Milwaukee County Transit System


The Milwaukee County Transit System 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. The Milwaukee Transport Services, Inc. is a quasi-governmental agency responsible for the management and operation of the Milwaukee County Transit System. The county-run agency was formed in 1975 after taking over the assets of the Milwaukee & Suburban Transport Company, a private operator.

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 to an Innovators Award from the American Public Transportation Association in July 2019.

Response to COVID-19

Due to COVID-19, or to help maintain social distancing, each bus is only allowed to carry 10 passengers. Once the bus reaches 10 passengers, the bus will drive pass stops. In this event, passengers must wait for the next bus. Beginning August 1, face masks will be required on all MCTS Buses. 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, Freeway Flyers, Routes 137, 143, RR1, RR2 and RR3 are temporarily suspended until further notice. The MCTS Administration Building is also closed to visitors.

Bus fleet

MCTS operates a fleet of 392 buses. Almost all buses are 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, 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.
VehiclesBuilderModelDeliveredDivision
Notes
5100-5189New FlyerD40LFRAugust 2010Fond du Lac
Kinnickinnic 		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.
5200-5234New FlyerD40LFRMay 2011Fond du Lac5200-5218, 5220-5234 active
5219 retired early due to an accident at Marquette University on May 15, 2018.
5300-5354New FlyerD40LFRMarch 2012Fond du Lac5300-5333, 5335-5354 active
5334 retired early due to an engine fire at 76th and Layton on July 4, 2019.
5400-5454New FlyerXD40July 2013Kinnickinnic
Fond du Lac 		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 2014Fond du LacAll active
Clean air buses
5600-5627New FlyerXD40October 2015Kinnickinnic
Fond du Lac 		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.
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.
5601 had an engine fire on March 1, 2020 at 27th and Fond du Lac. Returning to service is therefore unknown.
5700-5729New FlyerXD40August 2016Fond du Lac
Kinnickinnic 		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.
5800-5814New FlyerXD40September 2017KinnickinnicAll 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 2019Fond du LacAll active as of June 25, 2019
First buses to have white LED destination signs, heated side mirrors, and new anti-slip floors.
The first set of a 50-bus order from Gillig.
6000-6022GilligAdvantage BRTMay-June 2020KinnickinnicAll active
Have been seen on all routes operating out of Kinnickinnic.
The second set of a 50-bus order from Gillig.
6100-Nova BusLFSeTBDFirst 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 COVID-19.
Route NumberNameFirst StopLast StopDivisionCOVID-19 Status
12Teutonia-HamptonDowntown Intermodal StationHampton/124th
Park Plaza-66th Street & Brown Deer Rd		Fond du Lac-
14Humboldt-Forest HomeSouthridge Mall Bayshore Town CenterKinnickinnic-
15Holton-KinnickinnicChicago/DrexelBayshore Town CenterKinnickinnic-
19M.L. King/S. 13th & S. 20thCollege via S. 13th Street
College via S. 20th Street 		Silver Spring & 35th StreetKinnickinnic-
21North AvenueUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Lake Drive & Water Tower 		Mayfair Mall
Center & 114th Street 		Fond du Lac-
22Center-N. 92nd StreetUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee92nd/GrantosaFond du Lac-
28108th StreetHales Corners Park & RideSilver Spring/107thFond du Lac-
30Sherman-WisconsinUniversity of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeWoolworth & ShermanFond du Lac-
31State-HighlandDowntown Intermodal StationInnovation Drive
Mayfair Mall		Fond du Lac-
33Vliet-JuneauDowntown Milwaukee 60th/VlietKinnickinnic-
3535th StreetLoomis/HowardTeutonia/Good Hope
Teutonia/Good Hope via Aurora Health Center 		Fond du Lac-
40College Avenue FlyerDowntown Milwaukee College Northeast Park & RideKinnickinnicStarting again 2 months after the vaccine
40UHolt-College UBUSUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee via Downtown Milwaukee		College Southwest Park & Ride
Milwaukee Area Technical College South Campus		KinnickinnicStarting again 2 months after the vaccine
43Hales Corners FlyerDowntown Milwaukee Hales Corners Park & RideKinnickinnicStarting again 2 months after the vaccine
