The safety and security of our bus operators, our passengers, and the community, is our top priority. That’s why we have a robust safety plan in place across the organization and we collaborate closely with local law enforcement.
Our security officers discourage inappropriate and illegal behavior. They liaison with local law enforcement, team up with community partners to connect people to services such as 211 and respond to transit emergencies. They have even helped MCTS return countless children to their parents, identified Silver Alert victims, and administered Narcan to drug overdose victims.
Recently, MCTS expanded its team to include Public Safety Officers as another component of its approach to safety and customer experience. These are the first in-house security officers at MCTS and the plan is to continue to expand the team. These well-trained officers strengthen the community with their past experience as law enforcement officers and first responders and ongoing professional development.
The safety of riders and operators is MCTS’s number one priority. MCTS continues to build upon ongoing safety investments through staffing, technology and infrastructure. From 2024 to 2025, the expanded internal Public Safety team contributed to a 50% reduction in operator assaults.
The in-house Public Safety department has grown to 30 positions, with coverage across all three shifts. MCTS has also developed an in-house Field Training Officer program to provide consistent, high-quality training for all Public Safety hires and continues to expand its program to better support riders and operators.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) sets nationwide rules, policies, and best practices to keep public transit safe across the U.S. At MCTS, we align our Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan with these standards to proactively manage risks, train our workforce, set clear safety goals, and track and report incidents. Our plan covers every part of the safety experience, from protecting our employees and riders to ensuring the reliability and integrity of our system. This work is part of our commitment to the broader National Public Transportation Safety Plan.
Research shows that investments in public transit infrastructure help create safer communities. As a Vision Zero partner, MCTS works with Milwaukee County and the City of Milwaukee on projects that improve safety for everyone through dedicated transit lanes, traffic signal optimization, traffic calming, and safer pedestrian crossings.
MCTS is also improving the rider experience by completing upgrades at 65 bus stops, including 25 modern bus shelters, 30 ADA-compliant boarding pads, and beautification at 10 shelters. These improvements increase visibility, accessibility, and reliability while encouraging more people to choose transit.
MCTS is taking fare evasion seriously and has implemented a layered strategy to increase fare compliance. A public awareness campaign launched in late 2025, including on-bus audio announcements, front destination sign messaging, social media, website, news media and community outreach, highlights the importance of paying your fare to support the sustainability of the transit system.
The 2026 Bus Fare Compliance Program expands MCTS’s existing in-house Public Safety Officer program, providing a visible presence across the system to encourage fare compliance while enhancing safety. With additional Public Safety resources, easier payment options and continued rider education, MCTS has already seen progress, with fare evasion reduced to 24% as of June 2026.
MCTS measures fare evasion by comparing the number of passenger boardings recorded by our Automatic Passenger Counters (APCs) to the number of fares collected through the Umo app, WisGo cards, contactless payments, and cash during the same time period. Based on average fare payment rates, a certain number of boardings should result in a corresponding number of paid fares.
This data helps MCTS estimate systemwide fare evasion trends and measure the effectiveness of fare compliance efforts over time.
MCTS partners with local law enforcement offices to hold wrongdoers accountable for crimes against our riders, employees and our buses. When a crime occurs, we provide footage and relevant information to investigators. This evidence often helps identify suspects, verify timelines, and support successful prosecutions. We also participate in community outreach initiatives, such as public safety campaigns, reckless driving prevention, neighborhood meetings, and rider education efforts, to build trust and encourage reporting of unsafe behavior.
Every MCTS bus displays a Safe Place emblem, supporting the Milwaukee Police Department’s efforts to keep our community safe. Since 2022, MCTS has partnered with MPD to designate all buses as official “MPD Safe Place” locations, offering safety and support for the LGBTQ+ community. Our bus operators’ actions have garnered national attention for their compassion and heroism in cooperation with law enforcement. If someone boards a bus in need of help, they immediately contact Dispatch to ensure assistance.
MCTS provides ongoing training to help employees safely respond to real-world situations while supporting their well-being.
MCTS maintains more than 3,500 cameras across the system. In addition, starting in 2025, all new buses have monitors near the front that show a live camera feed from inside the vehicle, helping riders stay aware of their surroundings.
Our nationally recognized bus operators serve as eyes and ears in the community, including in the fight against human trafficking. The National Human Trafficking Hotline highlights how bus operators can spot and support potential victims. During training, all new operators learn key warning signs and how to respond. Their awareness can make a life-saving difference.
If you feel unsafe, contact us.
If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.