- Bike To Work With MCTS -
Bike to Work Week is May 14-18. Participating bike commuters can use Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) bike racks on buses, a great way to expand their travel plan. Each rack holds two bikes, and use is free with a paid bus fare.
Riding the bus part of the way can shorten a bike commute, making it even easier to leave your car at home. The bus also provides bikers with sheltered transportation in case of inclement weather.
For those who will use the bike rack on the bus for the first time, a “how-to” guide, Bikes on Buses, can be found in local MCTS route information racks or visit RideMCTS.com/How-to-ride/Bikes-on-Buses for easy instructions. Riders should remember to always tell the operator when they are loading and unloading their bikes.
By providing bike racks, MCTS is able to give customers a public transportation option that promotes a more sustainable and healthier lifestyle. The ability to bring their bike on the bus makes it easier for MCTS passengers to get to work, enjoy a bike ride on their lunch break, or include biking home from work in their exercise routine.
- MCTS Wants Your Feedback Regarding the New MetroEXpress Routes - 4/23/2012
We would like to know what you think about the new MetroEXpress routes (RedLine, BlueLine, and GreenLine) that began in January. As you may recall, the MetroEXpress routes were created using a two-year grant from the Federal Government; this grant also made up for a significant loss of funds from the state, and allowed MCTS to keep several routes from being eliminated. We sincerely appreciate your patience and continued ridership during this transition. We understand that changes in service greatly affect how you use transit. The answers you provide today will help us decide how to serve you better in the future. Thank you for your time.
To take the survey online, please click here or copy and paste the link below into your browser.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGRkOVZhWG02QkdLLTA4bHBTVEI3MEE6MA
- MCTS Wants Your Feedback Regarding the Recent Changes to Local Routes - 4/23/2012
We would like to know what you think about the changes in local transit service that began in January. As you may recall, MCTS was initially faced with a major loss of funds from the state. This would have resulted in the elimination of several routes and numerous route changes throughout the county. This situation was avoided when MCTS applied for, and was awarded, a two-year grant from the Federal Government. These funds had to be used to create express service (the MetroEXpress RedLine, BlueLine, and GreenLine). They allowed MCTS to keep several routes from being eliminated, but it required that some routes needed to be changed. We sincerely appreciate your patience and continued ridership during this transition. We understand that changes in service greatly affect how you use transit. The answers you provide today will help us decide how to serve you better in the future. Thank you for your time.
To take the survey online, please click here or copy and paste the link below into your browser.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dE04UWI4MzVXWlR6Z1I1SnhLc3psRmc6MQ
- Ride Route 90 to Brewers Home Games - 4/4/2012
Let’s Go Brewers! Riders can catch a Rt. 90 (Miller Park) bus on Wisconsin Avenue from the Downtown Transit Center to Miller Park starting with the home opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday April 6th.
Provided for all Brewers home games, Rt. 90 begins service two hours before game time. Electronic destination signs display “90 Let’s Go Brewers!” Buses will operate approximately every 30 minutes during all home games. For the home opener and Marquee games with projected heavy attendance, buses will operate more frequently.
Rt. 90 begins at the Downtown Transit Center and makes stops along Wisconsin Avenue from Van Buren Street to 38th Street, except where the bus detours during construction on the Milwaukee River Bridge. Rt. 90 drops off passengers at the MCTS Transit Area on Yount Drive on the north side of Miller Park. Return trips operate from Yount Drive along Wisconsin Avenue to the Downtown Transit Center. Buses leave from the MCTS Transit Area at Miller Park until a half hour after the game is over. On the return trip, buses serve all eastbound bus stops.
Click here for more information: Route 90 (Miller Park)
- Why we need a good public transit system in Milwaukee County - 4/2/2012
MCTS Managing Director Lloyd Grant, Jr. recently addressed the Wisconsin Commission on Transportation Finance and Policy in March of 2012. While there he explained the importance of public transportation. You can read his report which includes the impact of service cut backs, state funding needs and what transit is facing by clicking the links below. You may need to
download Adobe Acrobat Reader
to view these files.
