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.

Milwaukee County Transit System
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.
ParentMilwaukee County Government
FoundedJune 1, 1975
Headquarters1942 North 17th St.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Service areaMilwaukee, Ozaukee, and Waukesha counties
Service typeBus service
Routes50+
HubsWisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee Intermodal Station, Henry Maier Festival Park (Seasonal)
StationsKinnicknnic Ave Garage, Fond du Lac Ave Garage
FleetAbout 400 buses
Daily ridership151,000
(2011 avg. weekday)[1]
Fuel typeDiesel
OperatorMilwaukee Transport Services, Inc.
WebsiteMilwaukee 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

MCTS bus 4413, a 2001 New Flyer D40LF

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.

VehiclesBuilderModelDelivered Division
Notes
5100-5189New FlyerD40LFRAugust 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]

5200-5234New FlyerD40LFRMay 2011 Fond du Lac5200-5218, 5220-5234 active

5219 retired early due to an accident at Marquette University on May 15, 2018.[10][11][12]

5300-5354New FlyerD40LFRMarch 2012 Fond du Lac5300-5333, 5335-5354 active

5334 retired early due to an engine fire at 76th and Layton on July 4, 2019.[13][14][15]

5400-5454New FlyerXD40July 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.

5500-5534New FlyerXD40January 2014 Fond du LacAll active

Clean air buses

5600-5627New FlyerXD40October 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.

5700-5729New FlyerXD40August 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]

5800-5814New FlyerXD40September 2017 KinnickinnicAll 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.

5900-5927GilligAdvantage BRTJune 2019 Fond du LacAll 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.

6000-6022GilligAdvantage BRTMay-June 2020 KinnickinnicAll active

Have been seen on all routes operating out of Kinnickinnic.

The second set of a 50-bus order from Gillig.

6100-Nova BusLFSeTBD 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
  1. "About Us > FAQs". Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS). 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-05.
  2. 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.
  3. {http://www.ridemcts.com/about-us/who-is-mcts-}
  4. "PETA honors MCTS bus driver who saved turtle" from WDJT (Weigel Broadcasting) (July 8, 2019)
  5. "‘MCTS Excellence’ Video Series Honored with Prestigious National Award" from Urban Milwaukee (July 21, 2019)
  6. "MCTS to Require Masks on Buses Starting August 1". www.ridemcts.com. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  7. "MCTS Updates on Coronavirus or COVID-19". www.ridemcts.com. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  8. "Milwaukee County advances grant request for BRT hybrids, orders more diesel buses" from Milwaukee Business Journal (June 6, 2018)
  9. https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2019/08/14/bus-mural-on-immigration-draws-flak/
  10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrYymBL2ZsE
  11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E7xuJWM1_0
  12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kshxXvMaqk
  13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mx27592P2h8
  14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0SQMgdXtjk
  15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmM8bGxkyj0
  16. riedmcts.com/about-us/news/new-mcts-buses-hitting-the-road
  17. ridemcts.com/about-us/news/new-mcts-buses-hitting-the-road
  18. "Ride MCTS | Rider Information | New Freedom". www.ridemcts.com. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  19. "MCTS NEXT". www.ridemcts.com. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
  20. "Latest Updates". www.ridemcts.com. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  21. "Ride MCTS | About MCTS | News". www.ridemcts.com. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
  22. "FONSI". www.eastwestbrt.com. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  23. "Ride MCTS | About MCTS | Bus Rapid Transit". www.ridemcts.com. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  24. "Home". www.eastwestbrt.com. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
  25. Sandler, Larry; Stein, Jason (March 3, 2010). "Bill could have public paying again for buses". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
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