Editor’s note: This story is updated to clarify the amount of the transportation funding increase for the budget and to correct the first name of the Milwaukee County Transit System’s managing director.
The Milwaukee County Transit System is considering reducing bus service by 10 percent in 2020 to deal with a $6.4 million budget deficit.
To balance the budget this year, the transit system has already reduced travel and training expenses, cut advertising, eliminated administrative positions and canceled requests for new positions.
The transit system operates largely with state funding, with some federal and local aid. Because the state controls the amount of money that flows into transit, there’s not much that can be done on a local level, Dan Boehm, the MCTS managing director, said.
The County Board of Supervisors will examine all county budgets, and a decision will be made on any cuts in service by fall.
MCTS will examine each bus route to determine where changes can be made, Boehm said.
In the past, County Executive Chris Abele proposed increasing the wheel tax, since most of the fees help fund MCTS. Boehm said raising the wheel tax is about the only option the county has left.
Nick DeMarsh, a member of the Milwaukee Transit Riders Union, said the union plans to connect with county leaders and push for an increase of the vehicle registration fee.
DeMarsh said bus riders have been through a lot, with fare increases, cut lines and reduced service.
“The possibility of cutting service means the death of service in Milwaukee,” DeMarsh said.
The union hoped that a new governor would give transit operations a chance to improve.
Gov. Tony Evers’ proposed budget includes a transportation funding increase. If it went through, MCTS would receive an additional $1.6 million for 2020.
DeMarsh said he hopes that county leaders start recognizing the importance of transit in Milwaukee. It helps people get to their jobs and is essential to reducing emissions, he said.
If any changes are made, DeMarsh said the union would like to see an improved transit system not a reduced one. The union would like a more efficient system where buses come more frequently as well as service lanes dedicated to buses.
Margaret J Fennig says
Milwaukee is the only large city where mass transit is not used across economic groups. When I ride, i am frequently the only middle class elderly rider. Wake up Milwaukee. use it or lose it.
J says
Agreed. More people need to see it as a viable option.
larry says
Why is it that mass transit does not cross/engage all economic groups?
Coco says
Milwaukee County Transit System is not, not the problem! It is the narrow-mindedness of the leaders WI Dept. of Transportation, Greater Milwaukee (suburban and urban) and Milwaukee County. I formerly worked in MCTS management.
Of course, MCTS has done everything to promote ridership across all economic groups! But, dah, go check out Seattle and all other progressive communities/areas that have dedicated, dedicated, dedicated bus-only/multi-rider vehicle lanes! MCTS buses – Freeway Fliers and local – cannot be “express” or faster because of car traffic, backups.
No one will ride in buses if stuck in, backed up in traffic! People will use buses/mass transit if it is faster than using their cars!
With the Marquette Interchange re-construction and other highway construction, no one has had the intelligence, creativity or progressive outlook to make sure dedicated bus/multi-vehicle lanes were created!
Check the WI Dept of Transportation out! 99 percent of the employees formerly worked for highway construction companies, know absolutely nothing about “mass” transit. Haven’t a clue.
Transportation on wheels is always the best option. Sure, express trains, little fancy electric rail cars, others look cute. But, as businesses, housing, all else shifts … stationary transportation can’t move to meet needs!
Wake up!
MCTS isn’t the problem. It is the narrow-mindedness of all others.
chuck d witkowski says
really…mcts is not the problem??? come ride the 16 bus routes that are getting eliminated with me…or even just one of them… then you can tell the passengers both disabled and not disabled that their jobs do not matter…that their lives do not matter to survive with the bus system…i will pay for your complete bus riding that day… chuck @ 262-527-7286
trying telling the economically challenged inner-city bus passengers (like myself) that it’s a political battle… they (we) don’t care about politics, only about getting to work/medical appointments/personal, etc. on a MCTS bus… including one of the 28 brand new buses costing $472,000.00 each