44State Fair Park FlyerDowntown Milwaukee 76th Street & KearneyFond du LacStarting again 2 months after the vaccine
44UFair Park-Hales Corners UBUSUniversity of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeHales Corners Park & RideKinnickinnicStarting again 2 months after the vaccine
46Loomis-Holt FlyerDowntown Milwaukee Holt Park & Ride
Loomis Park & Ride		KinnickinnicStarting again 2 months after the vaccine
48South Shore FlyerDowntown Milwaukee Chicago/DrexelKinnickinnicStarting again 2 months after the vaccine
49Brown Deer-Bayshore FlyerDowntown Milwaukee Bayshore Park & Ride
Brown Deer Rd East Park & Ride		Fond du LacStarting again 2 months after the vaccine
49UBrown Deer UBUSUniversity of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeBrown Deer Rd East Park & RideFond du LacStarting again 2 months after the vaccine
51Oklahoma AvenueOklahoma & Kinnickinnic Oklahoma & 124th StreetKinnickinnic-
52Clement-15th AvenueChicago/DrexelKinnickinnic/MitchellKinnickinnic-
53Lincoln AvenueLincoln & Howell-Kinnickinnic Lincoln & 114th StreetKinnickinnic-
54Mitchell-BurnhamUnited Migrant Opportunity Services via Kinnickinnic
Kinnickinnic/Mitchell 		National/112th StreetKinnickinnic-
55Layton AvenueLake Drive & Warnimont Park
Lipton & Kinnickinnic		Southridge Mall
Hales Corners Park & Ride		Kinnickinnic-
56Greenfield Avenue1st/Mitchell
1st/Mitchell via Industries for the Blind 		Greenfield & 121st StreetKinnickinnic-
57Walnut-AppletonDowntown Intermodal StationLovers Lane/Silver SpringFond du Lac-
60Burleigh StreetUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Humboldt & Locust 		124th/Capitol via Mayfair MallFond du Lac-
63Silver Spring Drive-Port WashingtonLovers Lane/Silver SpringBrown Deer Rd East Park & RideFond du Lac-
6460th StreetSouthridge Mall 60th/VlietKinnickinnic-
65TBDTBDTBDStarting in 2021
67N. 76th-S. 84th & S. 92ndLayton via S. 84th Street
Layton via S. 92nd Street 		Northridge Lakes & 76th StreetFond du Lac-
76N. 60th-S. 68th & S. 76thSouthridge via 68th Street
Southridge via 76th Street 		Brown Deer/96thFond du Lac-
79Menomonee Falls FlyerDowntown Milwaukee Good Hope Rd Park & Ride
Watertown Plank Rd Park & Ride
Pilgrim Rd Park & Ride		Fond du LacStarting again 2 months after the vaccine
806th StreetCapitol/35th via Hopkins
Villard/Appleton via Green Bay		Oak Creek via Airport & Milwaukee Area Technical College South Campus
Milwaukee Area Technical College South Campus
Oak Creek via Airport
General Mitchell Int'l Airport		Kinnickinnic-
88TBDTBDTBDStarting in 2021
137County Correctional Facility SouthDowntown Milwaukee House of CorrectionKinnickinnicStarting again 2 months after the vaccine
143Ozaukee County ExpressDowntown Milwaukee Cedarburg Park & Ride
Grafton Commons
Saukville Walmart		Fond du LacStarting again 2 months after the vaccine
RR1Ronald Reagan HS via Route 19Silver Spring & 35th StreetReagan HSKinnickinnicWon't start until 2021/schools closed due to COVID-19
RR2Ronald Reagan HS via PurpleLineLayton Blvd & NationalReagan HSKinnickinnicWon't start until 2021/schools closed due to COVID-19
RR3Ronald Reagan HS via BlueLineFond du Lac & CongressReagan HSFond du LacWon't start until 2021/schools closed due to COVID-19
BlueLineFond du Lac-NationalNational/70thGood Hope/91st via Congress
Good Hope/107th via Mill Rd		Fond du Lac-
GoldLineUWM-Wisconsin AvenueUniversity of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeBrookfield SquareFond du Lac-
GreenLineBayshore-Airport General Mitchell Int'l AirportBayshore Town CenterKinnickinnic-
PurpleLine27th StreetGreen Bay/FloristDrexel-IKEA via S. 35th
College/Walmart 		Kinnickinnic-
RedLineCapitol DriveUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee128th/Capitol 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 in Racine and Kenosha Area Transit in Kenosha.

Other projects

MCTS NEXT

MCTS is looking to provide "faster service with more connections and increased accessibility". 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.

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. 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. 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. It is estimated that by 2035, the East-West BRT route would average more than 9,500 weekday riders.

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.