The Milwaukee County Transit System is seeking public feedback on the redesign of its bus service routes, part of a 25% service reduction. The potential changes are being proposed as a result of a budget deficit, though many routes have already been shortened.
“The Milwaukee County Comptroller forecasts a projected budget deficit next year that will eventually grow to $40 million in 2031,” said Brian DeNeve, senior director of public affairs and external relations for MCTS. “So this effort is to responsibly live within our current means.”
According to MCTS, the redesign consists of two concepts: ridership and coverage. The ridership concept focuses on getting more people to ride the bus, so it includes fewer routes but has a higher frequency. The coverage concept consists of more bus routes, but they will run at a lower frequency.
“They look at bus services on opposite spectrums,” DeNeve said. “Both have pros and cons and both will cost the same each year to maintain.”
For community members to give their input, MCTS Forward, a public transit initiative that helps reshape bus services in Milwaukee, will host five open houses beginning Sept. 24. Additional engagement opportunities will take place across Milwaukee’s North and South sides, starting Sept. 18.
“MCTS affects everyone in Southeast Wisconsin, whether it means less congestion on their daily commute or a reliable connection to work, which is why we want to hear from everyone in Milwaukee County,” said MCTS President and CEO Steve Fuentes.
Understanding each plan
With the ridership concept, Ricky Angueira, principal at Jarrett Walker & Associates, said the bus routes will be in spots that have the most people and jobs, and a lot of the routes will come about every 15 minutes.
“People don’t have to wait a long time for transit because they’re coming frequently, and it can reach many places where there are a lot of people,” Angueira said. “So we really are bringing the most useful destinations within a reasonable travel time of the most people.”
DeNeve said MCTS is working with Jarrett Walker & Associates, a consulting firm, to help redesign its transit network.
According to MCTS, 82% of Milwaukee residents are near a transit service with the current network, but only 30% of them are near a frequent service. Under the ridership concept, 51% will have access to frequent transit.
Most routes under the coverage concept would be expected to come every 30 to 60 minutes, resulting in riders having longer wait times.
According to MCTS, the coverage concept would still have 82% of Milwaukee residents near a transit service, but only 16% would be near a frequent service.
“A lot of low-income residents have two jobs in their family, so they don’t have a lot of time to be traveling around,” Angueira said.
However, he said, the coverage concept is about providing access for all.
“It supports suburban low-density development and it provides service to every neighborhood or every supervisory district, which is something that a lot of people might care about,” Angueria said.
Regardless of which concept is adopted, he said both will use 25% less service so that the transit network remains the same over the next three years without having to reduce service each year.
Taking action
According to Angueira and DeNeve, MCTS will summarize feedback collected during the engagement period and share those results with the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors in December. A determination on the final concept should come in January.
Click here to view the Choices report on the two concepts.
Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.
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