Service type Bus Service Founded 1 June 1975 | Routes 50+ Fuel type Diesel fuel | |
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Parent Milwaukee County Government Headquarters 1942 North 17th St.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin Service area Milwaukee, Ozaukee and Waukesha counties Hubs Downtown Transit Center (Wisconsin Ave) CLOSED, Milwaukee Intermodal Station | ||
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. 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 (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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Bus fleet
MCTS operates a fleet of over 400 New Flyer low floor buses. All buses are 40 feet (12 m) long.
Relationship with New Flyer
MCTS has had a very long and exclusive relationship with New Flyer since 1996, as their buses have all been first and second generation D40LFs. In Summer 2013 MCTS added 90 New Flyer Excelsiors to its lineup, thus continuing their partnership with NFI as their coach of choice. 55 were delivered in Summer 2013 & the additional 35 in 2014. On October 6, 2014, a Release of Request for Proposal for 75 new buses by the Milwaukee Transport Services, Inc., (MTS), was issued. An award on this contract was issued in December 2014 to New Flyer. The order calls for 75 new buses to be delivered within a 3 year delivery span that begins in 2015 and ending in 2017. In December 2015, MCTS tested a New Flyer Xcelsior that ran on electrically charged batteries that can operate for 120 miles. MCTS is looking at this pilot study as part of a plan to add more non-diesel buses to future fleet orders.
Bus routes
Most of the year, MCTS operates more than 50 bus routes covering about 90% of Milwaukee County and parts of Waukesha County, Ozaukee County, and Washington County. In addition, special routes are run for certain festivals, sports games, and other special events.
Fares
As of December 2016, the adult, regular, non-discounted bus fare on MCTS is $2.25. For those that have an M•Card, the fare per ride is $1.75. Reduced and the fare for children 6-17 are $1.10 cash or M•Card (free to children below 6, up to 3 per fare-paying rider). A 24-hour pass costs $4 for adults, while a 7-day pass is $17.50, A monthly pass since January 2017, is $72. Free transfers are given within 1 hour of paying fare.
In 2013, MCTS finalized plans for a transition from paper fare media (tickets, printed passes, and paper transfers) to a contactless smart card known as the M•CARD, with the project completion Leap Day 2016. While exact fares will still be accepted in cash, the M•CARD allows passengers to add daily, weekly, and monthly passes, store a declining value, and receive transfers automatically.
M•CARD Timeline and Transition Milestones
September 29, 2014: M•CARD passes (1, 7 or 31 day) launched at select sales outlets.
October 13, 2014: M•CARD customers were able to purchase Stored Cash Value.
April 6, 2015: MCTS begins issuing a one-time $2.00 charge fee for NEW! M•CARD purchase.
August 5, 2015: M•CARD Online launched.
November 16, 2015: M•CARD customers could purchase a 1-Day Pass from the farebox.
Coming 2016: M•CARD Lite (a disposable limited use smartcard) will be available to social service agencies and non-profit organizations.
As of February 29, 2016, the distribution of paper transfers and outlets that sell paper fare media was discontinued! Transfers are only available electronically (even for cash paying passengers), marking the beginning of an all M•CARD fare structure. Any remaining paper tickets were still accepted as fare through December 31, 2016.
The new fare system was funded predominantly by federal stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
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.
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.