | Downtown Milwaukee (Wisconsin & Cass) | Good Hope Rd Park & Ride
Watertown Plank Rd Park & Ride Pilgrim Rd Park & Ride |
Fond du Lac | Starting again 2 months after the vaccine |
80 | 6th Street | Capitol/35th via Hopkins
Villard/Appleton via Green Bay |
Oak Creek via Airport & Milwaukee Area Technical College South Campus (Weekdays)
Milwaukee Area Technical College South Campus via Airport (Weekdays) Oak Creek via Airport (Weekends/Holidays) General Mitchell Int'l Airport (Weekends/Holidays) |
Kinnickinnic | |
88 | TBD | TBD | TBD | Starting in 2021 | |
137 | County Correctional Facility South | Downtown Milwaukee (Wells & 9th Street) | House of Correction | Kinnickinnic | Starting again 2 months after the vaccine |
143 | Ozaukee County Express | Downtown Milwaukee (Walnut & 5th Street) | Cedarburg Park & Ride
Grafton Commons Saukville Walmart |
Fond du Lac | Starting again 2 months after the vaccine |
RR1 | Ronald Reagan HS via Route 19 | Silver Spring & 35th Street | Reagan HS | Kinnickinnic | Won't start until 2021/schools closed due to COVID-19 |
RR2 | Ronald Reagan HS via PurpleLine | Layton Blvd (27th Street) & National | Reagan HS | Kinnickinnic | Won't start until 2021/schools closed due to COVID-19 |
RR3 | Ronald Reagan HS via BlueLine | Fond du Lac & Congress | Reagan HS | Fond du Lac | Won't start until 2021/schools closed due to COVID-19 |
BlueLine | Fond du Lac-National | National/70th | Good Hope/91st via Congress
Good Hope/107th via Mill Rd |
Fond du Lac | |
GoldLine | UWM-Wisconsin Avenue | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Brookfield Square | Fond du Lac | |
GreenLine | Bayshore-Airport (via Oakland-Howell) | General Mitchell Int'l Airport | Bayshore Town Center | Kinnickinnic | |
PurpleLine | 27th Street | Green Bay/Florist
Short trips starting August 30: Capitol/27th |
Drexel-IKEA via S. 35th
College/Walmart (S. 27th Street only) Short trips starting August 30: Loomis/27th |
Kinnickinnic | |
RedLine | Capitol Drive | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | 128th/Capitol (127th Street Pick 'N Save) | Fond du Lac | |
Other Transit Services
MCTS is a partner in the Southeast Wisconsin Transit System, a joint-venture transit partnership that also includes Waukesha Metro Transit and Wisconsin Coach Lines in Waukesha, Washington County Commuter Express operated by Riteway Bus Service in Richfield, Belle Urban System (THE BUS) in Racine and Kenosha Area Transit (KAT) in Kenosha.
Other Projects
MCTS NEXT
MCTS is looking to provide "faster service with more connections and increased accessibility".[19] This project, under the name "MCTS NEXT", seeks to implement more high-frequency bus routes, while potentially eliminating lower-frequency routes. This would likely result in an overhaul of the transit system, with major changes including increased service on popular thoroughfares, routes being renamed, and some corridors not receiving bus service anymore. In July 2020, MCTS will be seeking approval from Milwaukee County. Upon approval, MCTS will incrementally roll out system changes in 2021, while also beginning community outreach efforts to inform the public.[20]
East-West BRT (Bus Rapid Transit)
The East-West BRT is a 9-mile planned route that would serve the region's most traveled corridor. The BRT route would run 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).[21] Its goal is to connect thousands of people to and from work, universities and recreational centers. In late 2018, the project design was finalized, and subsequently received federal approval.[22] As of 2020, MCTS is awaiting a grant award from the Federal Transit Administration. Depending on when MCTS receives the grant, construction might begin in 2020, with service beginning in 2022.[23] It is estimated that by 2035, the East-West BRT route would average more than 9,500 weekday riders.[24]
Regional Transit Authority
In 2010, a proposal to form a regional transit authority that would incorporate MCTS was made in the Wisconsin State Legislature. The move faced opposition from some lawmakers, and was vetoed by then Governor Doyle.[25]
See also
- Milwaukee Streetcar
References
- "About Us > FAQs". Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS). 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-05.
- 2013 Public Transportation Fact Book (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. October 2013. p. 8. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2013-12-28. Retrieved 2014-12-06.
- {http://www.ridemcts.com/about-us/who-is-mcts-}
- "PETA honors MCTS bus driver who saved turtle" from WDJT (Weigel Broadcasting) (July 8, 2019)
- "‘MCTS Excellence’ Video Series Honored with Prestigious National Award" from Urban Milwaukee (July 21, 2019)
- "MCTS to Require Masks on Buses Starting August 1". www.ridemcts.com. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
- "MCTS Updates on Coronavirus or COVID-19". www.ridemcts.com. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
- "Milwaukee County advances grant request for BRT hybrids, orders more diesel buses" from Milwaukee Business Journal (June 6, 2018)
- https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2019/08/14/bus-mural-on-immigration-draws-flak/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrYymBL2ZsE
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E7xuJWM1_0
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kshxXvMaqk
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mx27592P2h8
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0SQMgdXtjk
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmM8bGxkyj0
- riedmcts.com/about-us/news/new-mcts-buses-hitting-the-road
- ridemcts.com/about-us/news/new-mcts-buses-hitting-the-road
- "Ride MCTS | Rider Information | New Freedom". www.ridemcts.com. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
- "MCTS NEXT". www.ridemcts.com. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
- "Latest Updates". www.ridemcts.com. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
- "Ride MCTS | About MCTS | News". www.ridemcts.com. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
- "FONSI". www.eastwestbrt.com. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
- "Ride MCTS | About MCTS | Bus Rapid Transit". www.ridemcts.com. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
- "Home". www.eastwestbrt.com. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
- Sandler, Larry; Stein, Jason (March 3, 2010). "Bill could have public paying again for buses". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.