MCTS Comments to the Wisconsin Commission on Transportation Finance and Policy
Attachments to Comments to Wisconsin Transportation Funding Commission
- Preview New Schedules Before They Become Effective April 8, 2012 - 3/27/2012
- As you may know, many of our routes can change up to four times a year. During April we make adjustments based on planned construction projects. We work closely with municipalites in our service area so we can plan ahead for the detours and longer travel times. How buses connect is important too. For this round of schedule changes, connections were improved to help passengers link between routes that were recently changed or added, such as the Route 15 and Route 52. Below is a complete list of which schedules will be updated effective Sunday, April 8, 2012. Click on the links to preview the changes before they become effective.
BlueLine - Fond du Lac-National
GreenLine - Bayshore – Airport
RedLine - Capitol Drive
10 - Humboldt-Wisconsin
14 - Forest Home
15 - Holton - Kinnickinnic
19 - M.L. King/S. 13th & S. 20th
21 - North Avenue
22 - Center Street
23 - Fond du Lac - National
28 - 108th Street
30 - Sherman-Wisconsin
31 - State-Highland
35 - 35th Street
44 - National Flyer
48 - South Shore Flyer
51 - Oklahoma Avenue
52 - Clement–15th Avenue
53 - Lincoln Avenue
54 - Mitchell-Burnham
56 - Greenfield Avenue
57 - Walnut - 92nd
60 - Burleigh Street
62 - Capitol Drive
63 - Silver Spring Drive - Port Washington
76 - N. 60th-S. 70th
79 - Menomonee Falls Flyer
80 - 6th Street
- MCTS Ridership Increases Slightly from 2010 to 2011 - 3/9/2012
Milwaukee County Transit System saw a roughly 1.5 percent increase in ridership from 2010 to 2011. The bus provides an easy, convenient and affordable transportation option to the community. The new clean diesel buses which arrived in 2010-2011 may have had a positive impact on ridership.
| |
2011
|
2010
|
Revenue Riders
|
38,075,651
|
37,534,911
|
| Increase |
1.44%
|
|
Total Passengers
|
44,753,412
|
44,065,845
|
| Increase |
1.56%
|
|
The overall increase in use in public transportation may be due to a variety of other factors including increased participation by universities, those using it for job search/interviews or medical appointments and individuals using transit to get to entertainment venues.
- Your Favorite Way to Get Around Just Went Mobile - 2/20/2012
Milwaukee County Transit System, in partnership with the Southeast Wisconsin Transit Systems, just made planning your next bus ride easier. The new Your Other Wheels mobile app will help you find where to buy tickets and plan your next trip on your favorite transit system. You can even see when the next bus is scheduled to arrive at your stop. And you can do it all from your iPhone or Android smartphone.
Find out more about the free app and download it today! http://yourotherwheels.com/app/
Get the iPhone app: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/your-other-set-of-wheels/id492091632?mt=8
Get the Android app: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.yourotherwheels.mobile
- MCTS Wants Your Feedback on MetroEXpress Service - 2/10/2012
Milwaukee County Transit System launched MetroEXpress service on January 29, 2012. We'd like to know what passengers think about it. Please provide your feedback by clicking on the link below and completing the short survey. Thank you in advance for your time and assistance. Your answers are very helpful to us regarding future service and communications.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFg1b2ZlNTZnMlBPamtTbkxWZTJUV2c6MQ (If you have difficulty accessing the above link you can also copy and paste into your browser's address bar)
- Accessible Route Descriptions for New and Changing Routes Effective January 29, 2012 - 1/26/2012
In the links below you will find text versions of new and changing routing in PDF files which are accessable in Adobe Acrobat to screen readers like Window-Eyes and JAWS. To view more information, including lists of stops for these routes, you can click here.
Note: Those using Windows XP and Acrobat version 10 will need to press "Ctrl + K" in Acrobat and under general options, uncheck protected mode in order for a screen reader to see the text.
