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Honoring our legacy. Connecting our future.

WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK ON THE CONCEPTS!

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Encuesta en español

What is MCTS Forward?

MCTS Forward is a collaborative effort to think about the future of public transit in Milwaukee County. Amidst the current budget deficit, this initiative will be a transparent, conversation with the public, stakeholders, and Board of Directors about what MCTS’ bus network could look like within a set budget.

 

This project will chart a fresh course for how MCTS can strengthen and connect communities within the county by having a clear conversation about the community’s goals for transit and designing a new transit network based on those goals.

 

 

MCTS’ Fiscal Challenge

Operating costs at MCTS are rising faster than the revenue available to cover them. Without a change, the gap forces a service reduction, followed by another the next year, and another after that. A reduction of 25% less service keeps the budget in balance through 2028, 2029, and 2030, a three-year horizon.

 

The Concepts 

How we design a transit network depends on our goal. If our goal is to get lots of people to ride the bus (high ridership), we would run frequent service where there are lots of people and jobs close together. If our goal is to reach as many places as possible (high coverage), we would spread out our bus service. We have developed two contrasting Concept to show what the transit in Milwaukee County could look like if you focus on either goal.

 

Click here to download the Concepts Report

 

Click here to visit the Concepts Page

Timeline

Spring 2026
Project kickoff
Summer 2026
Existing conditions and transit choices
Fall 2026 (We are here)
Public input on transit priorities and network concepts
Winter 2026
Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors decision on transit priorities for future network
spring 2027
Public input on draft plan
Summer 2027
Final plan complete

Want to stay in the loop with MCTS Forward?

Sign up for MCTS Forward emails with opportunities to learn more and provide input.

Your Chance to Weigh in!

We are currently in the first phase of engagement. We want to hear what you think about the concepts!

 

Join us at one of our upcoming open houses:

Image of Cudahy Family Library
 

Cudahy Family Library
Thursday, Sep. 24, 4-6 p.m.
Suzann E. Collins Gathering Place, 3500 Library Drive, Cudahy
Presentation begins at 4:30 p.m.
MCTS Route to Event: 15 and 55

Image of Independence First
 

Independence First
Wednesday, Sep. 30, 1 p.m.-3 p.m.  
540 S. 1st St., Milwaukee  
Presentation begins at 1:30 p.m.
MCTS Routes to Event: GreenLine, 15 and 18

Image of Wauwatosa Library
 

Wauwatosa Public Library
Thursday, Oct. 1, 4 p.m.-6 p.m.   
Firefly Room, 7635 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa  
Presentation begins at 4:30 p.m.
MCTS Routes to Event: 21 and 76 

Image of Center Street Library
 

Milwaukee Public Library - Center Street Branch
Friday, Oct. 9, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 
Community Room, ​2727 W. Fond du Lac Ave., Milwaukee   
Presentation begins at 11:30 a.m.
MCTS Routes to Event: BlueLine, PurpleLine and 22 

Image of UCC
 

United Community Center​ (Presentation in Spanish)
Tuesday, Oct. 13, 5 p.m.-7 p.m.  
1028 S. 9th St., Milwaukee  
Presentation begins at 5:30 p.m.
MCTS Routes to Event: 18, 19 and 80  

Can't make it to an open house? Here are more opportunities to weigh in:

Sherman Phoenix Marketplace
Friday, Sept. 18, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave., Milwaukee
MCTS Route to Event: BlueLine, 35 and 66

Tosa Green Summit
Saturday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Wauwatosa City Hall, 7725 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa
MCTS Route to Event: 21 and 76

Shorewood Farmers Market
Sunday, Sept. 20, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Estabrook Park, 4100 N. Estabrook Pkwy., Milwaukee
MCTS Route to Event: RedLine, 14 and 68

Milwaukee Public Library - Bay View Branch, Llewellyn Community Room
Friday, Sept. 25, 3-5 p.m.
2566 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., Milwaukee
MCTS Route to Event: 15 
*Staff split between the library room and nearby bus stops to catch Bay View Gallery Night foot traffic and surrounding bus stops.

Doors Open Milwaukee
Saturday, Sept. 26, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
MCTS Fleet Maintenance Building
1525 W. Vine St., Milwaukee
MCTS Route to Event: BlueLine, 24, 33 and 57

Fondy Farmers Market
Saturday, Sept. 26, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
2200 W. Fond du Lac Ave., Milwaukee
MCTS Route to Event: BlueLine and 21

Walker Square Farmers Market
Sunday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Walker Square Park, 1031 S. 9th St., Milwaukee
MCTS Route to Event: 18, 19, 20 and 80

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Student Concourse
Tuesday, Sept. 29, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
UWM Student Union - Concourse
2200 E. Kenwood Blvd., Milwaukee
MCTS Route to Event: GreenLine, RedLine, 21, 30, 66 and 68

Brown Deer Farmers Market
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Village Park, 4920 W. Green Brook Dr., Brown Deer
MCTS Route to Event: 88

South Milwaukee Farmers Market
Thursday, Oct. 1, 3-7 p.m.
Bucyrus Commons, 1101 Milwaukee Ave., South Milwaukee
MCTS Routes to Event: 15, 52 and 59 nearby

West Allis Farmers Market
Saturday, Oct. 3, 1-5 p.m.
6501 W. National Ave., West Allis
MCTS Route to Event: 18 and 54

Greenfield Farmers Market
Sunday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Konkel Park, 5151 W. Layton Ave., Greenfield
MCTS Route to Event: 35 and 55

Marquette University Alumni Memorial Union
Monday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Alumni Memorial Union - 2nd Floor
1442 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee
MCTS Route to Event: CONNECT 1, 14, 24 and 30

MRMC - Milwaukee Regional Medical Center
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Froedtert Hospital Skywalk, 900 N. 92nd St., Milwaukee
MCTS Route to Event: CONNECT 1, 31, 92 and Waukesha Metro #1

Milwaukee Public Library - Zablocki Branch, Community Room
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 3-5 p.m.
3501 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee
MCTS Route to Event: 35 and 51

Wilson Park Senior Center Atrium/Lobby
Thursday, Oct. 8, 9 a.m.-noon
2601 W. Howard Ave., Milwaukee
MCTS Route to Event: PurpleLine

Sherman Phoenix Marketplace (2nd stop)
Saturday, Oct. 10, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave., Milwaukee
MCTS Route to Event: BlueLine, 35 and 66

Milwaukee Public Library - Villard Square Branch, Community Room
Thursday, Oct. 15, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
5190 N. 35th St., Milwaukee
MCTS Route to Event: 19

 

5th Annual Sherman Park Harvest Fest  
Saturday, October 24, 2 p.m.- 6 p.m. 
3000 N. Sherman Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53210
MCTS Route to Event: 30 & 66