During a Milwaukee County Committee of Transportation and Transit meeting on Dec. 3, Milwaukee County Transit System officials discussed their plans to save several routes and same-day paratransit, and delay eliminating sections of other routes.
MCTS expects to use a $4.78 million county budget amendment and an additional $250,000 from a service contract change with Waukesha Metro to retain the services.
“The amendment called for us to restore as much service, while mitigating issues in the community,” MCTS President and CEO Steve Fuentes said. “So, maximizing service levels while minimizing disruption by maintaining service on all fixed routes.”
Fuentes said MCTS can also make changes if data suggests it’s necessary and that none of the changes are set in stone. The Milwauee County Board of Supervisors still needs to vote to approve the plan.
The Milwaukee County Committee on Finance is expected to discuss the plan on Dec. 11, then it could go up for a vote by the full board on Dec. 18.
Proposed changes to bus service
Earlier this year, MCTS announced plans to cut six routes and modify several others, the result of a $14 million budget deficit in 2026.
The proposed cuts drew criticism from residents and Milwaukee Public Schools staff, among others.
Mike Roemer, principal at Reagan High School, advocated for his students.
“I’m here to ask that, if at all possible, we modify rather than eliminate these lines,” Roemer said.
The new plan, if approved, would save routes 20 (South 20th), 28 (108th), 33 (Vliet), 34 (Hopkins), 55 (Layton) and 58 (Villiard) but limit service to peak hours starting Jan. 11. Fuentes said that the service development team is still finalizing what peak hours would be for each route.
Rush hour has traditionally run from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6:p.m., but if ridership data suggests a route should run at different hours, those will be the peak hours for that route, according to Fuentes.
He said MCTS might make changes to peak hours during the year as it gets more data. Any changes in service will require two months to implement.
Jedediah Moss is an employee at Beyond Vision, which employs visually impaired and blind individuals. He said route 28, which was originally slated for elimination, is an important job route to him and his fellow employees.
Moss said it’s important that this bus line run early enough to accommodate those who use the route to get to shifts that start before 6 a.m.
“I catch that bus every day at 5:19 (a.m.),” Moss said. “There are usually people on that bus, and they’re usually either getting off of a night shift or they are going to work.”
These bus routes will run less often
MCTS officials said there are no changes to its original plans to reduce service frequency for 16 other routes on Jan. 11.
Weekday frequency reductions: Routes 12, 14, 31, 51, 53, 57, 60 and 63.
Saturday frequency reductions: Routes 18, 19, 21, 31, 59, 74, green, red and purple lines.
Sunday frequency reductions: Routes 31, 59 and 74.
Sections of five other routes were to be eliminated on Jan. 11. If the new plan is passed, those changes won’t start until March 8. Fuentes said the delay would help riders get through the harsh winter months and give them a chance to adjust to the changes.
Fare increase
MCTS still plans to increase fare caps, and rates would still increase from $2 to $2.75 for adults and $1.25 for reduced fare riders starting on Jan. 1.
Same-day paratransit proposed to continue
The same-day paratransit pilot program was originally anticipated to end after funding ran out. But with the additional county funding, MCTS is now proposing to maintain a limited or reduced version of the program.
Paratransit services riders with disabilities or mobility devices that prevent them from using a fixed bus route service. Paratransit usually requires riders to schedule a ride at least one day in advance. The same-day pilot program allows riders to schedule a ride on the day they need a ride when it isn’t possible to schedule it the day before.
Fuentes said MCTS has not yet finalized an official plan for the same-day paratransit pilot, but it could include limiting rides to work or medical-related trips or reducing the number of roundtrip rides per month and customer.
Kevin Meyers, a member of the Same Day Pilot Program Task Force, praised MCTS for including the program in its updated transportation plan.
“Reducing the fixed route changes, adding the new same-day program and continuing funding the paratransit van service is going to help individuals with a disability to continue to work, attend high school or college, take care of unforeseen medical and work issues, and also allow them to remain active in the community life,” Meyers said.
Where to stay updated on changes
Riders who use the UMO app to pay for their fare can expect to see notifications of ride changes in the app.
Fuentes said MCTS will also be uploading notices and media releases on social media and its website.
Some physical signage will be posted at locations such as senior centers to provide information to people with limited technology access.
Jesus Ochoa, director of service development at MCTS, said customer service representatives can help riders figure out what their new trip patterns will be. Customer service can be contacted at 414-937-3218 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Alex Klaus is the education solutions reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. Report for America plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.
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