MCTS Forward is a 12-18 month effort to plan the future of public transit in Milwaukee County amid projected budget shortfalls. If we use the analogy of preparing for a storm, it’s as if a hurricane has been forecast to hit Milwaukee County Transit System (Comptroller’s Five-Year Financial Forecast released in April 2026) and MCTS Forward is our preparation in case that storm does not dissipate and we take a hit. Our hope is that we won’t need to reduce service, but if we do, we’ll be ready. 

MCTS is asking the community to weigh in on two conceptual approaches to a potential 25% service reduction which is required to accomplish three objectives over a several year period as we work to address our projected deficits between expenditures and funding beginning in 2027. The three objectives of MCTS Forward is to make our bus network: 

1. Stable – our customers and stakeholders can count on us not having any system changes for a three-year period. 

2. Sustainable – we can afford to maintain the same service levels for a three-year period without any new one-time appropriations. 

3. Scalable – if new or increased funding becomes available to MCTS we can scale up our system by adding service back in through higher frequency, extended service hours, weekend service, etc. 

The two concepts we are asking the public to provide feedback on are: 

• Ridership Concept: Fewer routes with more frequent service. 

• Coverage Concept: More geographic coverage with less frequent service. 

The concepts illustrate different trade-offs and are not final plans. Community feedback will help inform MCTS and the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors as we determine future transit priorities.

Everyone in Milwaukee County is encouraged to participate including: 

• Bus riders and non-riders alike 

• Drivers and commuters 

• Businesses and employers 

• Community organizations 

• People with disabilities and senior citizens 

• MCTS employees 

• University, college and high school students 

You don't have to ride the bus to have a stake in its future.

You can participate in a variety of ways: 

• Complete the public survey 

• Attend an MCTS Forward open house 

• Meet MCTS staff at community events throughout the County 

How should the bus network balance ridership and coverage so that we can live within our means? 

No. These are conceptual approaches designed to show potential trade-offs and encourage conversation. These concepts are analogous to training camp when NFL teams begin with a 90-man roster to begin evaluating their players. The final 53-man roster to start the season on opening day will come later after our feedback sessions, open houses, and getting guidance from the Board. 

Everyone! Regardless of whether you are a MCTS rider. 

Public transportation affects economic development, mobility, access to jobs and services, housing, businesses, traffic congestion and communities throughout Milwaukee County. 

MCTS will use public feedback to inform its work with the Milwaukee County Board of 

Supervisors on future transit priorities. Together, we will draft a new transit network based on those goals for the public’s feedback at a later stage. 

The 25% reduction in service hours in the MCTS Forward Concepts is for the fixed-route bus network and assumes continued border-to-border paratransit service like today.  

MCTS provides paratransit van service from border to border in Milwaukee County, which is more than is federally required.  As MCTS faces cuts to our core fixed route services, we must also evaluate the system-wide impacts of continuing to provide paratransit service above and beyond the federal requirement. After a new MCTS bus network is decided on and fully implemented, we will then turn our attention and focus on our paratransit system as we continue addressing our projected financial future with guidance from the Board of Supervisors and in compliance with federal mandates.