New MetroEXpress Routes: GreenLine, BlueLine and RedLine
New Local Routes: Route 52 and Route 56
Local Routes with Changes: Routes 15, 23, 54, 62 and 63
- Edición especial de Bus Lines en Español - 1/16/2012
Cambios de servicio en Milwaukee County Transit System (Sistema de Tránsito del Condado de Milwaukee, MCTS) para 2012
Nos complace informar a nuestros usuarios que introduciremos un nuevo servicio de autobuses, el MetroEXpress, y que en 2012 podremos conservar la mayor parte de los niveles actuales del servicio de autobuses. Debido a retos presupuestarios, nos fue difícil prepararnos para el próximo año y mantener intacto el servicio de autobuses del MCTS. Estamos agradecidos con el Ejecutivo del Condado de Milwaukee, con el Consejo Municipal de Milwaukee y con nuestros usuarios, cuya dedicación al tránsito tuvo un efecto positivo en la obtención de recursos financieros para las rutas expresas. La incorporación de tres rutas del MetroEXpress nos permitirá mantener la mayor parte del servicio al reducir los gastos de otras rutas. En este boletín especial se explican los próximos cambios, lo que le ayudará a efectuar la transición.
haga clic aquí para edición especial de Bus Lines en Español
- MCTS Introduces New MetroEXpress Bus Service - 1/12/2012
Milwaukee, WI - On Sunday, January 29, 2012 the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) will introduce MetroEXpress bus service. The new express routes include RedLine - Capitol Drive, BlueLine - Fond du Lac-National and GreenLine - Bayshore-Airport.
$19.1 million in Federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) grants allowed MCTS to stave off drastic service cuts the system was facing due to a 10 percent reduction in state funds for 2012 and 2013. The funds can only be used on new bus service to improve air quality by positively impacting auto congestion. This approach will improve the system with three new routes and allow us to maintain the majority of service by reducing expenses with other routes.
The fare for MetroEXpress routes will follow the same structure as regular routes. Adult fare is $2.25 and half fare is $1.10. All passes including the weekly pass, monthly pass, U-PASS, Commuter Value Pass and Freedom Pass will be accepted as full fare on all MetroEXpress routes.
The RedLine provides service to multiple major destinations including MidTown Shopping Center, Riverworks Center and UWM. It will operate on Capitol Drive between 124th Street and UWM.
• Service will operate roughly 4:30 am to 12:30 am, seven days a week.
• Frequency – Weekday: 15-20 minutes, Saturday: 25-30 minutes and Sunday: 25-30 minutes.
The BlueLine will provide limited stop bus service from the Park Place business district on the county’s northwest side, and will travel through downtown Milwaukee to the south side along National Avenue to S. 70th Street and Greenfield Avenue in West Allis near MATC’s west campus. Major destinations served include MidTown Shopping Center, Veterans Administration Center and two MATC campuses.
• Service will operate roughly 4:30 am to 2:00 am, seven days a week.
• Frequency –Weekday: 15-30 minutes, Saturday: 30-45 minutes and Sunday: 30-45 minutes.
The GreenLine service operates between Bayshore Town Center and Mitchell International Airport. The route travels via Silver Spring Drive, Marlborough Drive, Oakland Avenue, Brady Street, Water Street, 1st Street, Kinnickinnic Avenue and Howell Avenue. Service will connect the Bayshore/Whitefish Bay area to UWM, Milwaukee’s east side, Walker’s Point and south side by General Mitchell International Airport.
• Service will operate roughly 4:30 am to 2:00 am, seven days a week.
• Frequency – Weekday: 10-15 minutes, Saturday: 20-25 minutes and Sunday: 25-30 minutes.
- MCTS Announces Steady Increase in Bike Rack Usage - 10/26/2011
Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee County
Transit System (MCTS) has seen a roughly 100% increase in bike rack usage in 2011
compared to 2010. In August 2011 alone, MCTS reached a monthly high with a total
of bikes on board of 13,920. (Please note: under recording is estimated to be up
to 15%.)
By
the end of 2011 it is anticipated that bike boardings will be near 100,000,
doubling the 2010 total of 47,995. As of September 30, the total bike rack usage
for 2011 was 68,541, compared to 33,615 last year.
Everyone deserves the opportunity of
public transportation, an affordable and convenient alternative to driving.
According to company spokesperson, Jacqueline Janz, “By expanding the area
around our bus stops to biking distance, it now increases MCTS’s service area to
a higher percentage of county residents.” MCTS bus stops are within walking
distance for 85 percent of county residents, and 99 percent of county residents
are within biking distance.
Since
launching Bikes on Buses on all fixed route service in August of 2009, MCTS has
seen a steady increase in riders that take advantage of bringing their bike
along for the ride. Due to the mild weather this fall, we expect usage for
October and possibly November to remain high.
In
2011, the most popular routes for bike boardings so far are Route 15 (Oakland-Kinnickinnic) with 9,252 boardings; Route 10 (Humboldt-Wisconsin) with
4,726 boardings; and Route 18 (National Avenue) with 4,185
boardings.
With Bikes on Buses, MCTS is able to
give customers a public transportation option that promotes a more sustainable
and healthier lifestyle. Bike racks make it even easier for MCTS passengers to
leave their car at home for their workday commute, head out to explore Milwaukee
County Parks and bike trails, or enjoy a bike ride on their lunch
break.
- MCTS MetroEXpress Service - 10/18/2011
Jump aboard one of MCTS’s MetroEXpress buses. The new limited stop service includes RedLine (Capitol Drive), BlueLine (Fond du Lac-National) and GreenLine (Bayshore-Airport).
$19.1 million in Federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) grants allowed MCTS to stave off drastic service cuts the system was facing due to a 10 percent reduction in state funds for 2012 and 2013. The funds can only be used on new bus service to improve air quality by positively impacting auto congestion. This approach will improve the system with three new routes and allow us to maintain the majority of service by reducing expenses with other routes.
The fare for MetroEXpress routes follow the same structure as regular routes. Adult fare is $2.25 and half fare is $1.10. All passes including the weekly pass, monthly pass, U-PASS, Commuter Value Pass and Freedom Pass will be accepted as full fare on all MetroEXpress routes.
|
|
The RedLine provides service to multiple major destinations including MidTown Shopping Center, Riverworks Center and UWM. It will operate on Capitol Drive between 124th Street and UWM.
• Service operates roughly 4:30 am to 12:30 am, seven days a week.
• Frequency – Weekday: 15-20 minutes, Saturday: 25-30 minutes and Sunday: 25-30 minutes.
|
|
|
The BlueLine provides limited stop bus service from the Park Place business district on the county’s northwest side, and travels through downtown Milwaukee to the south side along National Avenue to S. 70th Street and Greenfield Avenue in West Allis near MATC’s west campus. Major destinations served include MidTown Shopping Center, Veterans Administration Center and two MATC campuses.
• Service operates roughly 4:30 am to 2:00 am, seven days a week.
• Frequency –Weekday: 15-30 minutes, Saturday: 30-45 minutes and Sunday: 30-45 minutes.
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|
|
The GreenLine service operates between Bayshore Town Center and Mitchell International Airport. The route travels via Silver Spring Drive, Marlborough Drive, Oakland Avenue, Brady Street, Water Street, 1st Street, Kinnickinnic Avenue and Howell Avenue. Service connects the Bayshore/Whitefish Bay area to UWM, Milwaukee’s east side, Walker’s Point and south side by General Mitchell International Airport.
• Service operates roughly 4:30 am to 2:00 am, seven days a week.
• Frequency – Weekday: 10-15 minutes, Saturday: 20-25 minutes and Sunday: 25-30 minutes.
|
List of Bus Stops for new MetroEXpress Routes and Associated Route Changes (You may need to
download Adobe Acrobat Reader
to view this form.):
GreenLine (Bayshore - Airport)
BlueLine (Fond du Lac - National)
RedLine (Capitol Drive)
Rt 15 (Holton - Kinnickinnic)
Rt 23 (Fond du Lac - National)
Rt 52 (Clement - 15th Avenue)
Rt 54 (Mitchell - Burnham)
Rt 56 (Greenfield Avenue)
Rt 62 (Capitol Drive)
Rt 63 (Silver Spring - Port Washington)
- Wisconsin Avenue Routes to Detour During Long Term Construction Effective 10/3/2011 - 9/15/2011
Effective Monday, October 3, 2011, Routes 10, 12, 14, 23, 30, 31, 40, 43, 44, 46, 48, 49, 79, 90, 137 and 143 will be detoured off of Wisconsin Avenue between 2nd Street and Broadway Street due to construction on the Wisconsin Avenue Bridge. Routes traveling both eastbound and westbound will be detoured . To reduce congestion, routes will be taking two different detours with Routes 12, 14, 23, 31, 40, 43, 46, 48 and 137 traveling via Michigan Street and Routes 10, 30, 44, 49, 79, 90 and 143 traveling via Wells Street and Kilbourn Avenue. Please see maps and routing details below (You may need to
download Adobe Acrobat Reader
to view these maps.):
Routes 10, 30, 44, 49, 79, 90 and 143* (143 will be affected
westbound only) will detour via Wells Street and Kilbourn Avenue.
Eastbound: East
on Wisconsin Avenue to Plankinton Avenue, north on Plankinton Avenue to Wells
Street, east on Wells Street to Broadway Street, south on Broadway Street to
Wisconsin Avenue to regular routing.
Click on map to view larger version.
Westbound:
West on Wisconsin Avenue to Water Street, north on Water Street to Kilbourn
Street, west on Kilbourn Street to 2nd Street, south on 2nd
Street to Wisconsin Avenue to regular routing.
Click on map to view larger version.
Routes 12, 14, 23, 31, 40, 43, 46, 48 and 137 will detour via Michigan Street.
Eastbound:
East on Wisconsin Avenue to 2nd Street, south on 2nd
Street to Michigan Street, east on Michigan Street to Broadway Street, north on
Broadway Street to Wisconsin Avenue to regular routing.
Click on map to view larger version.
Westbound:
West on Wisconsin Avenue to Broadway Street, south on Broadway Street to
Michigan Street, west on Michigan Street to Plankinton Avenue, north on
Plankinton Avenue to Wisconsin Avenue to regular routing.
Click on map to view larger version.
- Using Social Media? Connect with MCTS! - 7/11/2011
Follow us on Twitter: @RideMCTS
Like us on Facebook:
facebook.com/RideMCTS
Riders get up to date info on service
changes, bus alerts during bad weather, major detour information, festival
service and other news. You can also stay in touch with MCTS and tell us about
your ride.
Students get the full benefit of your
U-PASS! Find out about important exam schedule changes and special events.
Be in the know - receive updates about MCTS service,
events and more!
- How to Commend Your MCTS Operator - 1/6/2011
Each month, the Milwaukee County Transit System receives dozens of messages from riders who appreciate their bus driver. Customer service is important, so we want to recognize drivers who go above and beyond. Maybe you had a nice experience with an MCTS bus operator which you think the company should know about?
Whether its holding the bus for a late customer, giving directions to an unfamiliar place or providing extra assistance to a passenger in need, you can report such positive actions to our Customer Service Department. Commendations will go on the employees record and they will be eligible for a customer service award.
Passengers can give commendations through the following methods:
- RideMCTS.com Commendations Form
- By calling the Customer Comments Line at 414-937-3218, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- By tweeting @RideMCTS
Please have the following information available:
- Route
- Day/Date
- Time
- Direction
- Location
- Description of the good deed
Additional information, such as the four-digit bus number, description of the driver (gender, etc.), or operator name is also helpful.
- Thousands Help Milwaukee County Transit System Design a Bus - 11/19/2010
Milwaukee, WI - - An estimated 4,000 people helped the Milwaukee County Transit System with its newly designed fully wrapped bus. This unique and vibrant bus design was created by thousands of citizen’s signatures.
“We have talked to many people who really like the bus, so in celebrating 150 Years of Public Transportation we wanted a way to show this,” said Jacqueline Janz, MCTS Marketing Director. “To have the community be actively involved in this project means a lot to MCTS. Watching it take shape this summer as we went to numerous community events was a thrill.”
Because the community supported this project, MCTS thought a great way to give back to the community was during the 13th Annual 99.1 The Mix’s Stuff the Bus to benefit Feeding America at Pick N Save in West Allis, 11111 W. Greenfield Avenue on Wednesday, November 24. .MCTS employees collected food for the event ahead of time, so this bus arrived at the event already full with food donations and ready to transfer more donations to Feeding America. Over 212,000 pounds of food was raised at the event, bringing the 13 year total to 2,071,317 pounds!
“We Heart the Bus” full wrap vehicle is a uniquely designed bus celebrating the community of transit riders in Milwaukee and sponsored by Clear Channel Outdoor, Northwestern Mutual, Miller Lite and Milwaukee Career College.
The bus will be in operation for approximately one year. During that time it will serve as an ambassador for MCTS at events throughout the County, as well as remain in service on regular MCTS routes.